bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of knots and holes on the modulus of elasticity prediction and mapping of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) veneer using near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI)
Authors: Sofianto Imran Arra’d , Inagaki Tetsuya , Ma Te , Tsuchikawa Satoru 
Published: September 2018

Abstract
Naturally occurring knots reduce the mechanical strength of wood. Veneers from sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) served as research material to study the effect of knots and holes. Veneer samples were first subjected to a three-point bending test to obtain measured modulus of elasticity (MOE) values. Then, near-infrared (NIR) hyperspectral imaging (HSI) was used to construct a prediction model and map the predicted MOE values. This is the first attempt for MOE prediction from the entire veneer surface based on NIR-HSI technology, while the mathematical part relies on chemometrics and cross-validation partial least squares regression (CV-PLSR). Maps of MOE prediction values could distinguish between latewood (LW) and earlywood (EW), as well as between a sound knot and a dead knot.
Switchable inteins for conditional protein splicing
Authors: Di Ventura Barbara , Mootz Henning D. 
Published: September 2018

Abstract
Synthetic biologists aim at engineering controllable biological parts such as DNA, RNA and proteins in order to steer biological activities using external inputs. Proteins can be controlled in several ways, for instance by regulating the expression of their encoding genes with small molecules or light. However, post-translationally modifying pre-existing proteins to regulate their function or localization leads to faster responses. Conditional splicing of internal protein domains, termed inteins, is an attractive methodology for this purpose. Here we discuss methods to control intein activity with a focus on those compatible with applications in living cells.
Signs of length
Authors: Vertegaal Alexander J. J. 
Published: September 2018

Abstract
In Vertegaal 2017, it was argued that plene spellings(〈CV-V〉 sign sequences) in Hieroglyphic Luwian can be divided into two types: space-fillers on the one hand, and non-fillers on the other. This article focuses on plene spellings of the latter kind, as attested in texts from the Iron Age (CHLI). It is demonstrated that these non-filler plene writings are non-randomly distributed across morphemes and lexemes, indicating that this mode of spelling marks a phonetic feature. Using secure etymologies and analyses, it is proposed that non-filler (“linguistically real”) plene spellings mark the presence of long vowels or disyllabic sequences. The validity of this hypothesis is subsequently tested against less secure and doubtful etymologies as well as counterexamples. Finally, it is concluded that the hypothesis holds, thereby providing, for the first time, direct evidence for the writing of vowel length in Hieroglyphic Luwian.
Greco-Armenian
Authors: Kim Ronald I. 
Published: September 2018

Abstract
It has been generally held since the beginning of the 20th century that Armenian is more closely related to Greek than to any other Indo-European branch. A more recent minority opinion posits an especially close relationship between Greek and Armenian, even going so far as to assume a period of Greco-Armenian unity. Following upon recent publications, above all Clackson 1994, this paper argues that the available evidence does not at all support this stronger hypothesis. In contrast to the lexical innovations common to Greek and Armenian, the phonological isoglosses shared by the two languages are extremely few and of an easily repeatable nature. The morphological features claimed as shared innovations may likewise represent independent developments and/or have parallels in other Indo-European branches, whereas other features of verbal morphology rather appear to connect Armenian with Indo-Iranian or Balto-Slavic. These considerations suggest that pre-Armenian belonged to a dialect continuum encompassing the ancestors of Greek, Phrygian, and Indo-Iranian for some time after the breakup of Proto-Indo-European, but made up a distinct speech community already by the late 3rd millennium BC.
Invariant Causal Prediction for Nonlinear Models
Authors: Heinze-Deml Christina , Peters Jonas , Meinshausen Nicolai 
Published: September 2018

AbstractAn important problem in many domains is to predict how a system will respond to interventions. This task is inherently linked to estimating the system’s underlying causal structure. To this end, Invariant Causal Prediction (ICP) [1] has been proposed which learns a causal model exploiting the invariance of causal relations using data from different environments. When considering linear models, the implementation of ICP is relatively straightforward. However, the nonlinear case is more challenging due to the difficulty of performing nonparametric tests for conditional independence.In this work, we present and evaluate an array of methods for nonlinear and nonparametric versions of ICP for learning the causal parents of given target variables. We find that an approach which first fits a nonlinear model with data pooled over all environments and then tests for differences between the residual distributions across environments is quite robust across a large variety of simulation settings. We call this procedure “invariant residual distribution test”. In general, we observe that the performance of all approaches is critically dependent on the true (unknown) causal structure and it becomes challenging to achieve high power if the parental set includes more than two variables.As a real-world example, we consider fertility rate modeling which is central to world population projections. We explore predicting the effect of hypothetical interventions using the accepted models from nonlinear ICP. The results reaffirm the previously observed central causal role of child mortality rates.
Seasonality of month of birth in children and adolescents with autoimmune thyroiditis: a continuing conundrum
Authors: Kyrgios Ioannis , Giza Styliani , Tsinopoulou Vasiliki Rengina , Maggana Ioanna , Haidich Anna-Bettina , Galli-Tsinopoulou Assimina 
Published: September 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this study was to analyze the seasonal birth month pattern in young patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and compare it with youth controls.MethodsMedical records of a total of 298 children and adolescents of Greek origin, with a diagnosis of Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) before the age of 21 years that were born from 1987 to 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. In addition, 298 consecutive subjects that were born from 1988 to 2012 and evaluated in a tertiary unit for any reason, served as controls, provided that they had no personal or family history of thyroid or any other autoimmune disease.ResultsSignificant differences were found between children and adolescents with HT and healthy controls in the yearly pattern of month of birth distribution (p=0.029). During month-by-month analysis, it was shown that the highest and lowest predispositions to HT were among those born in spring (March) (odds ratio [OR] 2.34, p=0.005), and autumn (November) (OR 0.49, p=0.035), respectively. A binary logistic regression model also revealed that season of birth and sex were the only factors that remained related to HT disease, even after adjustment for confounding factors such as year of birth and age (p<0.001, Nagelkerke r-square 0.151).ConclusionsThis study suggests that the effect of certain seasonal factors during fetal development, reflected by the seasonal differences in birth pattern, in children and adolescents with autoimmune thyroiditis could contribute to long-term programming of an autoimmune response against the thyroid gland. Further studies are needed to demonstrate a clear cause and effect relationship between month of birth and HT.
Adipocyte aquaporin 7 (AQP7) expression in lean children and children with obesity. Possible involvement in molecular mechanisms of childhood obesity
Authors: Oikonomou Eleni , Kostopoulou Eirini , Rojas-Gil Andrea Paola , Georgiou George , Spiliotis Bessie E. 
Published: September 2018

Abstract

Background
Aquaporin 7 (AQP7), a water/glycerol transporting protein, regulates adipocyte glycerol efflux and influences lipid and glucose homeostasis. Altered AQP7 expression in adults leads to impaired glycerol dynamics, adipocyte hypertrophy and it predisposes them to obesity and diabetes. To assess its possible involvement in childhood obesity, this study investigated the expression of adipocyte AQP7 in cultured adipocytes of children.

Methods
Primary in vitro differentiated adipocyte cultures were developed from surgical biopsies of subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue from 61 (46 prepubertal, 15 pubertal) lean children (body mass index [BMI] <85%) and 41 (22 prepubertal, 19 pubertal) children with obesity (BMI >95%). AQP7 expression was studied by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western immunoblotting and insulin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results
AQP7 messenger RNA (mRNA) was increased in the younger obese prepubertal (YOP) children but decreased in the obese adolescents (OA) (p=0.014) who also had increased insulin and homeostatic model assessment – insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Lean pubertal (LP) children and YOP had increased 41 kDa AQP7 protein expression (p=0.001 and p=0.005, respectively). The OA who expressed 34 kDa AQP7 had lower triglyceride (TG) levels than those who did not express it (p=0.013). In the lean children, TG were negatively correlated with 34 kDa AQP7 (p=0.033).

Conclusions
The lower AQP7 mRNA expression in the OA may reflect a predisposition to adipocyte hypertrophy and metabolic dysfunction, as in the adults, whereas the YOP may be protected from this. The increased 41 kDa AQP7 protein expression in the LP may reflect the increased energy requirements of puberty for glycerol while in the YOP it may also be protective against the development of adipocyte hypertrophy.
On stretched magnetic flow of Carreau nanofluid with slip effects and nonlinear thermal radiation
Authors: Ganesh Kumar K. , Ramesh G.K. , Gireesha B.J. , Rashad A.M. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractPresent article reports the magnetohydrodynamic flow of Carreau nanofluid in the presence of nonlinear thermal radiation. In this model we incorporated slip condition on heat and mass boundary conditions. Similarity transformations are applied to convert the governing dimensional expressions into non-dimensional forms. Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg method of fourth–fifth order using shooting technique utilized to elaborate the numerical solutions of physical phenomenon.A comparative analysis is presented with the previous published data in special case for the justification of present results. The role of physical constraints on liquid velocity, temperature and concentration are discussed through numerical data and plots.
An adaptive mesh method for time dependent singularly perturbed differential-difference equations
Authors: Pramod Chakravarthy P. , Kumar Kamalesh 
Published: September 2018

AbstractIn this paper, a time dependent singularly perturbed differential-difference convection-diffusion equation is solved numerically by using an adaptive grid method. Similar boundary value problems arise in computational neuroscience in determination of the behaviour of a neuron to random synaptic inputs. The mesh is constructed adaptively by using the concept of entorpy function. In the proposed scheme, prior information of the width and position of the layers are not required. The method is independent of perturbation parameterεand gives us an oscillation free solution, without any user introduced parameters. Numerical examples are presented to show the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed scheme.
Surface modification of Sb-SnO2/potassium titanate composite and their performance for acrylic coatings
Authors: Li Xifeng , Zuo Shixiang , Yao Chao , Liu Wenjie , Li Xiazhang , Li Guang 
Published: September 2018

Abstract
Sb-SnO2/potassium titanate (SSP) composites were synthesized by densely coating Sb-doped SnO2 on the surface of fibrous-like potassium titanate. X-ray diffraction demonstrated that Sb was successfully doped into the crystal lattice of SnO2. To improve the dispersion of SSP composites in the acrylic resin, the as-prepared SSP was modified with sodium stearate. Fourier transform infrared spectra, thermogravimetric analysis, and transmission electron microscopy confirmed that stearate radicals existed on the surface of SSP in the form of physical adsorption. The hydrophilic degree of modified SSP was largely improved by water contact angle measurements. The properties (surface resistivity and mechanical properties) of the conductive coatings prepared by adding the obtained composites were investigated in detail. The modified SSP coatings exhibit more superior electrical conductivity due to their better dispersion in the matrix compared with SSP. Moreover, the obtained composite coatings present high pencil hardness of 4H–5H and excellent adhesion force, flexibility, and impact resistance.
Multilingualism and sameness versus otherness in a semiotic context
Authors: Hoxha Bujar 
Published: September 2018

AbstractMany countries throughout the globe function in a system that allows the usage of more than one language. Such a multilingual social reality’s construction, especially in societies like the one in which I am living, is perceived in many different ways: attempting thus to provide for the process of differentiating identity’s oneness and sameness into various cultural subcategories, which already represent new realities (and/or otherness in terms of identity’s conceptualization). Due to newly created social realities, semiotics naturally discusses the differences and/or oppositions that can contribute to various cultures’ mutual exclusivity or inclusivity, in terms of various heterogeneous “transformations,” which would thus overcome dualities, and be viewed as single acts of signs, or as a result of a process of singularization of their constituent components. I shall also attempt using a semiotic style that may enact a semiotics of action, grounded on the semiotics of passions, through a way of producing semantic taxonomies as pride versus humiliation, hegemony versus subordination, etc., obtainable due to disjunctive and/or conjunctive semiotic relations such as contextualization versus de-contextualization.
Financial fragmentation and the monetary transmission mechanism in the euro area: a smooth transition VAR approach
Authors: Kotz Hans-Helmut , Semmler Willi , Tahri Ibrahim 
Published: September 2018

Abstract
This paper investigates the effect of financial fragmentation on the monetary transmission mechanism in different Euro area economies, categorized into two groups: countries considered as “core” economies and countries characterized as “peripheral” economies. We analyze the effects of financial fragmentation on the monetary transmission mechanism through the traditional interest rate channel. To gauge the impact of changes in policy rates on the behavior of real variables such as aggregate output and employment we use a Smooth Transition VAR (VSTAR) model. Employing a nonlinear multivariate time series approach helps us capture the regime-dependent dynamics of the variables under study. The results obtained show that money market rates targeted by the central bank do not completely pass through to banks’ lending rates to firms, particularly in a financially fragmented environment. This finding supports the hypothesis of an impairment of the monetary transmission mechanism as a result of financial fragmentation. Given this impairment in some sectors and regions an accompanying credit volume policy might have been appropriate.
Beobachtungs- und Evaluationsaufträge an den Gesetzgeber in der Rechtsprechung des Bundesverfassungsgerichts
Authors: Bieback Karl-Jürgen 
Published: September 2018

Zusammenfassung
Die Beobachtungs- (zusammen mit der Nachbesserungs-) Pflicht des Gesetzgebers ist ein vielgebrauchter Topos des Bundesverfassungsgerichts aus recht unterschiedlichen Kontexten. Sie lässt sich nur begrenzt systematisieren. Aus ihr folgt kein Auftrag zu bestimmten Methoden der „Beobachtung“. Durch ihre Einbindung in die Prüfung der Verhältnismäßigkeit begrenzt die Pflicht die gesetzgeberische Gestaltungsfreiheit etwas. Sie stützt sie (politisch wie verfassungsrechtlich) vor allem in Fällen von Gesetzesentscheidungen unter großer Unsicherheit, komplexen Wirkungszusammenhängen sowie unklarer Handhabung/Umsetzung.
Novel Facile Technique for the Determination of Binding Strength of Adhesives
Authors: Ezeh Emmanuel C. , Chime Charles C. , Nweze Bernardine N. , Okenwa Jude C. , Chukwuma Sabestine A. , Nnaona Chiedozie C. 
Published: September 2018

Abstract
Second to the wide application of different types of adhesives in various industries, offices, and homes and to the paucity of raw materials for the production of adhesives, as well as constraints in access to the conventional instruments for determination of binding strength, especially in underdeveloped and developing countries, there is a need to source and produce adhesives locally from readily available and inexpensive raw materials and to develop simple and reliable techniques to determine the binding strength. In this work, adhesives were produced from pumpkin and watermelon seeds. The binding strength of the adhesives was successfully tested using a simple technique involving a retort stand and standard objects of known mass. The adhesives were of good quality and easily applied, especially on paper, foam, footwear, and wood works. This novel technique provides a very easy and inexpensive route for the determination of binding strength as it does not require electric power, advanced technical skills, or other chemicals.
Alcohol Use and Alcohol-Interactive Medications Among Medically Vulnerable Youth
Authors: Weitzman Elissa R. , Magane Kara M. , Wisk Lauren E. , Allario Joseph , Harstad Elizabeth , Levy Sharon 
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Despite their medical vulnerability, youth with chronic medical conditions (YCMCs) drink at levels commensurate with healthy youth. However, information about the prevalence of alcohol use among YCMCs who take alcohol-interactive (AI) medications is scant. To address gaps and inform interventions, we quantified simultaneous exposure to alcohol use and AI medications among YCMCs, hypothesizing that AI exposure would be associated with lower alcohol consumption and mediated by perceptions of alcohol-medication interference.

METHODS:
Adolescents with type 1 diabetes, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, moderate persistent asthma, cystic fibrosis, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or inflammatory bowel disease completed an electronic survey. We measured the prevalence of exposure to AI medications and the associations with past-year alcohol use as well as binge drinking and total consumption volume in the past 3 months using multivariate regression to estimate the odds of alcohol use given AI medication exposure and perceptions of interference.

RESULTS:
Of 396 youth, 86.4% were on AI medications, of whom, 35.4% reported past-year alcohol use (46.3% among those who were not on AI medications). AI medication use was associated with 43% lower odds of past-year alcohol use (adjusted odds ratio: 0.57; 95% confidence interval: 0.39–0.85) and lower total consumption (β = −.43; SE = 0.11; P &lt; .001). Perceptions of alcohol-medication interference partially mediated the relationship between AI medication exposure and past-year alcohol use (Sobel test P = .05).

CONCLUSIONS:
Many YCMCs reported using alcohol; however, drinking was less likely among those who were taking AI medications. Perceptions about alcohol-medication interference mediated the association between drinking and AI medication exposure, suggesting the potential salience of interventions that emphasize alcohol-related risks.
Ad obstructos intellectus: da superfície à profundidade em A Ciência da Cruz de Edith Stein
Authors: Machado Elisângela Pereira , Brustolin Leomar Antônio 
Published: September 2018

Edith Stein em seu fenomenológico caminho pessoal faz a experiência do adentrar-se no profundo pouco conhecido. Ela rompe as obstruções de um cotidiano ordinário e segue além de uma intelectualidade cuja verdade é sempre buscada com afinco. Este artigo apresenta como o pensamento steiniano ilumina o ser humano contemporâneo na busca de sair da superficialidade e adentrar na profundidade da existência onde se encontra o sentido da vida. Em virtude disso, o intento deste artigo é apresentar reflexões presentes na obra Ciência da Cruz de Edith Stein, baseada na Doutrina Mística de João da Cruz que propõe uma comunicação com Deus consciente e definitiva. Isso consiste em um avançar para além da razão e do intelecto em tempos de estagnação, superfície e vazio.
Human Transcendence as a Locus of Revelation and Foundation for Theological Work: Implications from Rahner’s Hearer of the Word
Authors: Bedin Fontana Leandro Luis 
Published: September 2018

This article concerns the complex relation between the heteronomous authority of divine revelation and human autonomy, particularly having regard to the context of Western, secularized, religiously plural societies. In the face of the current fragmentation of meaning and the crisis of morality, and considering that individuals must take on the responsibility for their own life projects and decisions themselves, they can no longer cope without personal autonomy to form their own frames of reference, rather than deriving them from religions, as in the past, whose doctrines have become alien to them. In Hearer of the Word, Rahner raises human transcendence to a category in which human autonomy and God’s ultimate Word meet on the level of Being, of existence, where eaning is reintegrated, the lively, original experience of Revelation is recovered, and the apparent contradiction between faith and lifeworld can be overcome through an authentic form of religious life. ***A transcendência humana como lugar de Revelação e fundamento do fazer teológico: Implicações da obra Ouvintes da Palavra, de K. Rahner***O presente artigo aborda a complexa relação entre a autonomia humana e a autoridade heterônoma da Revelação divina, dedicando particular atenção ao contexto das sociedades secularizadas e religiosamente plurais do Ocidente. Considerando a fragmentação de sentido, a crise da moralidade, e a necessidade de que os indivíduos desses contextos assumam completa responsabilidade por seus projetos de vida e decisões, tornou-se impossível prescindir da autonomia pessoal que possibilita a cada um/a poder definir os próprios marcos de referência, ao invés de delegar essa tarefa às religiões, como no passado, o que tem dado origem, não raro, a conflitos existenciais. Em Ouvintes da Palavra,Rahner eleva a transcendência humana a uma categoria na qual a autonomia humana e a Palavra de Deus encontram-se no plano do Ser, da existência, onde o sentido é reintegrado, a experiência viva originária da Revelação é recuperada e a aparente contradição entre fé e mundo da vida pode ser superada através de uma vida religiosa e espiritual autêntica.Palavras-chave: Revelação. Autonomia. Secularidade. Transcendência. Teologia
Effect of zinc and rare-earth element addition on mechanical, corrosion, and biological properties of magnesium
Authors: Kottuparambil Rakesh Rajan , Bontha Srikanth , Rangarasaiah Ramesh Motagondanahalli , Arya Shashi Bhushan , Jana Anuradha , Das Mitun , Balla Vamsi Krishna , Amrithalingam Srinivasan , Prabhu T. Ram 
Published: September 2018

Abstract