bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aerobic exercise prior to task‐specific training to improve poststroke motor function: A case series
Authors: Valkenborghs S.R. , Visser M.M. , Nilsson M. , Callister R. , van Vliet P.
Published: February 2018

Background

Aerobic exercise can improve upper limb motor function in both healthy and stroke populations. Research in animals after stroke has shown that aerobic exercise combined with forelimb motor training improved forelimb motor function more than aerobic exercise or motor training alone. There is a lack of knowledge about this combined intervention in humans after stroke.

Purpose

These 2 case reports describe the exploratory implementation of a combined aerobic exercise and task‐specific training intervention to improve upper limb motor function in one person in subacute stroke recovery and one person in chronic stroke recovery.

Methods

Case descriptions

Subacute participant: 45‐year‐old female, 3 months after ischemic stroke resulting in left‐sided hemiparesis affecting her non‐dominant upper limb, with a baseline Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) score of 10/57 and Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) score of 39/75.

Chronic participant: 69‐year‐old female, 14 years after ischemic stroke resulting in right‐sided hemiparesis affecting her non‐dominant upper limb, with a baseline ARAT score of 13/57 and WMFT score of 34/75.

Intervention

Participants performed 30 min of lower limb cycling immediately prior to 30 min of upper limb task‐specific training. Sessions were undertaken 3 times a week for 8 weeks in a university rehabilitation laboratory.

Results

The combined intervention was feasible and perceived as acceptable and beneficial. Participants improved their upper limb motor function on the ARAT (subacute participant = 4 points; chronic participant = 2 points) and WMFT (subacute participant = 5 points; chronic participant = 3 points). Participants improved their aerobic fitness (subacute participant = +4.66 ml O2/kg/min; chronic participant = +7.34 ml O2/kg/min) and 6‐minute walking distance (subacute participant = +50 m; chronic participant = +37 m).

Discussion

Combining aerobic exercise with task‐specific training may be a worthwhile therapeutic approach to improve upper limb motor function suitable for persons in the subacute or chronic phase after stroke.
New methodology for automated SPOT synthesis of peptides on cellulose using 1,3,5‐triazine derivatives as linkers and as coupling reagents
Authors: Fraczyk Justyna , Walczak Małgorzata , Kaminski Zbigniew J.
Published: February 2018

Two new rigid bi‐aromatic linkers for synthesis of peptide arrays by SPOT methodology were obtained from cellulose treated with 2,4‐dichloro‐6‐methoxy‐1,3,5‐triazine. Reaction with m‐phenylenediamine gave non‐cleavable TYPE I linker which enabled attachment of the peptides via resistant to harsh reaction conditions amide, ether, and amine bonds. Reaction with 3‐Fmoc‐aminobenzoic acid followed by thermal isomerization of the intermediate “superactive” ester producing an amide‐like bond gave TYPE II linker that was very stable during peptide synthesis. However, the peptide was cleavable, with fragment of the linker, in the presence of 1 M LiOH solution. The uniform loading of the cellulose and efficient synthesis of the peptide array was achieved by using N‐(4,6‐dimethoxy‐1,3,5‐triazin‐1‐yl)‐N‐methylmorpholinium 4‐toluenesulfonate as the coupling reagent.
Unsustainability at the crossroads of climate change and air pollution sciences: implications for sustainable development and the scholarship of sustainability
Authors: Hossain A.M.M. Maruf
Published: February 2018

Release of carbonaceous aerosols – comprising black carbon (BC) and organic carbon (OC) – from biomass burning into the atmosphere is dependent on the burning conditions as to the resultant relative abundances of the emitted BC and OC. This provides a way of managing biomass burning in terms of manipulating the types of emitted aerosol. The carbonaceous aerosols are concerned in different ways in different scientific fields. The BC and OC exert complex implications for (a) radiative forcing in climate change science but (b) public health concern in air pollution science. Referring to these complex implications, a case of sustainability is constructed, which is being unsustainably dealt with at the crossroads of the sciences. This reveals an inadequacy of the reductionist mode of enquiry, necessitating a new mode with unique epistemological orientation for the scholarship of sustainability. The necessity of integration of perspectives that are currently segregated for this sustainability issue and the implications for sustainable development are elucidated. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Improving Sustainable Development within Indonesian Palm Oil: The Importance of the Reward System
Authors: Kadarusman Yohanes B. , Herabadi Astrid G.
Published: February 2018

Nowadays, standards play a central role in the governance of international business relations; palm oil is no exception. The focal issue of palm oil is sustainable processes of production and sourcing, thus multi‐stakeholder initiatives such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) set out the sustainability principles and standards, and manage the certification system (CSPO). Empirical evidence based on in‐depth interview with various stakeholders in the Indonesian palm oil industry indicates that the development of the RSPO sustainability standards is perceived to be in favor of a particular interest group due to the asymmetrical power and unbalanced control structure of the stakeholders. Thus the powerful stakeholders are able to exercise imperative power over other stakeholders, to the extent that it actually contradicts the others’ interests. This paper puts forward the notion that a more equitable governance system should be developed through the introduction of the reward system on the CSPO transaction. The reward system can demonstrate the original motivation of the RSPO toward consensus among all stakeholders to equally contribute in the implementation of sustainability Principles and Criteria (P&C) and standards. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Minimization of Ion–Solvent Clusters in Gel Electrolytes Containing Graphene Oxide Quantum Dots for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Chen Yen‐Ming , Hsu Shih‐Ting , Tseng Yu‐Hsien , Yeh Te‐Fu , Hou Sheng‐Shu , Jan Jeng‐Shiung , Lee Yuh‐Lang , Teng Hsisheng
Published: February 2018

This study uses graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) to enhance the Li+‐ion mobility of a gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). The GPE comprises a framework of poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐vinylacetate) blended with poly(methyl methacrylate) and a salt LiPF6 solvated in carbonate solvents. The GOQDs, which function as acceptors, are small (3−11 nm) and well dispersed in the polymer framework. The GOQDs suppress the formation of ion−solvent clusters and immobilize anions, affording the GPE a high ionic conductivity and a high Li+‐ion transference number (0.77). When assembled into Li|electrolyte|LiFePO4 batteries, the GPEs containing GOQDs preserve the battery capacity at high rates (up to 20 C) and exhibit 100% capacity retention after 500 charge−discharge cycles. Smaller GOQDs are more effective in GPE performance enhancement because of the higher dispersion of QDs. The minimization of both the ion−solvent clusters and degree of Li+‐ion solvation in the GPEs with GOQDs results in even plating and stripping of the Li‐metal anode; therefore, Li dendrite formation is suppressed during battery operation. This study demonstrates a strategy of using small GOQDs with tunable properties to effectively modulate ion−solvent coordination in GPEs and thus improve the performance and lifespan of LIBs.
Frame‐type load bearing system for long‐span cantilevers
Authors: Sajedi Seyed Omid , Mirghaderi Seyed Rasoul , Keshavarzi Farhad
Published: February 2018

Cantilevers experience high risks of vulnerability against progressive collapse and vertical ground motion effects. In addition, despite common engineering practice that regards cantilevers dominated by vertical loads, it is shown that while subjected to lateral forces, they might undergo large deflections due to the formation of plastic hinges in the supporting structural subassemblage; even if cantilevers satisfy deflection limits proposed by design codes. To overcome such vulnerabilities, successive cantilever beams can be coupled in the height of the structure using vertical elements to develop a framed cantilever system. Frame behavior in cantilevers is formulized using spring models and by employing optimization procedures, economic efficiency is compared to the conventional method. The optimization results for 6 2‐D steel moment frames showed that employing framed cantilever system has the potential to reduce required material weight up to 40%. Furthermore, nonlinear pushdown and incremental dynamic analyses were conducted to extract capacity and fragility curves. The results reveal the superior performance of framed cantilevers in both lateral and vertical loads while offering better resistance against the progressive collapse.
Vacuum System Evacuation to Base Pressure
Authors: Grinham Rebecca , Chew Andrew
Published: February 2018

A study has been made to compare the times taken to evacuate a turbomolecular and scroll pumped chamber to a base, high vacuum, pressure. A small test header (26.7 litre) was evacuated via two different paths: through a fore‐line, switching paths once ‘cross‐over’ pressure was reached, and directly through a turbomolecular pump (TMP) where the TMP was not operational until cross‐over pressure was reached. When starting the TMP/switching paths at 0.1 mbar, pump‐down times were significantly slower through the TMP; the time taken to reach 0.1 mbar increased by between 2 and 8 minutes dependent upon the TMP model (from a 24% increase in time with nEXT300 to a 232% increase for the nEXT240). For pressures below 8 · 10−6 mbar there was no significant difference in required pumpdown time between the two methods. The variation between methods being less than the ±30% uncertainty in pressure gauge measurement. The increase in pumpdown times to achieve pressures down to 10”5 mbar when evacuating through the TMP was seen for all TMP models tested, however a greater difference was seen for a TMP configured with Holweck drag stages than those containing Siegbahn drag stages. The best pumpdown time for pressures down to 10−5 mbar was achieved when pumping through the TMP whilst allowing the TMP to ‘start’ operation from atmospheric pressure.
Optische Interferenzfilter auf Polymerfolien
Authors: Rohwer Klaus , Jorke Helmut , Neubert Thomas , Vergöhl Michael
Published: February 2018

Optical interference filter on polymer films ‐ Spectral channel separation in 3‐D projections by wavelength division multiplexing

In this work the preparation of optical interference filters on polymer foils for spectral channel separation for 3D projections is presented. The suitability of various polymer substrates for this purpose was investigated by measurements of the layer adhesion and the optical haze. Optimization of the energy input during the coating process and of the optical layer design offered a possibility to coat optical interference layer systems for spectral channel separation on PET polymer foil. It was possible to build working 3D glasses. Furthermore the application of gradient filters for the compensation of the spectral shift due to different incident angles and the processing of the coated filter foils were discussed.
The zebrafish: A fintastic model for hematopoietic development and disease
Authors: Gore Aniket V. , Pillay Laura M. , Venero Galanternik Marina , Weinstein Brant M.
Published: February 2018

Hematopoiesis is a complex process with a variety of different signaling pathways influencing every step of blood cell formation from the earliest precursors to final differentiated blood cell types. Formation of blood cells is crucial for survival. Blood cells carry oxygen, promote organ development and protect organs in different pathological conditions. Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) are responsible for generating all adult differentiated blood cells. Defects in HSPCs or their downstream lineages can lead to anemia and other hematological disorders including leukemia. The zebrafish has recently emerged as a powerful vertebrate model system to study hematopoiesis. The developmental processes and molecular mechanisms involved in zebrafish hematopoiesis are conserved with higher vertebrates, and the genetic and experimental accessibility of the fish and the optical transparency of its embryos and larvae make it ideal for in vivo analysis of hematopoietic development. Defects in zebrafish hematopoiesis reliably phenocopy human blood disorders, making it a highly attractive model system to screen small molecules to design therapeutic strategies. In this review, we summarize the key developmental processes and molecular mechanisms of zebrafish hematopoiesis. We also discuss recent findings highlighting the strengths of zebrafish as a model system for drug discovery against hematopoietic disorders.

This article is categorized under:

Adult Stem Cells, Tissue Renewal, and Regeneration > Stem Cell Differentiation and Reversion

Vertebrate Organogenesis > Musculoskeletal and Vascular

Nervous System Development > Vertebrates: Regional Development

Comparative Development and Evolution > Organ System Comparisons Between Species
Cloud‐based data streams optimization
Authors: Najib Fatma M. , Ismail Rasha M. , Badr Nagwa L. , Tolba Mohamed F.
Published: February 2018

Many modern applications of sensor networks and transaction analysis require real‐time processing of their stream data sets. These data streams vary continuously over time. Current stream processing approaches focus on only one of the two optimization perspectives, proposing optimization techniques for data streams processing regardless of the processing environment or improving the processing environment only. In this paper, a brief survey of recent approaches to data streams processing coming from the two optimizations perspectives is proposed; their shortcomings are presented as well. Then, a proposal to an innovative and integrative framework is developed; it is referred to as the continuous query optimization based on multiple plans (CQOMP) for data streams over the cloud environment. CQOMP combines the two optimization perspectives and provides an optimized stream clusters processing using multiple split query plans. Each plan is constructed for a cluster of data that has nearest characteristics and it processes streams tuples over the cloud. We also propose a novel algorithm called the optimized multiple plans (OMP) for processing data streams clusters on Cloud Computing. The OMP algorithm efficiently divides data streams and generates optimized multiple split plans. Each plan is for processing a group of data streams on the cloud. We present the experimental results of the OMP solution compared to the alternative state‐of‐the‐art data stream approaches. The experiments show the efficiency and the scalability of the combined OMP algorithm on different cloud environments, the real Amazon cloud environment, and the simulated windows azure cloud environment.

This article is categorized under:

Fundamental Concepts of Data and Knowledge > Big Data Mining

Technologies > Classification

Technologies > Data Preprocessing

Technologies > Structure Discovery and Clustering
The role of acyl-CoA thioesterase ACOT8I in mediating intracellular lipid metabolism in oleaginous fungus Mortierella alpina
Authors: Guo Jing , Chen Haiqin , Yang Bo , Zhang Hao , Chen Wei , Chen Yong Q
Published: February 2018

Thioesterases (TEs) play an essential role in the metabolism of fatty acids (FAs). To explore the role of TEs in mediating intracellular lipid metabolism in the oleaginous fungus Mortierella alpina, the acyl-CoA thioesterase ACOT8I was overexpressed. The contents of total fatty acids (TFAs) were the same in the recombinant strains as in the wild-type M. alpina, whilst the production of free fatty acids (FFAs) was enhanced from about 0.9% (wild-type) to 2.8% (recombinant), a roughly threefold increase. Linoleic acid content in FFA form constituted about 9% of the TFAs in the FFA fraction in the recombinant strains but only about 1.3% in the wild-type M. alpina. The gamma-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid contents in FFA form accounted for about 4 and 25%, respectively, of the TFAs in the FFA fraction in the recombinant strains, whilst neither of them in FFA form were detected in the wild-type M. alpina. Overexpression of the TE ACOT8I in the oleaginous fungus M. alpina reinforced the flux from acyl-CoAs to FFAs, improved the production of FFAs and tailored the FA profiles of the lipid species.
Comparison of Practice Guidelines, BRCAPRO, and Genetic Counselor Estimates to Identify Germline BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Grant Robert C. , Holter Spring , Borgida Ayelet , Dhani Neesha C. , Hedley David W. , Knox Jennifer J. , Akbari Mohammad R. , Zogopoulos George , Gallinger Steven
Published: February 2018

Germline BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA) mutation carriers with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) may benefit from precision therapies and their relatives should undergo tailored cancer prevention. In this study, we compared strategies to identify BRCA carriers with PDAC. Incident cases of PDAC were prospectively recruited for BRCA sequencing. Probands were evaluated using the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long‐Term Care (MOHLTC) guidelines. The probability of each proband carrying a mutation was estimated by surveying genetic counselors and using BRCAPRO. BRCA mutations were detected in 22/484 (4.5%) probands. 152/484 (31.2%) and 16/484 (3.3%) probands met the NCCN and MOHLTC guidelines, respectively. The NCCN guidelines had higher sensitivity than the MOHLTC guidelines (0.864 versus 0.227, P < 0.001) but lower specificity (0.712 versus 0.976, P < 0.001). One hundred and nineteen genetic counselors completed the survey. Discrimination was similar between genetic counselors and BRCAPRO (area‐under‐the‐curve: 0.755 and 0.775, respectively, P = 0.702). Genetic counselors generally overestimated (P = 0.008), whereas BRCAPRO severely underestimated (P < 0.001), the probability that each proband carried a mutation. Our results indicate that the NCCN guidelines and genetic counselors accurately identify BRCA mutations in PDAC, while the MOHLTC guidelines and BRCAPRO should be updated to account for the association between BRCA and PDAC.
Optimal deterministic algorithm generation
Authors: Mitsos Alexander , Najman Jaromił , Kevrekidis Ioannis G.
Published: February 2018

A formulation for the automated generation of algorithms via mathematical programming (optimization) is proposed. The formulation is based on the concept of optimizing within a parameterized family of algorithms, or equivalently a family of functions describing the algorithmic steps. The optimization variables are the parameters—within this family of algorithms—that encode algorithm design: the computational steps of which the selected algorithms consist. The objective function of the optimization problem encodes the merit function of the algorithm, e.g., the computational cost (possibly also including a cost component for memory requirements) of the algorithm execution. The constraints of the optimization problem ensure convergence of the algorithm, i.e., solution of the problem at hand. The formulation is described prototypically for algorithms used in solving nonlinear equations and in performing unconstrained optimization; the parametrized algorithm family considered is that of monomials in function and derivative evaluation (including negative powers). A prototype implementation in GAMS is provided along with illustrative results demonstrating cases for which well-known algorithms are shown to be optimal. The formulation is a mixed-integer nonlinear program. To overcome the multimodality arising from nonconvexity in the optimization problem, a combination of brute force and general-purpose deterministic global algorithms is employed to guarantee the optimality of the algorithm devised. We then discuss several directions towards which this methodology can be extended, their scope and limitations.
Foliar elemental profiles in the ultramafic flora of Kinabalu Park (Sabah, Malaysia)
Authors: van der Ent Antony , Mulligan David Robert , Repin Rimi , Erskine Peter Damian
Published: February 2018

The foliar elemental profile of most plants reflects that of the soil on which plants grow in their natural habitat. The aim of this study was to elucidate foliar elemental profiles in the ultramafic flora of Kinabalu Park in Sabah, Malaysia. Kinabalu Park is ideal for studying plant elemental profiles because of its exceptionally rich flora and diversity in soil types. Foliar elemental profiles of 594 plant species in 99 families were analysed (totalling 1710 samples). This included 495 species (90 families) from ultramafic soils, and 120 species (45 families) from non‐ultramafic soils (used as a comparison dataset). In general, the foliar elemental uptake ranges from exclusion of phytotoxic elements such as Ni and Mn, to a limited number of plant species characterised by extreme accumulation of specific elements, including trace elements (Co, Mn, Ni, Zn,), or non‐essential elements (Al). This research identified hyperaccumulator behaviour (as defined by exceedances of established threshold foliar concentrations) in numerous plant species: Al > 1000 μg g−1 (38 spp.), Mn > 10 mg g−1 (7 spp.), Co > 300 μg g−1 (3 spp.), Ni > 1000 μg g−1 (24 spp.) and Zn > 3000 μg g−1 (2 spp.). Distinct phylogenetic patterns emerged for Ni in which 18 of the identified 24 Ni hyperaccumulators were in the order Malpighiales, predominantly in the families Phyllanthaceae, Salicaceae and Violaceae.
Natural revegetation potential of Japanese wild thyme (Thymus quinquecostatus Celak.) on serpentine quarries
Authors: Mizuno Takafumi , Nakahara Yusuke , Fujimori Tomoaki , Yoshida Haruna
Published: February 2018

Quarrying is an important industry that supports human infrastructure, but it has negative effects on human health, environments, and plant communities. In the case of the serpentine quarry on Sugashima Island (Sugashima), Japan, rapid remediation using native plants is necessary to restore the serpentine ecosystem. According to our previous work, we revealed high adaptability of Japanese wild thyme (Thymus quinquecostatus Celak.) to the severe environment of serpentine areas, and we desired to utilize this species for revegetation. However, basic information on Japanese thyme was extremely limited, in comparison with well‐investigated European thymes that have been used for revegetation experiments. The aims of this work were to identify the plant functional traits of wild thymes collected from different areas of Japan and to test their potential for revegetation of serpentine quarry soil. We collected four types of wild thyme from Sugashima and other areas of serpentine, calcareous, and tuff breccia soil, and revealed varietal differences in leaf form, branching patterns, flowers, and also blooming season, seed formation ability, and seed germination percentages. Thymes from serpentine and calcareous areas could grow on soil of the serpentine quarry, and a small number of plants were able to cover the experimental plots. Among the Japanese thymes investigated, Sugashima thyme had the longest branches, and spread rapidly by forming many branches. These data suggest that Japanese thymes, especially Sugashima thyme, have good potential for revegetation of serpentine quarries.
An update of the Worldwide Integrated Assessment (WIA) on systemic insecticides. Part 3: alternatives to systemic insecticides
Authors: Furlan Lorenzo , Pozzebon Alberto , Duso Carlo , Simon-Delso Noa , Sánchez-Bayo Francisco , Marchand Patrice A. , Codato Filippo , Bijleveld van Lexmond Maarten , Bonmatin Jean-Marc
Published: February 2018

Over-reliance on pesticides for pest control is inflicting serious damage to the environmental services that underpin agricultural productivity. The widespread use of systemic insecticides, neonicotinoids, and the phenylpyrazole fipronil in particular is assessed here in terms of their actual use in pest management, effects on crop yields, and the development of pest resistance to these compounds in many crops after two decades of usage. Resistance can only be overcome in the longterm by implementing methods that are not exclusively based on synthetic pesticides. A diverse range of pest management tactics is already available, all of which can achieve efficient pest control below the economic injury level while maintaining the productivity of the crops. A novel insurance method against crop failure is shown here as an example of alternative methods that can protect farmer’s crops and their livelihoods without having to use insecticides. Finally, some concluding remarks about the need for a new framework for a truly sustainable agriculture that relies mainly on natural ecosystem services instead of chemicals are included; this reinforcing the previous WIA conclusions (van der Sluijs et al. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22:148-154, 2015).
Deciphering the protein‐DNA code of bacterial winged helix‐turn‐helix transcription factors
Authors: Joyce Adam P. , Havranek James J.
Published: February 2018

Background

Sequence‐specific binding by transcription factors (TFs) plays a significant role in the selection and regulation of target genes. At the protein:DNA interface, amino acid side‐chains construct a diverse physicochemical network of specific and non‐specific interactions, and seemingly subtle changes in amino acid identity at certain positions may dramatically impact TF:DNA binding. Variation of these specificity‐determining residues (SDRs) is a major mechanism of functional divergence between TFs with strong structural or sequence homology.

Methods

In this study, we employed a combination of high‐throughput specificity profiling by SELEX and Spec‐seq, structural modeling, and evolutionary analysis to probe the binding preferences of winged helix‐turn‐helix TFs belonging to the OmpR sub‐family in Escherichia coli.

Results

We found that E. coli OmpR paralogs recognize tandem, variably spaced repeats composed of “GT‐A” or “GCT”‐containing half‐sites. Some divergent sequence preferences observed within the “GT‐A” mode correlate with amino acid similarity; conversely, “GCT”‐based motifs were observed for a subset of paralogs with low sequence homology. Direct specificity profiling of a subset of OmpR homologues (CpxR, RstA, and OmpR) as well as predicted “SDR‐swap” variants revealed that individual SDRs may impact sequence preferences locally through direct contact with DNA bases or distally via the DNA backbone.

Conclusions

Overall, our work provides evidence for a common structural “code” for sequence‐specific wHTH‐DNA interactions, and demonstrates that surprisingly modest residue changes can enable recognition of highly divergent sequence motifs. Further examination of SDR predictions will likely reveal additional mechanisms controlling the evolutionary divergence of this important class of transcriptional regulators.
MRHCA: a nonparametric statistics based method for hub and co‐expression module identification in large gene co‐expression network
Authors: Zhang Yu , Cao Sha , Zhao Jing , Alsaihati Burair , Ma Qin , Zhang Chi
Published: February 2018

Background

Gene co‐expression and differential co‐expression analysis has been increasingly used to study co‐functional and co‐regulatory biological mechanisms from large scale transcriptomics data sets.

Methods

In this study, we develop a nonparametric approach to identify hub genes and modules in a large co‐expression network with low computational and memory cost, namely MRHCA.

Results

We have applied the method to simulated transcriptomics data sets and demonstrated MRHCA can accurately identify hub genes and estimate size of co‐expression modules. With applying MRHCA and differential co‐expression analysis to E. coli and TCGA cancer data, we have identified significant condition specific activated genes in E. coli and distinct gene expression regulatory mechanisms between the cancer types with high copy number variation and small somatic mutations.

Conclusion

Our analysis has demonstrated MRHCA can (i) deal with large association networks, (ii) rigorously assess statistical significance for hubs and module sizes, (iii) identify co‐expression modules with low associations, (iv) detect small and significant modules, and (v) allow genes to be present in more than one modules, compared with existing methods.
A novel β‐titanium alloy orthodontic wire
Authors: Chang Hong‐Po , Tseng Yu‐Chuan
Published: February 2018

This literature review investigated a recently developed orthodontic wire composed of a β‐titanium alloy known as “Gum Metal” and compared its properties with those of conventional wires. The attractive properties of Gum Metal include an ultra‐low Young's modulus, non‐linear elastic behavior, ultra‐high strength, high yield strain, high ductility, and superplastic deformability without work hardening at room temperature. The unique multifunctional characteristics of this new orthodontic wire make it almost ideal for orthodontic applications. The results of this literature review indicate the strong potential use of Gum Metal wire for improving and enhancing the effectiveness of orthodontic treatment.
Role and place of the parliament of Kazakhstan in the system of checks and balances
Authors: Kanapyanov Timur
Published: February 2018

This article examines the system of checks and balances in post-Soviet Kazakhstan in general and the role of the Parliament of Kazakhstan in that system in particular. As opposed to the scientific mainstream in Kazakhstan which explains established system of checks and balances as a result of formal constitutional reforms, this article undertakes broader analytical framework and examines the system of checks and balances in Kazakhstan taking into account a correlation of formal and informal practices. The goal of the article is to show that in post-Soviet Kazakhstan the separation of powers is established without proper checks and balances. The inference drawn from the article is that the separation of powers in Kazakhstan is blocked by the strong constitutional and informal powers of the President, which allows him to control and interfere in affairs of all branches of power.
Prosecutor v. Al-Bashir
Authors: Ventura Manuel J.
Published: February 2018

On July 6, 2017, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (the Court or ICC)—composed of Judges Tarfusser, Perrin de Brichambaut, and Chung—held that South Africa violated the Rome Statute of the ICC (Rome Statute) by failing to arrest and surrender to the Court President Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan when he visited the country in June 2015. However, the Court did not refer the matter to the ICC Assembly of States Parties (ASP) or the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) pursuant to Article 87(7) of the Rome Statute. The decision added South Africa to a list of ICC state parties that have failed in their Rome Statute obligations with respect to the incumbent head of state of Sudan. It also marked the first time that the ICC Office of the Prosecutor (OTP), all ICC states parties, and the United Nations (UN) were invited to present their views and argue fully what is perhaps the most legally contentious and politically sensitive issue that the ICC has faced in its history.
High-resolution airborne observations of sea-ice pressure ridge sail height
Authors: Duncan K. , Farrell S. L. , Connor L. N. , Richter-Menge J. , Hutchings J. K. , Dominguez R.
Published: February 2018

Pressure ridges impact the mass, energy and momentum budgets of the sea-ice cover and present an obstacle to transportation through ice-infested waters. Quantifying ridge characteristics is important for understanding total sea-ice mass and for improving the representation of sea-ice dynamics in high-resolution models. Multi-sensor measurements collected during annual Operation IceBridge (OIB) airborne surveys of the Arctic provide new opportunities to assess the sea ice at the end of winter. We present a new methodology to derive ridge sail height from high-resolution OIB Digital Mapping System (DMS) visible imagery. We assess the efficacy of the methodology by mapping the full sail height distribution along 12 pressure ridges in the western and central Arctic. Comparisons against coincident Airborne Topographic Mapper (ATM) elevation anomalies are used to demonstrate the methodology and evaluate DMS-derived sail heights. Sail heights and elevation anomalies were correlated at 0.81 or above. On average mean and maximum sail height agreed with ATM elevation to within 0.11 and 0.49 m, respectively. Of the ridges mapped, mean sail height ranged from 0.99 to 2.16 m, while maximum sail height ranged from 2.1 to 4.8 m. DMS also delivered higher sampling along ridge crests than coincident ATM data.
Nudging folks towards stronger password choices: providing certainty is the key
Authors: RENAUD KAREN , ZIMMERMANN VERENA
Published: February 2018

Persuading people to choose strong passwords is challenging. One way to influence password strength, as and when people are making the choice, is to tweak the choice architecture to encourage stronger choice. A variety of choice architecture manipulations (i.e. ‘nudges’) have been trialled by researchers with a view to strengthening the overall password profile. None has made much of a difference so far. Here, we report on our design of an influential behavioural intervention tailored to the password choice context: a hybrid nudge that significantly prompted stronger passwords. We carried out three longitudinal studies to analyse the efficacy of a range of ‘nudges’ by manipulating the password choice architecture of an actual university web application. The first and second studies tested the efficacy of several simple visual framing ‘nudges’. Password strength did not budge. The third study tested expiration dates directly linked to password strength. This manipulation delivered a positive result: significantly longer and stronger passwords. Our main conclusion was that the final successful nudge provided participants with absolute certainty as to the benefit of a stronger password and that it was this certainty that made the difference.
Heat transfer and shear-induced migration in dense non-Brownian suspension flows: modelling and simulation
Authors: Dbouk T.
Published: February 2018

Modelling and simulation are developed, generalized and validated for both heat transfer and shear-induced particle migration in dense non-colloidal laminar suspension flows. Past theory and measurements for the effective thermal conductivity in porous materials at zero shear rate are coupled to more recent effective thermal diffusivity measurements of sheared suspensions. The suspension effective heat transfer affected by the local shear rate ($\dot{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}}$), the phenomenon of shear-induced particle migration (SIM), the buoyancy effects ($\unicode[STIX]{x0394}\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}$) and the thermal Péclet number ($Pe_{d_{p}}=\dot{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}}d_{p}^{2}/\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}_{f}$, where $d_{p}$ is the diameter of rigid particles and $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}_{f}$ is the fluid phase thermal diffusivity) at the particle scale are all considered in the present constitutive three-dimensional modelling. Moreover, the influence of the temperature, the shear rate and the particle volume fraction ($\unicode[STIX]{x1D719}$) on the suspension effective viscosity ($\unicode[STIX]{x1D702}_{S}$), the suspension effective thermal properties and the fluid density ($\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}_{f}$) are taken also into account. The present contribution represents an emerging field of heat transfer applications of complex fluid flows and is very beneficial for many future applications where concentrated suspension laminar flows with conjugate heat transfer may be present (e.g. for designing more innovative and compact heat exchangers).
Old-Fashioned Racism, Contemporary Islamophobia, and the Isolation of Muslim Americans in the Age of Trump
Authors: Lajevardi Nazita , Oskooii Kassra A. R.
Published: February 2018

While extant research has documented the existence of negative attitudes toward Muslim Americans, it is unclear whether old-fashioned racism (OFR) is at the root of contemporary Islamophobia, and whether beliefs in the inherent inferiority of Muslims are linked to support for political actors and policies that aim to further isolate them. Bringing to bear a unique dataset of 1,044 white, black, Latino, and Asian participants, we demonstrate that a nontrivial portion of survey respondents make blatantly racist evaluations and rate Muslim Americans as the least “evolved” group. Next, we illustrate that these dehumanizing attitudes are strongly linked to modern objections of Muslim Americans, which we measure with a new Muslim American resentment scale (MAR). Our mediation analysis reveals that the relationship between OFR, support for President Trump, and various policy positions is powerfully mediated by MAR. These results suggest that the relevance of OFR in contemporary politics should not easily be dismissed, and that the literature on racial attitudes, which has predominantly focused on the Black-white dichotomy, should also be extended to appraisals of Muslim Americans.
ON THE SYMMETRIC SQUARES OF COMPLEX AND QUATERNIONIC PROJECTIVE SPACE
Authors: BOOTE YUMI , RAY NIGEL
Published: February 2018

The problem of computing the integral cohomology ring of the symmetric square of a topological space has long been of interest, but limited progress has been made on the general case until recently. We offer a solution for the complex and quaternionic projective spaces$\mathbb{K}$Pn, by utilising their rich geometrical structure. Our description involves generators and relations, and our methods entail ideas from the literature of quantum chemistry, theoretical physics, and combinatorics. We begin with the case$\mathbb{K}$P∞, and then identify the truncation required for passage to finiten. The calculations rely upon a ladder of long exact cohomology sequences, which compares cofibrations associated to the diagonals of the symmetric square and the corresponding Borel construction. These incorporate the one-point compactifications of classic configuration spaces of unordered pairs of points in$\mathbb{K}$Pn, which are identified as Thom spaces by combining Löwdin's symmetric orthogonalisation (and its quaternionic analogue) with a dash ofPingeometry. The relations in the ensuing cohomology rings are conveniently expressed using generalised Fibonacci polynomials. Our conclusions are compatible with those of Gugnin mod torsion and Nakaoka mod 2, and with homological results of Milgram.
On the Multiplicity of a Stochastic Vector Process
Authors: Cramér Harald
Published: February 2018

This note deals with a q-dimensional stochastic vector process x(t) = {x1 (t), …, xq (t)}, satisfying certain stated general conditions. For such a process, there is a representation (1) in terms of stochastic innovations acting throughout the past of the process. The number N of terms in this representation is called the multiplicity of the x(t) process, and is uniquely determined by the process. For a one-dimensional process (q = 1) it is known that under certain conditions we have N = 1. For an arbitrary value of q, this note gives conditions under which we have N ≦ q.
The influence of selected environmental parameters and habitat mosaics on fish assemblages in a South American estuary
Authors: Bolzan Michelle Sequine , Andrades Ryan , Spach Henry Louis , Hostim-Silva Mauricio
Published: February 2018

Coastal environments are faced with constant habitat modification and biodiversity loss due to human occupation. Estuaries are considered to be highly productive and shelter heterogeneous habitats such as mangrove forests, tidal creeks, tidal mud flats and sandy beaches, which are important for the maintenance of natural resources. The present study aims to evaluate how different shallow juvenile habitats (sandy beaches, mangrove shoreline habitats and dense macrophyte habitats) influence fish during their early life stages in a tropical estuary of Brazil. Monthly samples using a beach seine net from July 2012 to June 2013 were collected in eight shallow areas of the São Mateus River estuary. The fish assemblage comprised mainly juvenile and small-sized fish, which included ecologically and commercially important species. Small recruits of Atherinella brasiliensis and Ctenogobius boleosoma were most abundant in the autumn, while Rhinosardinia bahiensis and Centropomus undecimalis were highly abundant during the winter. The water salinity recorded in the mid and lower estuarine portions was the most important variable for the distribution of A. brasiliensis and Sphoeroides spengleri, whereas Anchovia clupeoides, C. undecimalis, C. parallelus and Gobionellus oceanicus were positively correlated with the water depth of the upper estuarine portion. The fish species T. paulistanus, Genidens genidens and Achirus lineatus were related to the water turbidity in the upper portion. Thus, the heterogeneous shallow water habitats (and their associated environmental parameters) of the São Mateus River estuary are potential nursery grounds for the early life stages of a variety of fish species, which highlights the importance of these areas for local biodiversity management.
Corporal Punishment in Late Modern English Dialects (an analysis based on EDD Online)
Authors: Markus Manfred
Published: February 2018

It is a sad fact that physical violence and, as a subtype, the corporal punishment of children and juveniles, practised by parents and other guardians, schools and clergy in both Europe and North America, have been part of our ‘Western’, i.e. Christian, cultural heritage, not to mention other world-cultures. I myself am old enough to remember the various common practices of physical violence used on children in the 1950s. At school in Germany, caning and face-slapping were officially tolerated and quite common, applied as a kind of educational instrument, sometimes even to 17-year-olds. In state-run schools of the United Kingdom, corporal punishment was politically banned only in 1986. Private schools followed suit from 1998 (England and Wales) to 2003 (Northern Ireland) (Country report for UK, 2015). In the United States, corporal punishment is still lawful in 19 states, in both public and private schools (Country report for USA, 2016).
Jellyfish distribution and abundance in relation to the physical habitat of Jellyfish Lake, Palau
Authors: Cimino Megan A. , Patris Sharon , Ucharm Gerda , Bell Lori J. , Terrill Eric
Published: February 2018

Animals often select for habitats that increase their chance of survival by balancing the need to acquire food, reproduce and avoid predation. Perennial blooms of golden jellyfish (Mastigias papua etpisoni) are present in Jellyfish Lake, Palau, a popular tourist destination. Based on the species’ economic importance and unusual behavioural complexity, increased understanding of jellyfish habitat selection is necessary. We used a novel approach, a REMUS autonomous underwater vehicle, to quantify jellyfish distribution, abundance and habitat, and compared these findings to traditional methods. Midday acoustic surveys showed jellyfish distribution was patchy and the population resided mainly on the eastern side of the lake, as it is known that jellyfish migrate eastward towards the sun. Highest vertical densities of jellyfish were at 6–7 m, potentially to mitigate UV damage or photoinhibition of their photosymbionts, suggesting a coupling exists between their vertical distribution and water properties. Abundance estimates of jellyfish were ~2.75 and ~7.1 million (~2 million excluding bell diameters <1 cm) from acoustic and net samples, suggesting the methodology employed underestimated the population's smaller size fraction and non-synoptic surveys could impact estimates due to unresolved patchiness. Our approach could investigate population dynamics, behaviour or habitat associations on fine scales.
Course keeping Control Based on Integrated Nonlinear Feedback for a USV with Pod-like Propulsion
Authors: Fan Yunsheng , Mu Dongdong , Zhang Xianku , Wang Guofeng , Guo Chen
Published: February 2018

In this paper, a response model of an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) with a pod-like propulsion device is established. To improve the robustness of motion control in heavy sea states, an integrated nonlinear feedback course-keeping controller is proposed. First, to establish a response model of a USV with pod-like propulsion, model parameters are obtained by the method of system identification, then an integrated nonlinear feedback control strategy is proposed. The essence of this method is to make the original error signal pass through a nonlinear function, and then the output of this function is used to replace the original error signal. Simulation results show that under ordinary sea states, nonlinear feedback can save up to 34.5% of energy used compared with standard feedback methods; under heavy sea states, this can rise to 40.8%. A set of field experiments were carried out with a USV with pod-like propulsion. Results show that under heavy sea states, the test USV can maintain the target course well, which proves the correctness of the model and the robustness of the proposed method.
Governance explains variation in national responses to the biodiversity crisis
Authors: BAYNHAM-HERD ZACHARY , AMANO TATSUYA , SUTHERLAND WILLIAM J. , DONALD PAUL F.
Published: February 2018

Growing concern about the biodiversity crisis has led to a proliferation of conservation responses, but with wide variation between countries in the levels of engagement and investment. Much of this variation is inevitably attributed to differences between nations in wealth. However, the relationship between environmentalism and wealth is complex and it is increasingly apparent that other factors are also involved. We review hypotheses that have been developed to explain variation in broad environmentalism and show that many of the factors that explain such variation in individuals, such as wealth, age and experience, also explain differences between nation states. We then assess the extent to which these factors explain variation between nation states in responses to and investment in the more specific area of biodiversity conservation. Unexpectedly, quality of governance explained substantially more variation in public and state investment in biodiversity conservation than did direct measures of wealth. The results inform assessments of where conservation investments might most profitably be directed in the future and suggest that metrics relating to governance might be of considerable use in conservation planning.
Newsround
Authors: Smith David Michael
Published: February 2018

‘Newsround’ offers a platform for the presentation of new data which do not appear within the specialist contributions of this year's Archaeological Reports, but which nevertheless warrant emphasis, either as a result of their particular characteristics or for the contribution they make to broader archaeological narratives. This section is not intended to be exhaustive; rather, it is designed to highlight recent discoveries in a way which complements digital content made available through AGOnline/Chronique des fouilles en ligne. The very varied nature of this material has meant that, for the most part, it has proved preferable to organize this section chronologically, although dedicated sections are provided for the inclusion of regional histories, marine archaeology and archaeological survey.