bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fit-to-Targets and Aided Speech Intelligibility Index Values for Hearing Aids Fitted to the DSL v5-Adult Prescription
Authors: Dao Andre , Folkeard Paula , Baker Sandra , Pumford John , Scollie Susan
Published: December 2020

Abstract Background Matching hearing aid output levels to prescribed targets is a component of preferred practice, yet recent normative data on appropriateness of fittings are lacking. Verification measures that assess closeness of fit-to-target include raw deviations
from target, root-mean-squared-error (RMSE) deviations from target, and aided Speech Intelligibility Index (SII) values. Establishing normative ranges for these measures may help hearing professionals determine whether a patient's fit-to-targets and/or aided speech audibility is typical for
his or her degree of hearing loss. Purpose This article aims to characterize the range of fit-to-target and the range of aided SII associated with hearing aid fittings using the Desired Sensation Level version 5.0 (DSL v5-adult) prescription with adults, considering also hearing
aid style, venting, and audiometric characteristics. Research Design A descriptive and correlational study of data collected from a retrospective chart review. Results Hearing aid fittings to 281 ears were compiled. The four-frequency average deviation from
target (RMSE) was within ± 5 dB of target in 77% of fittings for mid-level speech. Deviation from targets increased with hearing loss, particularly when the loss is greater than 85 dB hearing level or if the loss was steeply sloping. Venting increased the
deviation from targets in the low frequencies. Aided SII values strongly correlated with the participants' hearing thresholds. Clinical ranges for RMSE and aided SII were developed for characterization of fitting outcomes. Conclusion Fitting to DSL v5-adult targets was observed
within ± 5 dB absolute deviation, or within 5 dB RMSE, on average for typical adult hearing aid fittings. Confidence intervals for deviation from target and aided SII are proposed.
Sarcopenia em Idosos: Um estudo de revisão
Authors: Yanaga Marcela Cardoso
Published: December 2020

Com o envelhecimento, há uma série de modificações fisiológicas em todo o organismo. Na musculatura esquelética, há uma mudança no padrão de fibras rápidas para fibras lentas, levando a uma perda de massa, força e qualidade muscular, o que faz com que, conforme o indivíduo envelheça, fique mais fraco e mais lento. Esta perda de massa e força muscular gera no idoso uma diminuição da mobilidade, aumento da incapacidade funcional e de sua dependência nas atividades, podendo levar até mesmo a consequências mais graves como quedas e fraturas. A este processo denominamos sarcopenia.

Os mecanismos responsáveis pelo desenvolvimento da sarcopenia ainda não são completamente conhecidos, mas sabe-se que alguns fatores como a diminuição dos níveis de hormônios esteroides, diminuição da ingestão proteica, aumento dos níveis de citocinas pró-inflamatórias e inatividade física são fatores contribuintes.

O presente estudo se trata de uma revisão da literatura, na qual foram utilizados estudos científicos com o objetivo de investigar o impacto da sarcopenia na funcionalidade de indivíduos > 65 anos.
Kulturwandel: Einkaufsorganisation 2.0 – agil und digital?
Authors: Süme Christoph , Rong Oliver
Published: December 2020

Der Einkauf im Krankenhaus muss sich angesichts der zahlreichen vorhandenen und sich noch zuspitzenden Herausforderungen sowohl organisatorisch als auch kulturell anpassen. Welche organisatorischen und kompetenzseitigen Voraussetzungen muss der Einkauf hier zukünftig erfüllen? Wie interagiert der „Einkäufer 2.0“ mit Technologie und welcher Wandel ist kulturell notwendig?
Bekleidungsraum 4.0: Eine neue Ära in der Dienstbekleidung
Authors: Kazianschütz Michael
Published: December 2020

Im Juli 2020 ging der erste Bekleidungsraum am LKH-Universitätsklinikum Graz in Betrieb. Damit erfolgt auch die generelle Umstellung von personalisierter Dienstbekleidung zu entpersonalisierter und bunter Dienstbekleidung.
Erfahrungsbericht: Warehouse-Ansätze in der Klinikversorgung
Authors: Dieck Marcel
Published: December 2020

Die vier kommunalen Kliniken der Stadt Bremen sind im Klinikverbund Gesundheit Nord gGmbH (GeNo) zusammengeschlossen. Um Synergien zu nutzen, betreibt der Klinikverbund ein Logistik-Center im zweitgrößten Güterverkehrszentrums Europas: Zudem wurden die Einkaufsabteilungen der Medizin- sowie der Apothekenprodukte integriert.
Effects of nitrogen seeding in a tokamak plasma
Authors: Raj Shrish , Bisai N. , Shankar Vijay , Sen A.
Published: December 2020

The effects of nitrogen gas seeding in the edge and scrape-off layer (SOL) regions of a tokamak plasma are studied through 2D fluid simulations using the BOUT++ code. Proper account is taken of the presence of multiple charged states of nitrogen ions due to ionization, recombination, and dissociation processes, and a self-consistent study of the interaction of these ions with the turbulent plasma in the edge and SOL regions is carried out. The self-consistent model includes the effects of polarization drifts of the main plasma and impurity ions for determining the plasma vorticity. Nitrogen seeding is found to modify the turbulence as well as to influence the profiles of the equilibrium plasma density and the electron temperature. The densities of N3+ to N5+ ions are found to be relatively higher than the other charged states. This is understood and further validated by a 0D simulation. The radial profiles of these impurity ions are mapped, and their radiation energy losses are estimated. The radial profile of the radiation losses is maximum near to the edge-to-SOL transition region and becomes broader in the edge region than the SOL region.
Electron–phonon coupling in CsPbBr3
Authors: Zhou Xianzhong , Zhang Ziyang
Published: December 2020

The interaction between electrons and phonons in CsPbBr3 is essential for the design of CsPbBr3 based optoelectronics since the phonon governs emission line broadening in metal halide perovskites. In this work, the temperature dependent photoluminescence linewidth was obtained from 80 K to 400 K. Density functional theory and many-body perturbation theory were used to calculate the electron–phonon coupling in CsPbBr3. We demonstrate that the electron–phonon coupling is dominated by the longitudinal optical phonon. In addition, the photoluminescence spectrum broadening is almost linear with temperatures from 80 K to 400 K. Their results provide a better understanding of the mechanism of electron–phonon scattering in CsPbBr3 and related optoelectronic devices.
Monolayer goldene intercalated in graphene layers
Authors: Yuan Wenjuan , Deng Ziliang , Ren Zhouhong , Shen Yongli , Xi Wei , Luo Jun
Published: December 2020

Non-independent metalenes cannot maintain structural stability, but they are expected to possess extraordinary properties that provide excellent prospects for applications in physics, chemistry, and materials science. In this study, a simple physical method is used to prepare a metalene sandwiched between graphene layers. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy observation reveals Au (111) single-layer goldene intercalated with graphene monolayers. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the Au atoms in goldene are stabilized through weak interactions between graphene and Au atoms. The discovery of this structure consisting of single layers of goldene sandwiched between graphene layers suggests ideas for the preparation of such layered materials and opens up the possibilities for their wider application in physics and materials science.
Detection of black body radiation using a compact terahertz imager
Authors: Hegedüs M. , Fedorov K. , Antonov I. , Karataev P. , Antonov V. N.
Published: December 2020

We detect terahertz radiation emitted by a blackbody object at room temperature. The probe consists of semiconductor detectors coupled to the cold finger of a compact cryo-cooler. The detectors are narrow conductive channels in two-dimensional electron gas, which is sensitive to variations of photon flux through the mechanism of excitation and rectification of plasma waves. The excitation has a resonant nature, with an unexpectedly narrow FWHM, below 10%. The key element of the concept is a compact cryo-platform, which enables us to use highly sensitive cryo-detectors, while keeping the system compact, ∼34 cm side, and mobile. We discriminate the temperature variation of the blackbody object as small as 1.0 K at a distance of 1 m. There is room for further optimization of the detectors and optical systems to boost the temperature resolution down to 0.5 K and the operation distance to 5 m, which are needed for practical applications.
Electron transfer pathways from quantum dynamics simulations
Authors: Pedron F. N. , Issoglio F. , Estrin D. A. , Scherlis D. A.
Published: December 2020

This work explores the possibility of simulating an electron transfer process between a donor and an acceptor in real time using time-dependent density functional theory electron dynamics. To achieve this objective, a central issue to resolve is the definition of the initial state. This must be a non-equilibrium electronic state able to trigger the charge transfer dynamics; here, two schemes are proposed to prepare such states. One is based on the combination of the density matrices of the donor and acceptor converged separately with appropriate charges (for example, −1 for the donor and +1 for the acceptor). The second approach relied on constrained DFT to localize the charge on each fragment. With these schemes, electron transfer processes are simulated in different model systems of increasing complexity: an atomic hydrogen dimer, a polyacetylene chain, and the active site of the T. cruzi hybrid type A heme peroxidase, for which two possible electron transfer paths have been postulated. For the latter system, the present methodology applied in a hybrid Quantum Mechanics - Molecular Mechanics framework allows us to establish the relative probabilities of each path and provides insight into the inhibition of the electron transfer provoked by the substitution of tryptophan by phenylalanine in the W233F mutant.
Nuclear–electronic orbital Ehrenfest dynamics
Authors: Zhao Luning , Wildman Andrew , Tao Zhen , Schneider Patrick , Hammes-Schiffer Sharon , Li Xiaosong
Published: December 2020

The recently developed real-time nuclear–electronic orbital (RT-NEO) approach provides an elegant framework for treating electrons and selected nuclei, typically protons, quantum mechanically in nonequilibrium dynamical processes. However, the RT-NEO approach neglects the motion of the other nuclei, preventing a complete description of the coupled nuclear–electronic dynamics and spectroscopy. In this work, the dynamical interactions between the other nuclei and the electron–proton subsystem are described with the mixed quantum–classical Ehrenfest dynamics method. The NEO-Ehrenfest approach propagates the electrons and quantum protons in a time-dependent variational framework, while the remaining nuclei move classically on the corresponding average electron–proton vibronic surface. This approach includes the non-Born–Oppenheimer effects between the electrons and the quantum protons with RT-NEO and between the classical nuclei and the electron–proton subsystem with Ehrenfest dynamics. Spectral features for vibrational modes involving both quantum and classical nuclei are resolved from the time-dependent dipole moments. This work shows that the NEO-Ehrenfest method is a powerful tool to study dynamical processes with coupled electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom.
Construction of explicitly correlated one-electron reduced density matrices
Authors: Cioslowski Jerzy
Published: December 2020

A general construction of an ensemble N-representable one-electron reduced density matrix Γ1(r1→′;r→1) is presented. Unlike the conventional spectral representation, it explicitly incorporates the recently derived discontinuity in the fifth derivative of Γ1(r1→′;r→1) with respect to |r1→′−r→1|. Its practical relevance in the context of the density-matrix functional theory is discussed.
Variations of light emission and carrier dynamics around V-defects in InGaN quantum wells
Authors: Yapparov Rinat , Chow Yi Chao , Lynsky Cheyenne , Wu Feng , Nakamura Shuji , Speck James S. , Marcinkevičius Saulius
Published: December 2020

Time- and spectrally-resolved scanning near-field optical microscopy was applied to study spatial variations of photoluminescence (PL) spectra and carrier dynamics in polar InGaN/GaN single quantum wells (QWs) emitting from 410 nm to 570 nm. The main attention was devoted to variations of PL properties and carrier dynamics around V-defects. The PL intensity, peak wavelength, and linewidth, as well as the radiative and nonradiative recombination times, were found to be different in V-defect-rich and defect-free regions. The radiative lifetime close to the defects was longer up to several times, which is attributed to an increased electron and hole wave function separation in the QW plane. PL decay times, measured using excitation and collection through the near-field probe, were one to two orders of magnitude shorter than PL decay times measured in the far field. This shows that the near-field PL decay and the integrated PL intensity are primarily determined by the carrier out-diffusion from under the probe. Only in the immediate vicinity of the V-defects, the near-field PL decays due to the nonradiative recombination at dislocations. The area of such enhanced nonradiative recombination is limited to just a few percent of the total QW area. This shows that recombination via dislocations and V-defects does not play a decisive role in the overall nonradiative recombination and internal quantum efficiency of polar InGaN/GaN QWs.
Critical thickness of α″-Fe16N2 layer prepared in low-temperature nitriding
Authors: Ma Bin , Liu Jinming , Guo Guannan , Wang Jian-Ping
Published: December 2020

The formation mechanism of α″-Fe16N2 phase was investigated in the form of nanoparticles. Both α-Fe and γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles were used to prepare α″-Fe16N2 by using a low-temperature nitriding process (≤180 °C). The synthesized α″-Fe16N2 nanoparticles have a high α″-Fe16N2 volume ratio up to 93%, with a specific saturation magnetization of 178 emu/g (room temperature) and coercivity of 2.0 kOe. The formation of α″-Fe16N2 phase includes three stages: (1) the heterogenous nucleation of α″-Fe16N2 with simultaneous chemical reaction, (2) the growth of α″-Fe16N2 with a local electric field in the Fe16N2 layer, and (3) the termination of Fe16N2 growth due to the nucleation of other Fe–N phases (ε-Fe3N or γ′-Fe4N). In low-temperature nitriding, NH3 was used as the nitrogen source. The adsorbed NH3 molecules on the Fe surface decompose into N and H atoms, and then N atoms react with Fe and nucleation of α″-Fe16N2 simultaneously occurs at the high-energy surface sites of reduced Fe nanoparticles. The growth of α″-Fe16N2 phase can be explained by the electric field modified diffusion theory, where the electric field is established by the migration of Fe and N ions and electrons. Finally, the nucleation of Fe–N stable phases (ε-Fe3N or γ′-Fe4N) ceases the further growth of α′′-Fe16N2 layer. Then, there is critical thickness for the α″-Fe16N2 layer, which is estimated to be 10–15 nm from the surface. Therefore, single-phase α″-Fe16N2 nanoparticles are expected in fine particles with less than 30 nm in diameter.
Lower Tropospheric Temperatures 1978-2016: The Role Played By Anthropogenic Global Warming
Authors: Ayers G. P.
Published: December 2020

The slowdown in tropospheric temperature increase between 1997-2016 led some commentators in Australia (and elsewhere) to repeat earlier assertions that there is an absence of any relationship between anthropogenic carbon dioxide increase and global air temperature. Here we test the null hypothesis that anthropogenic greenhouse forcing makes no contribution to global mean tropospheric temperature by analysing a satellite-derived lower tropospheric temperature record since 1978. A well-known heuristic model that separates variance in air temperature into components from different sources of climate variability is employed to determine what contribution anthropogenic greenhouse gases made to satellite-measured lower tropospheric temperature. Over the satellite record from December 1978 to the January 2016 the anthropogenic contribution to lower tropospheric temperature is estimated to be between +0.29 and +0.34K. Over the shorter segment of the record from December 1997 to January 2016 an anthropogenic contribution of +0.15K to the satellite-derived lower tropospheric air temperature was found. The slowdown in rate of temperature increase in that period is found simply to be a consequence of internal climate system variability that at other times has the opposite effect. The null hypothesis of no relationship between lower troposphere temperature and greenhouse gas increase is rejected.
Observations of a tornado at an Automatic Weather Station in northern Tasmania
Authors: Fox-Hughes Paul , Barnes-Keoghan Ian , Porter Adrian
Published: December 2020

On 15 April 2009, the Automatic Weather Station (AWS) at Scottsdale, in north-eastern Tasmania, recorded a wind gust of 54 ms-1 (194 kmh-1) as an active squall line crossed the state. Investigation of the environment, instrumentation, and damage resulted in the conclusion that this was a genuine wind gust caused by a tornado passing very close to the anemometer. This was the first direct AWS observation of a tornado in Australia, and one of very few such observations in the world. In this report, we document the weather event which produced the tornado, briefly outline the synoptic situation leading to its occurrence, document additional background observations that provide context for the event, and discuss the nature of the observations made by the AWS and the method by which the wind gust observations were verified.The squall line was part of a cold front that crossed northern Tasmania on the morning of 15 April 2009. At 300 hPa, the orientation of the short-wave trough associated with the cold front changed from positively to strongly negatively tilted as it moved over central Victoria and Tasmania. The orientation of the trough and position of a jet streak within it suggested strong upper divergence and strong vertical motion. These contributed to thunderstorm development and resulted in very substantial vertical wind shear through the lower half of the troposphere, which in turn contributed to the organisation of the severe convection. Near the surface, low cloud base and strong vertical windshear in the lowest kilometre provided conditions conducive to tornado development.
Distinguishing functional pools of soil organic matter based on solubility in hot water
Authors: Curtin Denis , Beare Mike H. , Qiu Weiwen
Published: December 2020

Evidence is emerging that the solubility of soil organic matter (SOM) in water is a key factor regulating the turnover of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). We used data from a field trial with a wide range of treatments in a case study to: (1) examine the link between SOM solubility and bioavailability and (2) evaluate whether low water-solubility is a factor contributing to the persistence of refractory SOM. The trial was established in 2000 on a silt loam (Udic Dystocrept) at Lincoln, New Zealand to identify management practices that maintain SOM following the conversion of long-term pasture to arable cropping. The following land use treatments were sampled (0–7.5, 7.5–15 and 15–25 cm) in 2013: (1) long-term ryegrass-white clover pasture; (2) arable cropping rotation, managed using either intensive, minimum, or no tillage; and (3) continuous bare fallow (plots maintained plant-free using herbicide; not cultivated). The bioavailability of SOM was determined by measuring C and N mineralisation in a 98-day incubation at 25°C (soil maintained near field capacity) and water solubility was assessed by measuring hot-water-extractable C and N (16-h extraction at 80°C). After 13 years of arable cropping, C stocks (to 25 cm) were 11 t ha–1 less than in pasture soil (decrease of 14%). Tillage ‘intensity’ had no effect on C stocks in the top 25 cm. Large losses of C were observed in the bare fallow treatment (19 t C ha–1 less than pasture soil). The bioavailability of SOM (CO2-C mineralised as a proportion of soil C) also declined under arable cropping and bare fallow. The relationship between total C and mineralised C had a significant (P < 0.001) intercept, indicating that part of the organic matter (13 g C kg–1) did not contribute to C mineralisation (it was biologically inert). Across treatments and sampling depths, SOM mineralised in 98 days generally corresponded well with that extracted in hot water. A significant fraction of SOM (~9 g C kg–1) did not release C to hot water. Water-insoluble organic matter, including compounds that are strongly bonded to mineral surfaces, may comprise a significant part of the refractory SOM.
An improved neural network method for aeromagnetic compensation
Authors: Yu Ping , Zhao Xiao , jiao Jian , Jia Jiwei , Zhou Shuai
Published: December 2020

Aeromagnetic compensation plays an important role in aeromagnetic data processing and can eliminate the magnetic interference generated by aircraft. Currently, aeromagnetic compensation algorithms are mostly based on linear regression equations, but linear regression has insufficient fitting function capabilities compared to neural networks. Williams proposed a compensation model from the perspective of a neural network, but this model has the problem of overfitting. Combining these two methods, this paper proposes a neural network compensation method with strong generalization. This method is based on regression equations and uses generalized regression neural networks (GRNNs) for neural network regression. Analysis of the probability density function that constitutes the GRNN shows that proper smoothing factors and multiple training sets can improve the generalization of the GRNN compensation model, thereby weakening the effect of overfitting.
The conducting fibrillar networks of a PEDOT:PSS hydrogel and an organogel prepared by the gel-film formation process
Authors: Maeda Ryota , Shinohara Yoshikazu , Kawakami Hiroshi , Isoda Yukihiro , Kanazawa Ikuzo , Mitsuishi Masaya
Published: December 2020

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is a practical conducting polymer. The gel-film formation process produces a PEDOT:PSS organogel with a structure between a PEDOT:PSS water dispersion and a dried film. We found that this film has a high water-swelling ratio and thickens by a hitherto unreported factor of approximately 6600% as its swells to form a hydrogel. In this study, we investigated the drying behaviour of a hydrogel and an organogel with electrical properties to elucidate the internal structures of the gel responsible for the swelling and shrinkage behaviour with high expansion and contraction ratios. SEM revealed that the gel is composed of a 3D fibrillar network consisting of fibrils that are 4.6 ± 1.6 μm long and 0.63 ± 0.29 μm in diameter. This network plays a pivotal role in the conduction of electricity and swelling behaviour with high expansion ratios. The thickness of the gel decreased to 1/66 of its original value after drying on a substrate, while the total electrical resistance decreased by only 20%. The organogel exhibited the same drying behaviour as the hydrogel, which indicates that the network forms first in the organogel and is maintained in the subsequent swelling and drying processes. The electrical conductivity of the hydrogel increased from 9.0 ± 0.1 to 346.4 ± 1.2 S cm−1 under anisotropic shrinking from 3.1 ± 0.2 mm to 77.4 ± 3.3 μm. The network plays an important role as an enhanced swelling framework by providing effective pathways for the conduction of electricity.
Evaporation-induced self-assembly of silver nanospheres and gold nanorods on a super-hydrophobic substrate for SERS applications
Authors: Xu Lin , Li Xiaoying , Wang Xiao , Zou Zhiming
Published: December 2020

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has drawn attention for broad applications. We successfully fabricated highly effective SERS structures via evaporation-induced self-assembly of blend nanoparticles containing sliver nanospheres (Ag NSs) and gold nanorods (Au NRs) on a super-hydrophobic (SH) substrate. On the SH substrate, the droplets of the mixed aqueous solution of silver nanospheres (Ag NSs), gold nanorods (Au NRs), and probe molecules can preserve their spherical shape during the evaporation process, and the probe molecules (R6G) are confined into extremely small areas after solvent removal due to hydrophobicity-enhanced concentration effects. The Raman enhancement effect of the blend nanoparticles with 40 vol% Ag NSs is far higher than that of the other samples. The structure of the aggregated Ag NSs on the film-like Au NRs greatly enhances the SERS effect of Ag NSs, which is optimal for the blend system with 40 vol% Ag NSs. The SERS structure also displays excellent signal reproducibility (RSD < 10%) and low detection limits (0.5 nM). Thus, this work offers a simple and efficient strategy to fabricate a highly effective SERS structure with broad applications in environmental science, analytical chemistry, etc.
Femtosecond laser interferometry of microsized absorptive plasma
Authors: Gololobov V M , Kononenko V V , Kononenko T V , Konov V I
Published: December 2020

A femtosecond optical technique has been developed for studying a highly absorbing microplasma created in a volume of transparent media under intense laser radiation. The approach, which combines interferometric and shadow microscopy and allows reconstructing induced changes in the optical properties of a medium, is described. The results of investigation of the refractive index dynamics in water bulk excited by the intense femtosecond pulses are presented (

10

13

W

cm

−
2

, 800 nm, 100 fs).
Spatio-temporal measurements of overshoot phenomenon in pulsed inductively coupled discharge*
Authors: Lv Xiang-Yun , Gao Fei , Zhang Quan-Zhi , Wang You-Nian
Published: December 2020

Pulse inductively coupled plasma has been widely used in the microelectronics industry, but the existence of overshoot phenomenon may affect the uniformity of plasma and generate high-energy ions, which could damage the chip. The overshoot phenomenon at various spatial locations in pulsed inductively coupled Ar and Ar/CF4 discharges is studied in this work. The electron density, effective electron temperature, relative light intensity, and electron energy probability function (EEPF) are measured by using a time-resolved Langmuir probe and an optical probe, as a function of axial and radial locations. At the initial stage of pulse, both electron density and relative light intensity exhibit overshoot phenomenon, i.e., they first increase to a peak value and then decrease to a convergent value. The overshoot phenomenon gradually decays, when the probe moves away from the coils. Meanwhile, a delay appears in the variation of the electron densities, and the effective electron temperature decreases, which may be related to the reduced strength of electric field at a distance, and the consequent fewer high-energy electrons, inducing limited ionization and excitation rate. The overshoot phenomenon gradually disappears and the electron density decreases, when the probe moves away from reactor centre. In Ar/CF4 discharge, the overshoot phenomenon of electron density is weaker than that in the Ar discharge, and the plasma reaches a steady density within a much shorter time, which is probably due to the more ionization channels and lower ionization thresholds in the Ar/CF4 plasma.
Structural integrity assessment for ITER lower VS coil feedthrough
Authors: Peng Xuebing , Mariani Nicola , Vostner Alexander , Mcintosh Simon , Bontemps Vincent
Published: December 2020

The ITER vertical stabilization coil system is designed to provide fast plasma stabilization in all scenarios with elongated plasma cross-section. It consists of two water-cooled coils located in upper and lower portions of the vacuum vessel (VV), with feedthroughs responsible for the transfer of electricity and cooling water across the vacuum boundary of VV. Depending on location, the feedthroughs can be divided into upper port feedthroughs (UPR feedthroughs) and lower port feedthroughs (LWR feedthroughs), each family sharing the same design. Both designs are subject to demanding operation scheme, a severe working environment and the presence of interfacing components, which impose important thermal, electromagnetic and seismic loads on the components. In particular, the LWR feedthrough, object of present paper, is more impacted by seismic loads due to the more flexible structure compared to the UPR feedthrough. During the worst seismic event, it is subjected to a vertical acceleration of 28.8 m s−2, acting on an effective mass of 249.9 kg at its first order modal mode. Furthermore, the current circulating in the conductor of the LWR feedthrough, impose significant linear forces, up to 27.7 kN m−1 during normal operation and 30.3 kN m−1 during categories I & II abnormal plasma events, respectively. Finally, the effect of differential thermal expansions of interfacing structures imposes a relative displacement between the supports up to 32.9 mm in X (radial) direction and up to 14.67 mm in Z (vertical) direction, during baking. Being part of the vacuum boundary, the feedthrough must assure confinement function under all normal and accidental loading conditions, with proper structural integrity assessment by applying analysis approach and design criteria foreseen by the applicable nuclear codes. The paper details the load types and categories, the analysis methodologies, the structural design criteria, and the assessment results in views of static stress and fatigue for the LWR feedthrough. This study could be a comprehensive reference for the structural integrity assessment of other similar components in fusion devices.
Effect of resonant magnetic perturbations on local plasma current density gradients and neoclassical tearing modes
Authors: Yu Q. , Günter S. , Lackner K.
Published: December 2020

The effect of externally applied resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) on the local equilibrium plasma current density profile is studied numerically based on two-fluid equations in simplified cylindrical geometry. It is found that a moderate RMP below its penetration threshold, via non-linear mode coupling, induces a parallel electric field around its rational surface that can significantly change the local flux-surface-averaged current density gradient. At a given RMP amplitude, the modification of the current density profile increases with increasing electron temperature, and it significantly depends on the bi-normal electron fluid velocity at the resonant surface. The effect of this modification on the magnetic island growth is demonstrated by the example of small m/n = 2/1 islands (m/n being the poloidal/toroidal mode numbers), driven by an unfavorable plasma current density profile and bootstrap current perturbation. The 2/1 mode growth is stabilized by moderate static 4/2 or 6/3 RMPs if the local electron fluid velocity is in the ion drift direction or sufficiently large in the electron drift direction. These results reveal that a weakly three-dimensional equilibrium, containing a moderate 4/2 RMP and the associated shielding current, can be more stable against the 2/1 mode, which often causes tokamak plasma major disruptions.
Retracted: Design and evaluation of ciprofloxacin loaded collagen chitosan oxygenating scaffold for skin tissue engineering
Authors: Tripathi Satyavrat , Singh Bhisham Narayan , Divakar Singh , Kumar Gaurav , Mallick Sarada Prasanna , Srivastava Pradeep
Published: December 2020

Hypoxia and sepsis are key concerns towards modern regenerative medicine. Oxygen generating biomaterials having antibacterial property aims to answer these concerns. Hypoxia promotes reactive oxygen species at the implant site that delays wound healing. Sepsis in wound also contributes to delay in wound healing. Therefore, scaffold with antibacterial property and oxygen-producing capacities have shown ability to promote wound healing. In the present study oxygen releasing, ciprofloxacin loaded collagen chitosan scaffold was fabricated for sustained oxygen delivery. Calcium peroxide (CPO) acted as a chemical oxygen source. Oxygen release pattern exhibited a sustained release of oxygen with uniform deposition of CPO on the scaffold. The drug release study shows a prolonged, continuous, and sustained release of ciprofloxacin. Cell culture studies depict that scaffold has suitable cell attachment and migration properties for fibroblasts. In vivo studies performed in the skin flip model visually shows better wound healing and less necrosis. Histological studies show the maintenance of tissue architecture and the deposition of collagen. The results demonstrate that the proposed CPO coated ciprofloxacin loaded collagen-chitosan scaffold can be a promising candidate for skin tissue engineering.
Probing arbitrary Laguerre–Gaussian beams and pairs through a tilted biconvex lens
Authors: Liu Ping , Cao Yaqin , Lu Zehuang , Lin Guoping
Published: December 2020

Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) laser beams carrying orbital angular momentum are attractive vortex sources for a variety of photonic applications. In this work, we investigate the probing method based on a tilted biconvex lens for LG beams and pairs. We theoretically derive the formulation of the general astigmatic transformation of an LG vortex beam with non-zero radial index p and topological charge l after passing through a tilted biconvex lens. It is found that at a certain position after the focus of the lens, the field intensity of the LG beam is converted into a  ( p+1) by ( p+|l|+1) slanted matrix of bright spots. The indices of p and l are obtained by examin-ing the converted intensity patterns. Theoretical calculations are in good agreement with experiments using LG beams with p up to 2 and l up to 34 emitted from a nonplanar ring vortex oscillator. Furthermore, we also found the method can also be used to estimate the mode comp-onents, the ratio of beam intensity and phase relationships of any two superposed LG beams.
Trading networks and Hodge theory
∗
Authors: Schenck Henry , Sowers Richard , Song Rui
Published: December 2020

The problem of analyzing interconnectedness is one of today’s premier challenges in understanding systemic risk. Connections can both stabilize networks and provide pathways for contagion. The central problem in such networks is establishing global behavior from local interactions. Jiang-Lim-Yao-Ye (Jiang et al 2011 Mathematical Programming 127
1 203–244) recently introduced the use of the Hodge decomposition (see Lim 2020 SIAM Review
62 685–715 for a review), a fundamental tool from algebraic geometry, to construct global rankings from local interactions (see Barbarossa et al 2018 (2018 IEEE Data Science Workshop (DSW), IEEE) pp 51–5; Haruna and Fujiki 2016 Frontiers in Neural Circuits
10 77; Jia et al 2019 (Proc. of the XXV ACM SIGKDD International Conf. on Knowledge Discovery & Data Mining, pp 761–71 for other applications). We apply this to a study of financial networks, starting from the Eisenberg-Noe (Eisenberg and Noe 2001 Management Science
47 236–249) setup of liabilities and endowments, and construct a network of defaults. We then use Jiang-Lim-Yao-Ye to construct a global ranking from the defaults, which yields one way of quantifying ‘systemic importance’.
Fast modeling and understanding fluid dynamics systems with encoder–decoder networks
Authors: Thavarajah Rohan , Zhai Xiang , Ma Zheren , Castineira David
Published: December 2020

Is a deep learning model capable of representing systems governed by certain first principle physics laws by only observing the system’s output? In an effort to simulate two-dimensional subsurface fluid dynamics in porous media, we found that an accurate deep-learning-based proxy model can be taught efficiently by a computationally expensive finite-volume-based simulator. We pose the problem as an image-to-image regression, running the simulator with different input parameters to furnish a synthetic training dataset upon which we fit the deep learning models. Since the data is spatiotemporal, we compare the performance of three alternative treatments of time; a convolutional LSTM, an autoencoder network that treats time as a direct input and an echo state network. Adversarial methods are adopted to address the sharp spatial gradient in the fluid dynamics problem. Compared to traditional simulation, the proposed deep learning approach enables much faster forward computation, which allows us to explore more scenarios with a much larger parameter space given the same time. It is shown that the improved forward computation efficiency is particularly valuable in solving inversion problems, where the physics model has unknown parameters to be determined by history matching. By computing the pixel-level attention of the trained model, we quantify the sensitivity of the deep learning model to key physical parameters and hence demonstrate that the inverse problem can be solved with great acceleration. We assess the efficacy of the machine learning surrogate in terms of its training speed and accuracy. The network can be trained within minutes using limited training data and achieve accuracy that scales desirably with the amount of training data supplied.
Elliptic stable envelopes
Authors: Aganagic Mina , Okounkov Andrei
Published: December 2020

We construct stable envelopes in equivariant elliptic cohomology of Nakajima quiver varieties. In particular, this gives an elliptic generalization of the results of Maulik and Okounkov [Astérisque 408 (2019), ix+209]. We apply them to the computation of the monodromy of

q
q

-difference equations arising in the enumerative K-theory of rational curves in Nakajima varieties, including the quantum Knizhnik–Zamolodchikov equations.
Racial Discrimination and Telomere Length in Midlife African American Women: Interactions of Educational Attainment and Employment Status
Authors: Thomas Marilyn D , Sohail Saba , Mendez Rebecca M , Márquez-Magaña Leticia , Allen Amani M
Published: December 2020

Background

Over the life course, African American (AA) women have faster telomere attrition, a biological indicator of accelerated aging, than White women. Race, sex, age, and composite socioeconomic status (SES) modify associations of institutional racial discrimination and telomere length. However, interactions with everyday racial discrimination have not been detected in AA women, nor have interactions with individual socioeconomic predictors.

Purpose

We estimated statistical interaction of institutional and everyday racial discrimination with age, education, employment, poverty, and composite SES on telomere length among midlife AA women.

Methods

Data are from a cross-section of 140 AA women aged 30–50 years residing in the San Francisco Bay Area. Participants completed questionnaires, computer-assisted self-interviews, physical examinations, and blood draws. Adjusted linear regression estimated bootstrapped racial discrimination–relative telomere length associations with interaction terms.

Results

Racial discrimination did not interact with age, poverty, or composite SES measures to modify associations with telomere length. Interactions between independent SES variables were nonsignificant for everyday discrimination whereas institutional discrimination interacted with educational attainment and employment status to modify telomere length. After adjusting for covariates, we found that higher institutional discrimination was associated with shorter telomeres among employed women with lower education (β = −0.020; 95% confidence interval = −0.036, −0.003). Among unemployed women with higher education, higher institutional discrimination was associated with longer telomeres (β = 0.017; 95% confidence interval = 0.003, 0.032). Factors related to having a post-high school education may be protective against the negative effects of institutional racism on cellular aging for AA women.
Issues of Z-factor and an approach to avoid them for quality control in high-throughput screening studies
Authors: Zhang Xiaohua Douglas , Wang Dandan , Sun Shixue , Zhang Heping
Published: December 2020

Motivation

High-throughput screening (HTS) is a vital automation technology in biomedical research in both industry and academia. The well-known Z-factor has been widely used as a gatekeeper to assure assay quality in an HTS study. However, many researchers and users may not have realized that Z-factor has major issues.

Results

In this article, the following four major issues are explored and demonstrated so that researchers may use the Z-factor appropriately. First, the Z-factor violates the Pythagorean theorem of statistics. Second, there is no adjustment of sampling error in the application of the Z-factor for quality control (QC) in HTS studies. Third, the expectation of the sample-based Z-factor does not exist. Fourth, the thresholds in the Z-factor-based criterion lack a theoretical basis. Here, an approach to avoid these issues was proposed and new QC criteria under homoscedasticity were constructed so that researchers can choose a statistically grounded criterion for QC in the HTS studies. We implemented this approach in an R package and demonstrated its utility in multiple CRISPR/CAS9 or siRNA HTS studies.

Availability and implementation

The R package qcSSMDhomo is freely available from GitHub: https://github.com/Karena6688/qcSSMDhomo. The file qcSSMDhomo_1.0.0.tar.gz (for Windows) containing qcSSMDhomo is also available at Bioinformatics online. qcSSMDhomo is distributed under the GNU General Public License.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Pathological brain ageing in epilepsy and dementia: two sides of the same coin?
Authors: Sen Arjune , Romoli Michele
Published: December 2020

This scientific commentary refers to ‘Atrophy and cognitive profiles in older adults with temporal lobe epilepsy are similar to mild cognitive impairment’, by Kaestneret al. (doi:10.1093/brain/awaa397).
Higher Plasma Viremia in the Febrile Phase Is Associated With Adverse Dengue Outcomes Irrespective of Infecting Serotype or Host Immune Status: An Analysis of 5642 Vietnamese Cases
Authors: Vuong Nguyen Lam , Quyen Nguyen Than Ha , Tien Nguyen Thi Hanh , Tuan Nguyen Minh , Kien Duong Thi Hue , Lam Phung Khanh , Tam Dong Thi Hoai , Van Ngoc Tran , Yacoub Sophie , Jaenisch Thomas , Geskus Ronald B , Simmons Cameron P , Wills Bridget A
Published: December 2020

Background

One of the generally accepted constructs of dengue pathogenesis is that clinical disease severity is at least partially dependent upon plasma viremia, yet data on plasma viremia in primary versus secondary infections and in relation to clinically relevant endpoints remain limited and contradictory.

Methods

Using a large database comprising detailed clinical and laboratory characterization of Vietnamese participants enrolled in a series of research studies executed over a 15-year period, we explored relationships between plasma viremia measured by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and 3 clinically relevant endpoints—severe dengue, plasma leakage, and hospitalization—in the dengue-confirmed cases. All 4 dengue serotypes and both primary and secondary infections were well represented. In our logistic regression models we allowed for a nonlinear effect of viremia and for associations between viremia and outcome to differ by age, serotype, host immune status, and illness day at study enrollment.

Results

Among 5642 dengue-confirmed cases we identified 259 (4.6%) severe dengue cases, 701 (12.4%) patients with plasma leakage, and 1441 of 4008 (40.0%) patients recruited in outpatient settings who were subsequently hospitalized. From the early febrile phase onwards, higher viremia increased the risk of developing all 3 endpoints, but effect sizes were modest (ORs ranging from 1.12–1.27 per 1-log increase) compared with the effects of a secondary immune response (ORs, 1.67–7.76). The associations were consistent across age, serotype, and immune status groups, and in the various sensitivity and subgroup analyses we undertook.

Conclusions

Higher plasma viremia is associated with increased dengue severity, regardless of serotype or immune status.
Bacterial and Fungal Profiles as Markers of Infliximab Drug Response in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Ventin-Holmberg Rebecka , Eberl Anja , Saqib Schahzad , Korpela Katri , Virtanen Seppo , Sipponen Taina , Salonen Anne , Saavalainen Päivi , Nissilä Eija
Published: December 2020

Background and Aims

Inflammatory bowel diseases [IBDs], Crohn’s disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC], are globally increasing chronic gastro-intestinal inflammatory disorders associated with altered gut microbiota. Infliximab [IFX], a tumour necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha blocker, is used to treat IBD patients successfully, though one-third of the patients do not respond to therapy. No reliable biomarkers are available for prediction of IFX response. Our aims were to investigate the faecal bacterial and fungal communities during IFX therapy and find predictors for IFX treatment response in IBD patients.

Methods

A total of 72 IBD patients [25 CD and 47 UC] started IFX therapy and were followed for 1 year or until IFX treatment was discontinued. An amplicon sequencing approach, targeting the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal ITS 1 region separately, was used to determine the microbiota profiles in faecal samples collected before IFX therapy and 2, 6, and 12 weeks and 1 year after initiation of therapy. The response to IFX was evaluated by colonoscopy and clinically at 12 weeks after initiation.

Results

Both faecal bacterial and fungal profiles differed significantly between response groups before start of IFX treatment. Non-responders had lower abundances of short chain fatty acid producers, particularly of the class Clostridia, and higher abundances of pro-inflammatory bacteria and fungi, such as the genus Candida, compared with responders. This was further indicated by bacterial taxa predicting the response in both CD and UC patients [area under the curve >0.8].

Conclusions

Faecal bacterial and fungal microbiota composition could provide a predictive tool to estimate IFX response in IBD patients.
Saddle pulmonary embolism and clot in transit in COVID-19 infection: a case report of catastrophic venous thromboembolism
Authors: Aoi Shunsuke , Kakkar Amit M , Golowa Yosef , Grushko Michael , Coyle Christina M , Elrafei Tarek , Langston Matthew D , Faillace Robert T , Bangalore Sripal , Sokol Seth I
Published: December 2020

Background 

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with a coagulopathy favouring thrombosis over bleeding that imparts a poor prognosis. Clot in transit (CIT) is considered a rare entity and the most severe form of venous thromboembolism (VTE), carrying a higher mortality than isolated pulmonary embolism (PE). The incidence of this phenomenon in patients with COVID-19 infection is unknown and likely under-recognized.

Case summary 

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, a 70-year-old Hispanic female presented with syncope due to a saddle PE further complicated by a highly mobile CIT. Polymerase chain reaction was positive for COVID-19 infection, however, there was no evidence of lung parenchymal involvement or hyper-inflammation. Based on consensus from a multidisciplinary team, aspiration thrombectomy was attempted to treat this extreme case of VTE, however, the patient died during the procedure.

Discussion 

This case raises awareness to the most catastrophic form of VTE, presenting in an early phase of COVID-19 infection without the typical hyper-inflammation and severe lung injury associated with development of COVID-related coagulopathy. It also serves to inform on the critical role echocardiography has in the comprehensive evaluation and re-evaluation of hospitalized patients with COVID-19, and the importance of a multidisciplinary organized approach in clinical decision-making for this complex and poorly understood disease and its sequelae.