bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visual and quantitative assessment of HRCT pulmonary changes in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia with PFT correlation
Authors: Kolta Marian Fayek , Goneimy Mai Bahgat Ibrahim
Published: March 2020

Background

Our study was designed to correlate the degree of parenchymal affection in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia using visual and semi-quantitative HRCT assessment with pulmonary function test results.

The study involved 50 patients diagnosed as idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. They were referred from a chest outpatient clinic to the Radiology Department in the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University for HRCT assessment in the period from January 2017 to March 2019. Variable lung parenchymal affection was studied using HRCT and variable post acquisition processing (multi-planar reconstruction, volumetric assessment, 3D color-coded images).

Results

Usual interstitial pneumonia was the most common type of IP, found in approximately 40 patients (80% of cases) followed by nonspecific interstitial pneumonia found in 5 patients (10% of cases) and lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia found in 3 patients (6% of cases), and desquamative interstitial pneumonia was the least common type of IP, found only in 2 patients (4% of cases).

Honeycombing was significantly correlated with FVC%, FEV1%, and FEV1/FVC% (p = 0.013, p = <0.001, p = 0.002 respectively). Also, reticular was significantly correlated with FVC% (p = 0.041).

Conclusion

Semi-quantitative image analysis, including the use of machine learning, provides a great deal of promise in the ILD field; such methods may be used together with visual analysis to obtain the most accurate diagnostic and prognostic information.

Summary/keywords

HRCT is most sensitive in the detection of ILD than chest radiography or conventional chest computed tomography (CT). Advances in HRCT scanning and interpretation have facilitated and improved accuracy for use in diagnosing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), eliminating the need for a surgical biopsy in many patients. Consequently, HRCT scans became sufficient to allow a confident IPF diagnosis

It is important to note that there are potential differences in interpretation of HRCT patterns between thoracic radiologists. However, these differences seem to be in general within a clinically acceptable range of observer variation and can be partially mitigated by review of difficult cases at ILD referral centers.

Semi-quantitative CT assessment is increasingly being used in ILD to identify pulmonary abnormalities and diagnose specific ILDs; recent studies showed that outcomes of computer-assisted imaging can be correlated with lung function tests and degree of dyspnea and functional disability

This study was designed to correlate the degree of parenchymal affection in IP using visual and semi-quantitative HRCT assessment with PFT results. Semi-quantitative imaging, including color-coded images (HU related), is a new and promising approach in the field of ILD diagnosis and prognosis.
Long-Term Follow-Up and Treatment of a Female With Complete Estrogen Insensitivity
Authors: Brakta Soumia , Chorich Lynn P , Kim Hyung-Goo , Coons Laurel A , Katzenellenbogen John A , Hall Janet E , Korach Kenneth S , Layman Lawrence C
Published: March 2020

Context

We previously reported the first female with a causative ESR1 gene variant, who exhibited absent puberty and high estrogens. At age 15 years, she presented with lower abdominal pain, absent breast development, primary amenorrhea, and multicystic ovaries. The natural history of complete estrogen insensitivity (CEI) in women is unknown.

Objective

The purpose of this report is to present the neuroendocrine phenotype of CEI, identify potential ligands, and determine the effect of targeted treatment.

Design

We have characterized gonadotropin pulsatility and followed this patient’s endocrine profile and bone density over 8 years. Seventy-five different compounds were tested for transactivation of the variant receptor. A personalized medicine approach was tailored to our patient.

Setting

Academic medical center.

Patient or Other Participants

A 24-year-old adopted white female with CEI.

Intervention(s)

The patient was treated with diethylstilbestrol (DES) for approximately 2.5 years.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Induction of secondary sexual characteristics.

Results

Luteinizing hormone (LH) pulse studies demonstrated normal pulsatile LH secretion, elevated mean LH, and mildly elevated mean follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the presence of markedly increased estrogens. DES transactivated the variant ESR1 in vitro. However, DES treatment did not induce secondary sexual characteristics in our patient.

Conclusions

Treatment with DES was not successful in our patient. She remains hypoestrogenic despite the presence of ovarian cysts with a hypoestrogenic vaginal smear, absent breast development, and low bone mineral mass. Findings suggest additional receptor mechanistic actions are required to elicit clinical hormone responses.
Revisiting the Population Genetics of Human Height
Authors: Rotwein Peter
Published: March 2020

Context

Recent advances in genetics and genomics present unique opportunities for enhancing knowledge of human physiology and disease susceptibility. An outstanding example of these new insights may be seen in the study of human height, of which it has been estimated that approximately 80% is genetically determined. Over the past decade, large-scale population analyses have led to the identification of novel variation in genes and loci individually associated with changes in adult height of as much as 2 cm.

Objective

To assess these same variants in the genomes of 213 158 individuals compiled by the Genome Aggregation Database (GnomAD) consortium, representing different population groups from around the world.

Results

The majority of these height-changing alleles are substantially less prevalent in GnomAD than found previously in other cohorts, with 4 of 5 amino acid substitution variants with the largest impact on adult height being more frequent in the European population than in other groups.

Conclusions

A larger-scale analysis of individuals from diverse backgrounds will be necessary to ensure a full and accurate understanding of the genetic underpinnings of human height throughout the world, and additional studies will be needed to discern the biochemical and molecular mechanisms governing the physiological processes that explain how these variant proteins might selectively impact the biology of the growth plate. Broader understanding of the genetics of height also should set the stage for more comprehensive investigation into the causes of prevalent polygenic human diseases.
“The Dialogue of the Mind with Itself”
Authors: Assif Adeena
Published: March 2020

There is a strain of Freudians whose existence continues to go unrec-ognized by the intellectual public and unacknowledged by the members themselves. Of these, only Stanley Cavell was unaccredited as a psychoanalyst, but he, along with Adam Phillips, Christopher Bollas, and Jonathan Lear have reached similar conclusions, using comparable means, at roughly the same time, in a context as much literary as psychoanalytic. Freud himself described the mind in literary (which is to say, dramatic) terms, but whereas he understood the human psychic drama as Oedipal and thus tragic, these four revisionists have shown that the interaction of conscious and unconscious elements of the mind can be comical and thus benign. The sorts of ambivalence, conflictedness, or multi-mindedness that Freud described as departures from a normative singlemindedness, Cavell and company have redescribed as achievements of maturity and as a means of enlarging the self. Moreover, they all look to literature for figures that connect us to our preverbal selves and help to stimulate self-transformation. Artists—from Sophocles to Emerson, Melville, and (in the Cavellian reading of him) Freud—teach invaluable lessons not only about how our minds work but also about how to invent our own idioms and even our own worlds. And “the dialogue of the mind with itself” that Matthew Arnold assessed as the characteristic modern disease, these most sophisticated of postmodern revisionists redescribe as normative and democratic.
Wnt ligands regulate the asymmetric divisions of neuronal progenitors in C. elegans embryos
Authors: Kaur Shilpa , Mélénec Pauline , Murgan Sabrina , Bordet Guillaume , Recouvreux Pierre , Lenne Pierre-François , Bertrand Vincent
Published: March 2020

Wnt/β-catenin signalling has been implicated in the terminal asymmetric divisions of neuronal progenitors in vertebrates and invertebrates. However, the role of Wnt ligands in this process remains poorly characterized. Here, we used the terminal divisions of the embryonic neuronal progenitors in C. elegans to characterize the role of Wnt ligands during this process, focusing on a lineage that produces the cholinergic interneuron AIY. We observed that, during interphase, the neuronal progenitor is elongated along the anteroposterior axis, then divides along its major axis, generating an anterior and a posterior daughter with different fates. Using time-controlled perturbations, we show that three Wnt ligands, which are transcribed at higher levels at the posterior of the embryo, regulate the orientation of the neuronal progenitor and its asymmetric division. We also identify a role for a Wnt receptor (MOM-5) and a cortical transducer APC (APR-1), which are, respectively, enriched at the posterior and anterior poles of the neuronal progenitor. Our study establishes a role for Wnt ligands in the regulation of the shape and terminal asymmetric divisions of neuronal progenitors, and identifies downstream components.
PBX1 acts as terminal selector for olfactory bulb dopaminergic neurons
Authors: Remesal Laura , Roger-Baynat Isabel , Chirivella Laura , Maicas Miren , Brocal-Ruiz Rebeca , Pérez-Villalba Ana , Cucarella Carme , Casado Marta , Flames Nuria
Published: March 2020

Neuronal specification is a protracted process that begins with the commitment of progenitor cells and culminates with the generation of mature neurons. Many transcription factors are continuously expressed during this process but it is presently unclear how these factors modify their targets as cells transition through different stages of specification. In olfactory bulb adult neurogenesis, the transcription factor PBX1 controls neurogenesis in progenitor cells and the survival of migrating neuroblasts. Here, we show that, at later differentiation stages, PBX1 also acts as a terminal selector for the dopaminergic neuron fate. PBX1 is also required for the morphological maturation of dopaminergic neurons and to repress alternative interneuron fates, findings that expand the known repertoire of terminal-selector actions. Finally, we reveal that the temporal diversification of PBX1 functions in neuronal specification is achieved, at least in part, through the dynamic regulation of alternative splicing. In Caenorhabditis elegans, PBX/CEH-20 also acts as a dopaminergic neuron terminal selector, which suggests an ancient role for PBX factors in the regulation of terminal differentiation of dopaminergic neurons.
Oriented basement membrane fibrils provide a memory for F-actin planar polarization via the Dystrophin-Dystroglycan complex during tissue elongation
Authors: Cerqueira Campos Fabiana , Dennis Cynthia , Alégot Hervé , Fritsch Cornelia , Isabella Adam , Pouchin Pierre , Bardot Olivier , Horne-Badovinac Sally , Mirouse Vincent
Published: March 2020

How extracellular matrix contributes to tissue morphogenesis is still an open question. In the Drosophila ovarian follicle, it has been proposed that after Fat2-dependent planar polarization of the follicle cell basal domain, oriented basement membrane (BM) fibrils and F-actin stress fibers constrain follicle growth, promoting its axial elongation. However, the relationship between BM fibrils and stress fibers and their respective impact on elongation are unclear. We found that Dystroglycan (Dg) and Dystrophin (Dys) are involved in BM fibril deposition. Moreover, they also orient stress fibers, by acting locally and in parallel to Fat2. Importantly, Dg-Dys complex-mediated cell-autonomous control of F-actin fiber orientation relies on the preceding BM fibril deposition, indicating two distinct but interdependent functions. Thus, the Dg-Dys complex works as a crucial organizer of the epithelial basal domain, regulating both F-actin and BM. Furthermore, BM fibrils act as a persistent cue for the orientation of stress fibers that are the main effector of elongation.
Evaluation of metal artefacts for two CBCT devices with a new dental arch phantom
Authors: Martins Luciano Augusto Cano , Queiroz Polyane Mazucatto , Nejaim Yuri , Vasconcelos Karla de Faria , Groppo Francisco Carlos , Haiter-Neto Francisco
Published: March 2020

Objectives:

To create a new phantom design to evaluate the real impact of artefacts caused by titanium on bone structures in cone beam CT images considering different positions and quantity of metals in the dental arch, with and without metal artefact reduction (MAR).

Methods:

A three cylindrical polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) plate phantom was designed containing eight perforations arranged to simulate the lower dental arch in the intermediate plate. Three titanium cylinders were positioned in different locations and quantities to test different clinical conditions and to quantify the impact of the metal artefact around five bone cylinders. Scans were carried out in seven different protocols (Control, A-F) in two cone beam CT devices (OP300 Maxio and Picasso Trio). Eight regions of interest around each cortical and trabecular bone were used to measure the grey value standard deviation corresponding the artefact expression in the Image J software. Both the artefact expression and the MAR effect were assessed using the Wilcoxon, Friedman (Dunn) and Kruskal–Wallis tests (significance level of 5%).

Results:

For both devices, MAR was statistically efficient only for the protocols E, and F. Protocol F (three metals on the adjacent area of the analysis region) showed higher artefact expression when compared to the others.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the new phantom design allowed the quantification of the metal artefact expression caused by titanium. The metal artefact expression is higher when more metal objects are positioned in the adjacent bone structures. MAR may not be effective to reduce artefact expression on the adjacencies of those objects for the devices studied.
Somatotypes in skiing
Authors: Raschka Christoph
Published: March 2020

Although the available studies on body types in ski sports are relatively sparse and rather old, there are clear indications that, especially in alpine skiing, top athletes have become stronger and heavier in the last three decades [43, 24]. According to Bahr and Tone [5] as well as Mildner et al. [19], the anthropo metric profile and the somatotype, in particular the extent of muscular develop ment in the lower extremities, are to be regarded as significant intrinsic risk factors for alpine skiing trauma [20].

Especially among men, the downhill racers tend to have a more pyknomorphhyperplastic constitution type or more mesomorph somatotype with longer trunk and shorter legs and higher BMI, while the slalom specialists tend to more leptomorphic values with longer legs and shorter trunk.
Rhythmical Ambiguity: Verbal Forms and Verse Forms
Authors: Pilshchikov Igor
Published: March 2020

In undertaking the statistical analysis of the rhythm of Russian syllabic-accentual verse, one confronts a problem: how to accentuate words whose natural-language stress is weaker than that of fully-stressed words. Zhirmunsky called such words “ambiguous” and formulated a rule: they should be considered stressed in “strong” (ictic) positions and unstressed in “weak” (non-ictic) positions. Gasparov, who accepted and elaborated on Zhirmunsky’s rule, pointed out that “this difference in the quality of stress in strong positions [...] has a significant impact on the rhythm of verse, especially that of ternary meters.” The main point of the present paper is that this ambiguity equally impacts Russian binary meters. In the case of iambic tetrameter, for example, fully-stressed lines that contain rhythmically ambiguous words are often isomorphic with the predominating rhythmical form. In the present paper, this phenomenon is explored in connection with Jakobson’s hypothesis that rhythmically ambiguous words gravitate toward “weak” (i.e. less frequently stressed) ictuses. Although Jakobson’s view of accentual ambiguity was different from Zhirmunsky’s, and Jakobson’s calculation was, in fact, methodologically inaccurate, a cross-pollination of their approaches may prove fruitful.
A Matheuristic Algorithm for the Inventory Routing Problem
Authors: Su Zhouxing , Lü Zhipeng , Wang Zhuo , Qi Yanmin , Benlic Una
Published: March 2020

This work addresses a challenging inventory routing problem that arises from a practical application faced by air-product companies, including Air Liquide. Given its computational complexity and industrial importance, this problem (denoted as IRP-Challenge2016) was presented as the topic of the French Operational Research and Decision Support Society/European Operational Research Society (ROADEF/EURO) Challenge 2016. The IRP-Challenge2016 seeks an optimal delivery schedule to minimize the unit distribution cost, while satisfying various hard constraints. It involves a single product, a heterogeneous fleet, heterogeneous drivers, multiperiods, a deterministic consumption forecast, and time-window constraints. We present a new mathematical formulation of the problem and introduce a matheuristic algorithm that integrates a local search-based metaheuristic with mathematical programming. Our algorithm combines mixed integer programming and linear programming as slave methods to optimize timing and delivery and embeds these procedures within a multineighborhood search metaheuristic to adjust routes. The method extends and enhances a preliminary version of our algorithm, which ranked third in the final round of the ROADEF/EURO Challenge 2016. Computational results for 20 challenge benchmark instances demonstrate the value of the proposed algorithm in terms of both effectiveness and efficiency with respect to the results reported in the competition. We additionally analyze several key components of our matheuristic to gain an insight into its operation.
O fundamento da justiça distributiva em São Tomás de Aquino: uma crítica ao libertarianismo de Robert Nozick
Authors: Wiviurka Eduardo Seino
Published: March 2020

Duas classificações sobre a justiça são apresentadas e comparadas neste estudo – que enfatiza as consequencias das diferenças existentes. Para isso, de um lado apresenta a classificação clássica aristotélico-tomista, que será discutido a partir do New Natural Law; e de outro lado a classificação de justiça que surgiu a partir do século XVI com o Cardeal Cajetano e as consequências mais extremas deste modelo expresso no Libertarianismo de Robert Nozick –marco teórico foi eleito ter o maior contraste com o pensamento tomista. A importância de compreender as diferenças entre as classificações de justiça reside no fato de que elas produzem consequências no debate filosófico, em especial em questões morais e fundamentos para a justiça redistributiva feita através de instituições estatais. Trata-se de uma pesquisa bibliográfica, que utiliza um método comparativo, identificando em ambas as vertentes os conceitos essenciais – a classificação da justiça e fundamento do direito da propriedade – e apresenta uma sistematização das diferenças. Como resultado da analise feita, identifica como principal divergência entre os modelos o trato para deveres morais positivos. Tal estudo apresenta elementos teóricos essenciais do New Natural Law e também oferecer um sólido contraponto ao pensamento de Nozick.
Assessing and treating adults with hearing loss in primary care
Authors: Kandasamy Banusa , Miane Ng Min Yan , Nash Robert
Published: March 2020

Practice nurses have an important role in the recognition and treatment of individuals with hearing loss. In this article Banusa Kandasamy, Min Yan Miane Ng and Robert Nash present an approach to identify, examine and manage hearing loss of adults in primary care

Hearing loss is a common presentation with potentially devastating implications on health and quality of life. Nurses, as frontline providers, have an important role in the recognition and treatment of individuals with hearing loss. In addition, waiting-list times and therefore cost of treatment may both be reduced with timely review and intervention by sharing the caseload in primary care. This article aims to present an approach to identify, examine and manage hearing loss of adults in primary care.
Remedying depletion through social reproduction: a critical engagement with the United Nations’ business and human rights framework
Authors: Goldblatt Beth , Rai Shirin M.
Published: March 2020

The growing recognition of unpaid work in international law and the Sustainable Development Goals acknowledges that gendered labour supports the global economy. This work can have harmful impacts, leading to ‘depletion through social reproduction’ (Rai et al, 2014). When corporate harms impact on workers and communities, family members are often required to provide caring labour for those directly affected. However, the consequential harms of depletion are generally invisible within the law and uncompensated. In assessing the United Nations’ business and human rights framework, we argue that the international legal regime must take account of social reproductive work and its consequent harms.
Interpretant el segle xx. Primera aproximació.
Authors: Jordi Casassas Ymbert
Published: March 2020

This essay explores the chronological boundaries of the subject matter, asking whether it is still justifiable to date the origin of “today’s world” to the year 1945. The text is divided into four sections that range from some preliminary considerations of the essay’s underlying motivations to an understanding of the century based on its periodization. They also examine the main explanatory axes of the twentieth century and offer some additional considerations that underscore the importance of events.
Platform for quantitative multiscale imaging of tissue composition
Authors: Pinkert Michael A. , Simmons Zachary J. , Niemeier Ryan C. , Dai Bing , Woods Lauren B. , Hall Timothy J. , Campagnola Paul J. , Rogers Jeremy D. , Eliceiri Kevin W.
Published: March 2020

Changes in the multi-level physical structure of biological features going from cellular to tissue level composition is a key factor in many major diseases. However, we are only beginning to understand the role of these structural changes because there are few dedicated multiscale imaging platforms with sensitivity at both the cellular and macrostructural spatial scale. A single platform reduces bias and complications from multiple sample preparation methods and can ease image registration. In order to address these needs, we have developed a multiscale imaging system using a range of imaging modalities sensitive to tissue composition: Ultrasound, Second Harmonic Generation Microscopy, Multiphoton Microscopy, Optical Coherence Tomography, and Enhanced Backscattering. This paper details the system design, the calibration for each modality, and a demonstration experiment imaging a rabbit eye.
Back-action evading measurement of the collective mode of a Bose–Einstein condensate
Authors: Fani Marjan , Dalafi Ali
Published: March 2020

In this paper, we investigate theoretically the back-action evading measurement of the collective mode of an interacting atomic Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) trapped in an optical cavity that is driven coherently by a pump laser with a modulated amplitude. It is shown that, for a specified kind of amplitude modulation of the driving laser, one can measure a generalized quadrature of the collective mode of the BEC indirectly through the output cavity field with a negligible back-action noise in the good-cavity limit. Nevertheless, the on-resonance added noise of measurement is suppressed below the standard quantum limit (SQL), even in the bad cavity limit. Moreover, the measurement precision can be controlled through the

s

-wave scattering frequency of atomic collisions.
Laser confocal vibration measurement method with high dynamic range
Authors: He Qi , Zhang Guozhuo , Zheng Chao , Chen Kai , Zhao Weiqian , Qiu Lirong
Published: March 2020

A new laser confocal vibration measurement method (LCVM) is proposed to meet the requirements of high precision and high dynamic range measurements in micro and nano electromechanical systems. The proposed method uses different measurement modes to ensure that the amplitude solution interval of the out-of-plane is always in the optimal test interval of a confocal curve with the highest sensitivity to axial displacement, and thereby achieving the high-precision extraction of large-scale frequency and the high-precision measurement of large-scale amplitude. Using a 100×, NA=0.9 objective lens with a working distance of 1 mm, the theoretical analysis and preliminary experimental results indicate that the maximum measurable amplitude is 500 µm, the displacement resolution of the amplitude is 4 nm, and the measurable frequency range limited by electrical design is 0-120 MHz. The LCVM provides a novel approach for out-of-plane vibration measurements.
Fluorescence Scheimpflug LiDAR developed for the three-dimension profiling of plants
Authors: Lin Hongze , Zhang Yao , Mei Liang
Published: March 2020

This work proposes a novel fluorescence Scheimpflug LiDAR (SLiDAR) technique based on the Scheimpflug principle for three-dimension (3D) plant profile measurements. A 405 nm laser diode was employed as the excitation light source to generate a light sheet. Both the elastic and inelastic/fluorescence signals from a target object (e.g., plants) can be simultaneously measured by the fluorescence SLiDAR system employing a color image sensor with blue, green and red detection channels. The 3D profile can be obtained from the elastic signal recorded by blue pixels through elevation scanning measurements, while the fluorescence intensity of the target object is mainly acquired by red and green pixels. The normalized fluorescence intensity of the red channel, related to the chlorophyll distribution of the plant, can be utilized for the classification of leaves, branches and trunks. The promising results demonstrated in this work have shown a great potential of employing the fluorescence SLiDAR technique for 3D fluorescence profiling of plants in agriculture and forestry applications.
Efficient single-cycle pulse compression of an ytterbium fiber laser at 10 MHz repetition rate
Authors: Köttig F. , Schade D. , Koehler J. R. , Russell P. St. J. , Tani F.
Published: March 2020

Over the past years, ultrafast lasers with average powers in the 100 W range have become a mature technology, with a multitude of applications in science and technology. Nonlinear temporal compression of these lasers to few- or even single-cycle duration is often essential, yet still hard to achieve, in particular at high repetition rates. Here we report a two-stage system for compressing pulses from a 1030 nm ytterbium fiber laser to single-cycle durations with 5 µJ output pulse energy at 9.6 MHz repetition rate. In the first stage, the laser pulses are compressed from 340 to 25 fs by spectral broadening in a krypton-filled single-ring photonic crystal fiber (SR-PCF), subsequent phase compensation being achieved with chirped mirrors. In the second stage, the pulses are further compressed to single-cycle duration by soliton-effect self-compression in a neon-filled SR-PCF. We estimate a pulse duration of ∼3.4 fs at the fiber output by numerically back-propagating the measured pulses. Finally, we directly measured a pulse duration of 3.8 fs (1.25 optical cycles) after compensating (using chirped mirrors) the dispersion introduced by the optical elements after the fiber, more than 50% of the total pulse energy being in the main peak. The system can produce compressed pulses with peak powers >0.6 GW and a total transmission exceeding 66%.
Maximum coupling efficiency to an optical resonator based on the Laguerre-Gauss decomposition of a beam
Authors: Teixeira Raul Celistrino
Published: March 2020

We present a new numerical method to calculate the optimum lens transformation to implement on a monochromatic laser beam path, in order to maximize its coupling to the fundamental Gaussian mode of a resonator or to a single-mode optical fiber whose mode can be described as Gaussian to a good approximation. This method relies on a useful mathematical relation on Laguerre-Gauss modes of different waists and reduces in the end to numerically maximizing a polynomial that is a function of the state of the beam in a finite interval, thus being numerically very efficient. We show with a simple example that this method is particularly efficient against other common methods used in the laboratory when it comes to laser beams composed of a coherent superposition of higher-order Laguerre-Gauss modes, as it is the case for instance for beams traversing optical elements suffering from spherical aberration.
1  W, 10.1  µm, CdSe optical parametric oscillator with continuous-wave seed injection
Authors: Chen Yi , Liu Gaoyou , Yang Chao , Yao Baoquan , Wang Ruixue , Mi Shuyi , Yang Ke , Dai Tongyu , Duan Xiaoming , Ju Youlun
Published: March 2020

We demonstrated a 2.1 µm nanosecond laser pumped, 2.6 µm continuous-wave (CW) seed injected, cadmium selenide (CdSe) signal singly resonant optical parametric oscillator (OPO). A maximum average power of 1.05 W was obtained corresponding to a pulse energy of 1.05 mJ at the idler wavelength of 10.1 µm and optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 4.69%, beam quality of

M
x
2

=

2.25

,

M
y
2

=

2.12

and pulse width of 24.4 ns. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time to achieve 10–12 µm laser with watt-level average power using OPO technology.
Contemporary dance intervention in mild-tomoderate depression: A pilot study
Authors: Pohjola Hanna , Ratinen Maija K. , Hänninen Vilma , Kauhanen Jussi , Lehto Soili M.
Published: March 2020

This article describes a contemporary dance intervention among psychiatric outpatients with a diagnosis of mild-to-moderate depression. Five females participated in a pilot intervention, which was carried out twice a week over four consecutive weeks. During the intervention, the participants kept diaries about their personal experiences. The diaries were assessed using thematic content analysis. The dancing experience involved a combination of three elements: music, movement and creativity connected to the body. The qualitative findings were tentatively associated with positive mood over the short term. The participants experienced periods of relaxation, self-examination and elevated self-esteem during the session. Diary entries indicated that participating in contemporary dance may reduce mental anxiety and physical tension, and provide at least short-term symptomatic relief. Thus, participation in contemporary dance may be beneficial in the process of recovery from depression.
Slowing and Stilling: Gardening and Releasing
Authors: Hudson Polly
Published: March 2020

This article will share the early stages of a research project about gardening and dance/embodiment, one that examines ideas of practice, activities and art. It is fragile, and a disclosing of a process in a way that we do not normally share: so often our writing is after a project or piece of research or art is completed. I am curious about the gentleness and vulnerability of revealing the first phase of something, of asking questions that are ongoing and not yet answered. I am also aware of an expanding of focus in my own life and work from dance to gardening, with all of the in-betweenness, processes and connections of that.
Enfoque desde una perspectiva bibliométrica de la aplicación educativa de la realidad virtual en personas con Trastorno del Espectro Autista
Authors: Lorenzo Gonzalo , Lorenzo-Lledó Alejandro , Lledó Carreres Asunción , Pérez-Vázquez Elena
Published: March 2020

La tecnología es un elemento integrador que puede contribuir a la inclusión de las personas con Trastorno del Espectro Autista (TEA), siendo la Realidad Virtual (RV) la que más se adapta a su estilo de aprendizaje. En este sentido, el propósito del presente estudio es realizar un análisis de la producción científica sobre RV y TEA. La muestra la componen 248 documentos que pertenecen a la colección principal de la Web of Science, analizados en función de 9 indicadores. Los resultados indican que Estados Unidos es el mayor productor sobre la temática y el que dispone de los mayores centros de producción, aunque presenta un alto índice de aislamiento. Asimismo, el periodo más prolijo ha sido de 2014-2017, siendo psicología del desarrollo y rehabilitación las áreas de la Web of Science más presentes. Finalmente, la mayoría de las revistas están presentes en el cuartil Q1, donde más publican los autores sobre esta temática.
Do events since 23 June 2016 strengthen or weaken the case for the United Kingdom adopting a written, codified Constitution?
Authors: Khan Naseem
Published: March 2020

This article discusses the UK Government’s proposals to adopt a codified Constitution in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland after the Brexit Referendum of 2016. It discusses the reasons behind the lack of support for a codified Constitution, weighing up arguments for and against. The article concludes that although a codified Constitution may provide greater certainty, without recognition of the theoretical doctrines and concepts that form the current constitutional framework, a codified Constitution would be administratively unworkable.
HOMOGENIZATION OF TRANSPORT PROCESSES AND HYDRATION PHENOMENA IN FRESH CONCRETE
Authors: Beneš Michal , Štefan Radek
Published: March 2020

The problem of hydration and transport processes in fresh concrete is strongly coupled and non- inear, and therefore, very diﬃcult for a numerical modelling. Physically accurate results can be obtained using ﬁne-scale simulations, which are, however, extremely time consuming. Therefore, there is an interest in developing new physically accurate and computationally eﬀective models. In this paper, a new fully coupled two-scale (meso-macro) homogenization framework for modelling of simultaneous heat transfer, moisture ﬂows, and hydration phenomena in fresh concrete is proposed. A modiﬁed mesoscalemodelisﬁrstintroduced. Inthismodel, concreteisassumedasacompositematerialwithtwo periodically distributed mesoscale components, cement paste and aggregates. A homogenized model is then derived by an upscaling method from the mesoscale model. The coeﬃcients for the homogenized model are obtained from the solution of a periodic cell problem. For solving the periodic cell problem, two approaches are used – a standard ﬁnite element method and a simpliﬁed closed-form approximation taken from literature. The homogenization framework is then implemented in MATLAB environment and ﬁnally employed for illustrative numerical experiments, which verify that the homogenized model provides physically accurate results comparable with the results obtained by the mesoscale model. Moreover, it is veriﬁed that, using the homogenization framework with a closed-form approach to the periodic cell problem, signiﬁcant computational cost savings can be achieved.
PARALLELIZATION OF ASSEMBLY OPERATION IN FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
Authors: Bošanský Michal , Patzák Bořek
Published: March 2020

The efficient codes can take an advantage of multiple threads and/or processing nodes to partition a work that can be processed concurrently. This can reduce the overall run-time or make the solution of a large problem feasible. This paper deals with evaluation of different parallelization strategies of assembly operations for global vectors and matrices, which are one of the critical operations in any finite element software. Different assembly strategies for systems with a shared memory model are proposed and evaluated, using Open Multi-Processing (OpenMP), Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX), and C++11 Threads. The considered strategies are based on simple synchronization directives, various block locking algorithms and, finally, on smart locking free processing based on a colouring algorithm. The different strategies were implemented in a free finite element code with object-oriented architecture OOFEM [1].
ON CFD INVESTIGATION OF RADIAL CLEARANCE OF LABYRINTH SEALS OF A TURBINE ENGINE
Authors: Čížek Michal , Pátek Zdeněk
Published: March 2020

Fluid flow in labyrinth seals of a turbine engine is described. The aim is to describe numerical calculations of fluid flow in labyrinth seals and evaluate the calculated data for different settings of radial clearance of labyrinth seals. The results are achieved by 3D CFD detailed simulations in a typical seal geometry. The calculations are performed for different radial clearances at a constant pressure drop. The calculated data are evaluated based on mass flow, static pressure, total enthalpy and total temperature of air. Based on the calculated data, it is visible, that the total temperature of air is increased in the labyrinth seals. The static pressure of air acts as expected –the static pressure is decreased in all teeth. The Mach number is similar in all teeth, but the maximal maximum value is in the last tooth, because of the expansion into the ambient conditions. Results of the calculations are that the total temperature in labyrinth seals is not constant as it is usually presented or supposed usually in common literature.
THE EFFECT OF THE FILLING RATIO ON THE OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF AN INDIRECT DRUM DRYER
Authors: Havlík Jan , Dlouhý Tomáš , Sabatini Michel
Published: March 2020

This article investigates the effect of the filling ratio of the indirect rotary dryers on their operating characteristics. For moist biomass drying before combustion, the use of indirect drum dryers heated by a low pressure steam has proven to be highly suitable. Regarding the design of new dryers, it is necessary to experimentally verify the operating characteristics for specific materials and drying conditions. For this purpose, a set of experiments on a steam heated rotary drum dryer were carried out with green wood chips containing 60 to 66 wt% of moisture. The following operational characteristics of the dryer were experimentally determined: drying curves describing the process, square and volumetric evaporation capacities and drying heat consumptions. Based on the experimental results, the effect of various drum filling by dried material on the mentioned operating characteristics was analysed. On the one hand, higher drum filling ratio increases the drying time, on the other hand, the evaporation capacity also increases, while the specific energy consumption does not significantly alter. The maximum value of the evaporation capacity was reached when the drum was filled to 20 wt%. When the filling ratio was increased to 25 wt%, the evaporation capacity experienced almost no change.
THE REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAM DEFLECTION AND CRACKING BEHAVIOR WITH ADDITIONAL FIBER STEEL
Authors: Ananda Faisal , Soehardjono Agoes , Zacoeb Achfas , Saroji Gunawan
Published: March 2020

The classic theory mentions that the assessment of deflection and crack width should be taken to minimize those two behaviors. This research itself has the objective to examine whether the additional fiber steel and increased reinforcement ratio has any significant impact on the deflection and existing crack width. This test used the reinforced concrete beams with a size of 15 cm x 25 cm x 180 cm which placed on a simple pedestal. The test was done gradually in every 108 kg until the reinforced yield reached. The fiber increased from 0%, 1.57%, 3.14% and 4.71% while the performance rebar ratio increased from 2 # 10, 2 # 12, and 2 # 14. The result shows that additional 4.71% of maximum fiber decrease compressive strength and rupture modulus while the tensile strength increased. The additional fiber reached a maximum in 4.71% and the additional diameter of 10 mm, 12 mm, and 14 mm increased the deflections and crack width.
STUDY ON FAILURE MODE OF HUSK MORTAR ENERGY-SAVING WALLBOARDS
Authors: Zhang Yu , Zhang Qingwen , Zhao Jian , Zhou Guangchun
Published: March 2020

This paper focuses on husk mortar wallboard, which is a new type of energy-saving composite wallboard with new materials and complex working mechanism. There are eight total different dimensioned panels tested. Six of them are openings (window or door), with different opening rates; the other two are full panels with same dimensions. Based on the experimental data, they are analyzed under both horizontal and vertical direction loading, combined with the finite element analysis to reveal the working characteristics. The finite element model of husk mortar energy-saving wallboards is established by ANSYS software. Finally, the finite element results are compared with the experimental results from three aspects: ultimate load, failure mode and load displacement curve, which verifies the correctness of the finite element model.
CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNDAMENTAL DIAGRAMS DUE TO SHOCKWAVE BY NON-LANE BASED HETEROGENEOUS TRAFFIC
Authors: Ahmed Abu Jar Md. Minhuz Uddin , Hasan Md. Tarek , Alam Md. Rakibul , Hoque Md. Shamsul
Published: March 2020

If the global context of traffic flow researches are highlighted, it is observed that many researches have already been conducted with the Fundamental Diagrams of traffic flow for lane based homogeneous traffic. Studies related to propagation of shockwaves are being conducted as well. But for developing countries such as Bangladesh, it is predominant that non-lane based heterogeneous traffic exists in most of the roads. Firstly there is scarcely any lane concept among the drivers at all. Moreover frequent lane changing is a common phenomenon. For these reasons, responses of Fundamental Diagrams' shape are quite distinctive from already established shapes. Thus the main concern is to trace the deviation of the prevailing traffic flow parameters of traffic flow from those established equations. Video footage has been taken of roadway section marked suitably for measurement. Shockwaves due to lane changing for non-lane based and heterogeneous synchronized traffic flow has been accomplished and modelled using R and MATLAB analysis for a highway of Dhaka city, Bangladesh. After modeling the calibration and validation are done accordingly to distinguish the variation from ideal models and to verify that the study outcomes converge as well. It has been detected that shockwave induces significant decrement in flow and speed in case of specified traffic condition.
APPLICABILITY OF WIDE-RANGE ULTRASONIC TESTING TO NON-DESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION OF GROUT CONDITION IN PRESTRESSED CONCRETE BRIDGES
Authors: Fukushima Kuniharu , Amaya Kimihiko , Kinoshita Takanori , Yoshitake Isamu
Published: March 2020

Complete grouting of tendon ducts is important for durability of post-tensioned prestressed concrete (PC) bridges. Voids in the ducts may induce failure of PC tendons, possibly causing a reduction in load capacity and collapse of the bridge. The wide-range ultrasonic testing (WUT) is one of the non-destructive inspection techniques. The focus of this study is to examine the applicability of the WUT to grout inspection. This paper summarizes the characteristics of the non-destructive methods available for the PC grout inspection and outlines the sensing and analyzing techniques of the WUT method performed in practice in PC bridge construction. The inspection accuracy of the WUT method was examined by comparison to a sensor-based inspection method. This paper also reports comparative investigation and discusses the advantages of the WUT method including inspection accuracy, cost performance, time efficiency and safety. It was confirmed in on-site application that the WUT method was capable of determining grout condition at a concrete cover depth of 250 mm.
THE IMPACT OF OBSOLESCENCE IN HEALTH PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS
Authors: Khatleli Nthatisi
Published: March 2020

Obsolescence is a major challenge in Infrastructure implementation around the world. South Africa has been implementing PPPs close to 20 years now and some of the first projects will soon come to closure as the end of their term is drawing nigh. Obsolescence is generally mitigated by stipulating that there should be a general overhaul of the facility very close to the end of term in order to preserve and elongate the economic life of the project. However, the health projects are very much dependent on the ever-changing technological developments for their optimal performance. Some of the new technological equipment might require infrastructural adaptations. Through interviewing designers, managers and clients the research sought to garner information that could be helpful for future projects in this sector and that could be adapted to other sectors as well. Although it was found that obsolescence was not properly catered for, the experiences of the aforementioned respondents were valuable in proposing general considerations in future projects. It is hoped that lessons will be instructive and beneficial to the other countries which are new to the PPP procurement method, especially when it comes to the implementation of the health facilities.
CRITICAL COMPARISON BETWEEN TWO STRENGTHENING TECHNIQUES OF REINFORCED CONCRETE COLUMNS
Authors: Montuori Rosario
Published: March 2020

In last years, in order to better understand the behavior of confined reinforced concrete, a lot of studies have been made. In addition, also a lot of experimental test have been conducted. In particular the attention has been devoted to the columns strengthened with FRP, while other old techniques have been completely forgotten. Herein a comparison between different methodologies for the strengthening of concrete columns is presented. In addition to columns confined with FRP the concrete confined with angles and battens is considered. The comparing between these two methodologies shows that some advantages arise when battens and angles are used. In fact, they can be effectively used, also when the ratio between the two sides of the column section is greater than 2, by means of steel bar passing through the section. In such a case the confining action due to FRP is negligible. In addition, angles can provide strengthening both in tension and in compression, depending on the structural detail adopted at the concrete floor slab.
OPTIMIZING MULTI-WALL PANEL CONFIGURATION FOR PANELIZED CONSTRUCTION USING BIM
Authors: Liu Hexu , Holmwood Benjamin , Sydora Christoph , Singh Gurjeet , Al-Hussein Mohamed
Published: March 2020

With the rise of Building Information Modeling (BIM), off-site construction is gaining momentum in the construction industry. This construction method can benefit the industry through improved productivity and reduced waste. However, it also poses new challenges to building designers and construction practitioners with respect to building design and construction planning. For example, when designing building products and BIM models, designers needs to consider manufacturing process constraints in order to harness the benefits of manufacturing technology. This is in part due to the fact that, in the offsite construction paradigm, building design must be transformed from product-focused to manufacturing process-driven. At present, considerable human involvement and off-site construction knowledge are required to adapt building design (e.g., panelize building objects) for manufacturing processes within BIM environments. In this regard, this research contributes a BIM-based algorithm for panelizing building components. The proposed algorithm is capable of determining the granularity of wall panels and optimizing the configuration of multi-wall panels under engineering constraints, thereby improving productivity. The proposed approach is implemented within an Autodesk Revit environment through application programming interface. A case study of a residential building is used to demonstrate the proposed approach.