bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Improved bounds and algorithms for graph cuts and network reliability
Authors: Harris David G. , Srinivasan Aravind 
Published: August 2017

AbstractKarger (SIAM Journal on Computing, 1999) developed the first fully‐polynomial approximation scheme to estimate the probability that a graph G becomes disconnected, given that its edges are removed independently with probability p. This algorithm runs in time to obtain an estimate within relative error . We improve this run‐time through algorithmic and graph‐theoretic advances. First, there is a certain key sub‐problem encountered by Karger, for which a generic estimation procedure is employed; we show that this has a special structure for which a much more efficient algorithm can be used. Second, we show better bounds on the number of edge cuts which are likely to fail. Here, Karger's analysis uses a variety of bounds for various graph parameters; we show that these bounds cannot be simultaneously tight. We describe a new graph parameter, which simultaneously influences all the bounds used by Karger, and obtain much tighter estimates of the cut structure of G. These techniques allow us to improve the runtime to ; our results also rigorously prove certain experimental observations of Karger and Tai (Proc. ACM‐SIAM Symposium on Discrete Algorithms, 1997). Our rigorous proofs are motivated by certain non‐rigorous differential‐equation approximations which, however, provably track the worst‐case trajectories of the relevant parameters. A key driver of Karger's approach (and other cut‐related results) is a bound on the number of small cuts: we improve these estimates when the min‐cut size is “small” and odd, augmenting, in part, a result of Bixby (Bulletin of the AMS, 1974).
Parenting stress in caregivers of children with chronic physical condition—A meta‐analysis
Authors: Pinquart Martin 
Published: August 2017

AbstractOn the basis of the parenting stress model we compared levels of parenting stress in families with and without a child with a chronic physical condition and analysed correlates of parenting stress in families with a child with a chronic condition. A systematic search through electronic databases identified 547 relevant studies that were included in a random‐effects meta‐analysis. Parents of children with a chronic condition showed small to moderate elevations of general parenting stress and stress related to the parent–child relationship in particular. They showed moderate to large elevations in health‐related parenting stress. Parents of children with cancer, cerebral palsy, HIV infection or AIDS, and spina bifida showed the highest levels of parenting stress. Stress levels also varied by illness severity and duration, child age, parental gender and mental health, marital status, marital quality, and levels of perceived support. Behaviour problems of the child and low parental mental health were the strongest correlates of parenting stress. The present results assist with identifying parents at highest needs for interventions aimed at reducing parenting stress. These interventions should address the reduction of child behaviour problems, the promotion of parental mental health, the increase in marital quality and social support in general, and skills for dealing with stressors.
Wafer‐Scale Fabrication of Suspended Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotube Arrays by Silver Liquid Dynamics
Authors: Zhang Jian , Liu Siyu , Nshimiyimana Jean Pierre , Deng Ya , Hou Gu , Chi Xiannian , Hu Xiao , Zhang Zongzhi , Wu Pei , Wang Gongtang , Chu Weiguo , Sun Lianfeng 
Published: August 2017

AbstractSuspended single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have advantages in mechanical resonators and highly sensitive sensors. Large‐scale fabrication of suspended SWNTs array devices and uniformity among SWNTs devices remain a great challenge. This study demonstrates an effective, fast, and wafer‐scale technique to fabricate suspended SWNT arrays, which is based on a dynamic motion of silver liquid to suspend and align the SWNTs between the prefabricated palladium electrodes in high temperature annealing treatment. Suspended, strained, and aligned SWNTs are synthesized on a 2 × 2 cm2 substrate with an average density of 10 tubes per micrometer. Under the optimal conditions, almost all SWNTs become suspended. A promising formation model of suspended SWNTs is established. The Kelvin four‐terminal resistance measurement shows that these SWNT array devices have extreme low contact resistance. Meanwhile, the suspended SWNT array field effect transistors are fabricated by selective etching of metallic SWNTs using electrical breakdown. This method of large‐scale fabrication of suspended architectures pushes the study of nanoscale materials into a new stage related to the electrical physics and industrial applications.
Climate policies and nationally determined contributions: reconciling the needed ambition with the political economy
Authors: Vogt‐Schilb Adrien , Hallegatte Stephane 
Published: August 2017

Countries have pledged to stabilize global warming at a 1.5–2°C increase. Either target requires reaching net zero emissions before the end of the century, which implies a major transformation of the economic system. This study reviews the literature on how policymakers can design climate policies and their nationally determined contributions to reach zero‐net emissions before the end of the century in a socially and politically acceptable manner. To get the ambition right, policymakers can use sectoral roadmaps with targets and indicators that track progress toward zero emissions (e.g., regarding renewable power or reforestation). Indeed, monitoring economy‐wide emissions‐reductions alone would not ensure that short‐term action contributes meaningfully to the long‐term decarbonization goal. To get the political economy right, climate policies can be designed so that they contribute to nonclimate objectives and create broad coalitions of supporters. For instance, carbon taxes revenues can fund social assistance and infrastructure investment, while reducing tax evasion and informality. To minimize social and economic disruptions and avoid stranded assets, policymakers can also start with a low carbon price level and use complementary policies. Designed at the sector level, complementary policies such as performance standards or feebates for cars, building norms, or moratoriums on new coal power plants can be negotiated in partnership with local stakeholders and trigger a transition to zero carbon that does not directly affect existing polluting capital.WIREs Energy Environ2017, 6:e256. doi: 10.1002/wene.256This article is categorized under:Energy and Climate > Economics and PolicyEnergy Policy and Planning > Economics and Policy
Characterization of ashes from greenhouse crops plant biomass residues using X‐ray fluorescence analysis and X‐ray diffraction
Authors: Garzón Eduardo , Morales Laura , Martínez‐Blanes José M. , Sánchez‐Soto Pedro J. 
Published: August 2017

A characterization of ashes obtained by thermal treatments on greenhouse crops plant biomass residues is presented. The chemical analysis, by X‐ray fluorescence (wavelength‐dispersive X‐ray fluorescence), and phase analysis, by X‐ray diffraction, of the resultant ashes are reported. Thermal treatments of selected samples of these residues increase the relative amounts of inorganic Mg, Si, P, and S in the ashes, being these amounts as high as increasing temperature. As an opposite effect, Na, Cl, and K contents decrease as increasing temperature by a volatilization process of the chlorides, as confirmed by X‐ray diffraction. The crystalline phase analysis of the ashes demonstrates the formation of inorganic constituents of the biomass, including alkaline chlorides and calcium salts (calcite, anhydrite, and apatite). Progressive thermal treatments induce the formation of new silicate phases (akermanite and grossularite) and silica (α‐quartz and cristobalite). Furthermore, the particle size of the starting biomass samples does not influence the evolution of the crystalline phases by thermal treatments. In contrast, a previous leaching using water and subsequent heating at 1,000 °C produces the formation of periclase (MgO), lime (CaO), and the silicate gehlenite, without the presence of anhydrite. This study is interesting for future investigations on the residues as a profitable biomass source for energy production and sustainable large‐scale management. Some potential applications of the resultant ashes can be proposed.
Minimum variation log-aesthetic surfaces and their applications for smoothing free-form shapes
Authors: Suzuki Sho , Gobithaasan R.U. , Salvi Péter , Usuki Shin , Miura Kenjiro T. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe log-aesthetic curve, which includes the logarithmic (equiangular) spiral, clothoid, and involute of a circle, achieves a control over curvature distribution by defining its shape as an integral form of its curvature and they are expected to be utilized for the field of design. However, it is very difficult to extend it to surfaces and the existing formulations have some problems that they cannot use arbitrary boundary curves. In this paper, we propose “minimum variation log-aesthetic surface” as a new formulation for the log-aesthetic surface. Based on variational principle our method can generate surfaces by minimizing the objective function newly proposed in this paper for given arbitrary boundary curves.Highlights We propose a “minimum variation log-aesthetic surface” as a new formulation of log-aesthetic surface. We derived a new objective function based on variational principle and our method can generate surfaces by minimizing the objective function. We generate bi-cubic B-spline surfaces by minimizing the new objective function. Numerical examples indicate that it can be used for practical aesthetic design.
Cytoreductive cryosurgery in patients with bone metastatic prostate cancer: A retrospective analysis
Authors: Sheng Ming‐Xiong , Wan Ling‐Ling , Liu Chang‐Ming , Liu Chun‐Xiao , Chen Shu‐Shang 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe current study is a retrospective analysis of 49 patients with bone metastatic prostate cancer: 26 receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) alone versus 23 receiving cytoreductive cryosurgery of the primary tumor plus ADT treatment. Progression‐free survival (PFS) was the primary outcome variable, and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to identify predictors for PFS. The baseline characteristics were generally comparable between the 2 groups. Median follow‐up time was 41 months (range 24–56) and 37 months (range 19–53) in ADT alone group and cryosurgery groups, respectively. Patients receiving cryosurgery had significantly longer PFS (35 vs 25 months, P = 0.0027) and time to castration resistance (36 vs 25 months, P = 0.0011). Cox multivariate analysis associated longer PFS with the following factors: cryosurgery (HR0.207, 95% CI 0.094–0.456), lower prostate specific antigen at diagnosis (≤100 ng/ml, HR0.235, 95% CI 0.072–0.763) and lower Gleason score (≤7, HR0.195, 95% CI 0.077–0.496). Cryosurgery reduced the risk of progression by 79.3%. In conclusion, cytoreductive cryosurgery of the primary tumor in patients with bone metastatic prostate cancer could reduce the risk of progression and delay time to castration‐resistant prostate cancer.
Effect of Modified Otago Exercises on Postural Balance, Fear of Falling, and Fall Risk in Older Fallers With Knee Osteoarthritis and Impaired Gait and Balance: A Secondary Analysis
Authors: Mat Sumaiyah , Ng Chin Teck , Tan Pey June , Ramli Norlisah , Fadzli Farhana , Rozalli Faizatul Izza , Mazlan Mazlina , Hill Keith D. , Tan Maw Pin 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBackgroundOsteoarthritis (OA) is considered an established risk factor for falls. Published studies evaluating secondary falls prevention strategies among individuals with OA are limited.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of a personalized home‐based exercise program to improve postural balance, fear of falling, and falls risk in older fallers with knee OA and gait and balance problems.DesignRandomized controlled trial.SettingUniversity of Malaya Medical Centre.ParticipantsFallers who had both radiological OA and a Timed Up and Go (TUG) score of over 13.5 seconds.Main Outcome MeasurePostural sway (composite sway) was quantified with the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB) under 4 different sensory conditions: eyes open on firm surface, eyes closed on firm surface, eyes open on unstable foam surface, and eyes closed on unstable foam surface. Participants were asked to stand upright and to attempt to hold their position for 10 seconds for each test condition. The average reading for all conditions were calculated.MethodsParticipants randomized to the intervention arm received a home‐based modified Otago Exercise Program (OEP) as part of a multifactorial intervention, whereas control participants received general health advice and conventional treatment. This was a secondary subgroup analysis from an original randomized controlled trial, the Malaysian Falls Assessment and Intervention Trial (MyFAIT) (trial registration number: ISRCTN11674947). Posturography using a long force plate balance platform (Balancemaster, NeuroCom, USA), the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and the short‐form Falls Efficacy Scale−International (short FES‐I) were assessed at baseline and 6 months.ResultsResults of 41 fallers with radiological evidence of OA and impaired TUG (intervention, 17; control, 24) were available for the final analysis. Between‐group analysis revealed significant improvements in the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB), Limits of Stability (LOS), and short FES‐I scores by the intervention group compared to the control group at 6 months. No significant difference in time to first fall or in fall‐free survival between the intervention and control groups was found.ConclusionHome‐based balance and strength exercises benefited older fallers with OA and gait and balance disorders by improving postural control, with no observable trend in reduction of fall recurrence. Our findings will now inform a future, adequately powered, randomized controlled study using fall events as definitive outcomes.Level of EvidenceI
Wildlife agencies: practice, intentionality and history in twentieth-century animal field studies
Authors: REES AMANDA 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThis paper explores the ways in which scientists have managed the concept of animal ‘agency’ in twentieth-century field-based studies of animal behaviour. Using a range of popular accounts published between 1868 and 2012, it provides the intellectual and historical context for the sharp increase in field studies of animals – and their popularizations – that took place from the late 1960s on. It argues that the vivid depiction of animal characters and personalities, with individual and community histories intertwined, is firmly grounded in the methodologies adopted for field studies of animal behaviour. It suggests that intellectual interest in animal agency not only itself needs to be historically situated, but also close historiographical attention needs to be paid to the public deployment of the concept for intellectual, political and moral reasons. It concludes that – as far as field studies of animal behaviour are concerned – animals are not just the subjects of research, but can often be treated as active collaborators in the research process.
Heteroclinic path to spatially localized chaos in pipe flow
Authors: Budanur N. B. , Hof B. 
Published: August 2017

In shear flows at transitional Reynolds numbers, localized patches of turbulence, known as puffs, coexist with the laminar flow. Recently, Avila et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 110, 2013, 224502) discovered two spatially localized relative periodic solutions for pipe flow, which appeared in a saddle-node bifurcation at low Reynolds number. Combining slicing methods for continuous symmetry reduction with Poincaré sections for the first time in a shear flow setting, we compute and visualize the unstable manifold of the lower-branch solution and show that it extends towards the neighbourhood of the upper-branch solution. Surprisingly, this connection even persists far above the bifurcation point and appears to mediate the first stage of the puff generation: amplification of streamwise localized fluctuations. When the state-space trajectories on the unstable manifold reach the vicinity of the upper branch, corresponding fluctuations expand in space and eventually take the usual shape of a puff.
Mathematical Model of Cable Winding/Unwinding System
Authors: Kevac Lj. B. , Filipovic M. M. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe general form of mathematical model of cable winding/unwinding system is defined for several different constructions. The novelty of this mathematical model is detection and mathematical formulation of influence of new dynamic variables: winding/unwinding radius and cable length on dynamic response of cable winding/unwinding system. The validity of the obtained theoretical contribution has been illustrated through one case study by using a newly developed software package CWUSOFT which was generated in MATLAB. Theoretical and simulation results are confirmed through the experimental analysis of one novel construction of the cable winding/unwinding system.
Convergence in National Alcohol Consumption Patterns: New Global Indicators
Authors: Holmes Alexander J. , Anderson Kym 
Published: August 2017

AbstractWith increasing globalisation and interactions between cultures, countries are converging in many ways, including in their consumption patterns. The extent to which this has been the case in alcohol consumption has been the subject of previous studies, but those studies have been limited in scope to a specific region or group of high-income countries or to just one or two types of alcohol. The present study updates earlier findings, covers all countries of the world since 1961, and introduces two new summary indicators to capture additional dimensions of the extent of convergence in total alcohol consumption and in its mix of beverages. It also distinguishes countries according to whether their alcoholic focus was on wine, beer, or spirits in the early 1960s as well as their geographic regions and their real per-capita incomes. For recent years, we add expenditure data and compare alcohol with soft drink retail expenditure, and we show the difference it makes when unrecorded alcohol volumes are included as part of total alcohol consumption. The final section summarizes our findings and suggests that further research could provide new demand elasticity estimates and use econometrics to explain the varying extents of convergence over time, space, and beverage type. (JEL Classifications: D12, L66, N10)
Geoarchaeological evidence for the construction, irrigation, cultivation, and resilience of 15th--18th century AD terraced landscape at Engaruka, Tanzania
Authors: Lang Carol , Stump Daryl 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAgricultural landscapes are human-manipulated landscapes, most obviously in areas modified by terracing and/or irrigation. Examples from temperate, arid, and desert environments worldwide have attracted the attention of many disciplines, from archaeologists, palaeoecologists, and geomorphologists researching landscape histories to economists, agronomists, ecologists, and development planners studying sustainable resource management. This article combines these interdisciplinary interests by exploring the role archaeology can play in assessing sustainability. Our case study is Engaruka, Tanzania, archaeologically famous as the largest abandoned irrigated and terraced landscape in East Africa. The site has been cited as an example of economic and/or ecological collapse, and it has long been assumed to have been irrigated out of necessity because agriculture was presumed to be nearly impossible without irrigation in what is now a semiarid environment. Geoarchaeological research refutes this assumption, however, demonstrating that parts of the site flooded with sufficient regularity to allow the construction of more than 1000 ha of alluvial sediment traps, in places greater than 2 m deep. Soil micromorphology and geochemistry also record changes in irrigation, with some fields inundated to create paddylike soils. Geoarchaeological techniques can be applied to both extant and abandoned agricultural systems, thereby contributing to an understanding of their history, function, and sustainability.
Effects of precision planting patterns and irrigation on winter wheat yields and water productivity
Authors: MAO X. M. , ZHONG W. W. , WANG X. Y. , ZHOU X. B. 
Published: August 2017

SUMMARYThe production of winter wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) is affected by crop population structures and field microclimates. This 3-year study assessed the effect of different precision planting patterns and irrigation conditions on relative humidity (RH), air and soil temperature within the canopy, intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (iPAR), evapotranspiration (ET), water productivity (WP) and grain yields. Field experiments were conducted from 2011 to 2014 on a two-factor split-plot design with three replicates. The experiments involved three precision planting patterns (single row, alternating single and twin rows [hereafter ‘single–twin’] and twin row) and three irrigation treatments (0 mm (I0), 90 mm (I90) and 180 mm (I180)). Planting patterns and irrigation treatments exerted a significant effect on RH, air and soil temperature, iPAR,ET,WPand grain yield. The lowest RH and iPAR levels were detected in the single row pattern. When the irrigation treatment was identical, the highest soil and air temperatures were detected in the single row pattern, followed by the single–twin row and twin row patterns. Compared with the single row, the single–twin and twin row patterns increasedETby 0·3 and 1·4,WPby 4·7 and 5·7% and yields by 6·0 and 7·9%, respectively. Compared with I0, the I90and I180irrigation treatments increasedETby 0·3 and 1·4%, andWPby 4·7 and 5·7%, respectively. The grain yields of the twin row pattern were 5·8 and 1·7% higher than those of the single row and single–twin row patterns, respectively. Compared with I0, I90increased yield by 19·3%. The twin row pattern improved crop structure and farmland microclimate by increasing RH and iPAR, and reducing soil and air temperatures, thus increasing grain yield. These results indicated that a twin row pattern effectively improved grain yield at I0. On the basis of iPAR,WPand grain yield, it was concluded that a twin row pattern combined with an I90irrigation treatment provided optimal cropping conditions for the North China plain.
Effects of age and stimulus material on character introductions of Swedish-speaking four- to six-year-olds
Authors: LINDGREN JOSEFIN 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThis study investigates effects of age on character introductions in the oral narratives of seventy-two monolingual Swedish-speaking four- to six-year-olds, comparing results from the Multilingual Assessment Instrument for Narratives (MAIN; Gagarina et al., 2012, 2015), and the Edmonton Narrative Norms Instrument (ENNI; Schneider et al., 2005). The proportion of appropriate referring expressions for introducing story characters clearly increases from age four to six. However, the children's performance is strongly stimulus-dependent. All age groups perform better on MAIN than on ENNI. One should thus be careful when drawing conclusions about the age at which children are able to use referring expressions appropriately.