bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential and Challenges of Karst Water Resources in Sumbermanjing Wetan District of Malang Regency
Authors: Sahrina A , Fitrianti D , Suprianto A , Labib M A
Published: January 2020

Water is one of the primary needs of all living things. In order to figure out the potential of water resources, we need to conduct a study about water supply. This study of water resources was conducted in Sumbermanjing Wetan district located in the southern part of Malang Regency. This study is limited to the initial review of the existence of potency water resources in the study area, without including a quantitative aspect of the water resources. The first identification was collecting the data of water resources found in Sumbermanjing Wetan, and then analyze them descriptively. This step was to figure out the potential and challenges of water resources in Sumbermanjing Wetan. The result of this study showed that there were water resources in the form of spring, surface water, and subterranean river. The big volume of spring had been used by the people to fulfill their daily needs. However, the changing of the karst landscape had produced pollution around the settlement. Besides, there was volume decreasing of the spring, and so was the water supply for the people. The people could make use of other water resources such as the subterranean river that flow a whole year to overcome the problem. The most potential subterranean rivers are in Mbah Wajib Cave, Limbah Cave, Krompyang Cave, Kedung Pitu Cave, and Emas Cave.
Geopolitical Implication on Contested Waters; Comparison Between Indonesia and the Philippines Strategy to Overlapping South China Sea Waters
Authors: Pramono Wahyu Tyas , Darmawan Arief , Deffinika Ifan , Soelistijo Djoko
Published: January 2020

Both Indonesia and the Philippines are located in the same region of Southeast Asia. These countries are facing significant threat related to nation’s sovereignty due to overlapping waters to the biggest claimant of PRC (People’s Republic of China) by usingNine-dash lineclaim. After some failure agreements between region organization of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) through DOC (Declaration on the Conduct) in 2002, several strategies are undertaking in soft politics, renaming several portions of waters under political reasons. West Philippines Sea has been used by the Philippines to enhance sense of belonging and nationalism, meanwhile in Indonesia even though was not active claimant in South China Sea conflict, strategies done quietly recent in 2017 by using North Natuna Sea terms to call Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in northern part of Natuna Island which overlapped to China’s claim. Descriptive method through literature study have been used in this research to answer research questions. Some findings in research were even though renaming areas are close related to the political reasons, these actions could uplift capacity in terms of national marine protection, yet Chinese marine surveillance not automatically disappear after renaming those areas respectively. Unending confrontation could hamper bilateral negotiation in the region, meanwhile environmental degradation related to coral ecosystem remain high.
Gel polymer electrolyte based on PVDF-HFP:PMMA incorporated with propylene carbonate (PC) and diethyl carbonate (DEC) plasticizers : electrical, morphology, structural and electrochemical properties
Authors: Gohel Khushbu , Kanchan D K , Machhi Hiren K , Soni Saurabh S , Maheshwaran C
Published: January 2020

To overcome the drawbacks of organic solvent−based liquid electrolytes and a solid polymer electrolyte as a separator in lithium polymer battery, in the recent study gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) using poly(vinylidene fluoride− hexafluropropylene) (PVDF−HFP) and poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as host polymers, lithium perchlorate (LiClO4) salt as conducting species and propylene carbonate (PC) and diethyl carbonate (DEC) plasticizers as an organic solvent has been prepared. The solution casting technique has been adopted to fabricate gel polymer electrolyte (GPE). The prepared GPE films were analyzed using different experimental techniques to discover the properties of GPE. The ionic conductivity of GPE films has been carried out using electrochemical impedance spectroscopic technique. The maximum ionic conductivity of 3.97E-4 S cm−1 has been obtained for GPE having 60 wt% PC:DEC. As an evidence of change in ionic conductivity, structural characterization has been analyzed using FTIR and SEM where, FTIR spectra reveal complex formation taking place between polymers, salt, and plasticizers and SEM micrograph shows a change in surface morphology with a change in plasticizers amount. Dielectric analysis has been also carried out in terms of dielectric constant (

ε

′

) and dielectric loss (

ε

″

). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) has been applied to find electrochemical stability window.
Electrochemical transformation of black phosphorous to phosphorene quantum dots: effect of nitrogen doping
Authors: Ozhukil Valappil Manila , S Jamal Mohamed , Alwarappan Subbiah , Pillai Vijayamohanan K
Published: January 2020

We present a comparative analysis of the structural and optical properties of electrosynthesized PQDs, a new class of size-tunable luminescent materials and their nitrogen doped counter parts(NPQDs). Nitrogen doping onto phopshorene lattice could be realized i

n situ at room temperature using either nitrogen containing electrolyte and/or supporting electrolyte in the solution. An increased quantum efficiency as well as redox behavior has been observed for PQDs upon nitrogen doping and a critical analysis of the effect of nitrogen on the structural, optical and electrochemical properties of PQDs suggests several potential benefits of applications ranging from electrocatalysts and molecular electronics to different types of sensors and bioimaging.
Effect of high temperature-high pressure treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of Cu-Cr alloy
Authors: Gu Tao , Li Jingwen , Xu Fengqiang , Wu Li , Zhao Yuhong , Hou Hua , Liu Jianhua
Published: January 2020

The microstructure of the Cu-Cr alloy prepared by infiltration before and after different pressures treatment at 900 °C for 10 min was observed by metallographic microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). And the mechanical properties were measured by nanoindenter, hardness tester and tensile testing machine. According to the experimental results, the effects of high pressure treatment on the mechanical properties were discussed. The results showed that the hardness of Cu matrix and Cr phase were 114Hv and 194Hv under the pressure of 3 GPa, which were 18.75% and 10.23% higher than those of the infiltrated alloy. Also, the hardness and compression yield strength of Cu-Cr alloy were 134 HB and 241 MPa after 3 GPa pressure treatment, respectively, 11.67%, 19.31% higher than those of the infiltrated alloy. On the basis of analysis, the high pressure treatment can improve the compactness of Cu–Cr alloys, promote the precipitation of nanometer Cr particles and increase the hardness and elastic modulus of Cu matrix and Cr phase, resulting in the improvement of hardness and compression yield strength in Cu–Cr alloys. In the range of 1 ∼ 6 GPa, the hardness and compression yield strength of alloys increase with the increase of pressure. However, these mechanical properties of Cu-Cr alloy increases slowly when the pressure exceeds 1 GPa.
Photo induced self-diffusion and viscosity in amorphous chalcogenide films
Authors: Kaganovskii Yu , Beke D L , Freilikher V , Kökényesi S , Korsunsky A M
Published: January 2020

Acceleration of the mass transport in amorphous chalcogenide films under band gap light illumination is usually attributed to the decrease of the film viscosity. However, our direct measurements of the film viscosity at various temperatures and light intensities, made by flattening of surface relief gratings, have shown that the viscosity did not vary under illumination and the acceleration of the mass transfer was caused by the contribution of photo-induced (PI) self-diffusion. The PI diffusion coefficient is not related to the viscosity coefficient by the Stokes-Einstein relation and PI diffusion should be considered as an additional mechanism of the overall mass transport. In this paper, using well-known models of self-trapped excitons, we present the first atomic interpretation of PI diffusion coefficients, explain their dependence on temperature and light intensity, and compare with our experimental data. For characterization of PI acceleration of the mass transfer we introduce the term ‘diffusional viscosity’, like it is used for description of diffusion creep in crystalline solids. We estimate the temperature dependence of diffusional viscosity and show that it noticeably depends on the distance over which the material is redistributed. Taking into account the diffusional viscosity allows an adequate general interpretation of many photo-induced phenomena observed in the literature.
Waste to wealth: a solution to textile dyes related pollution
Authors: Narasaiah Boya Palajonnala , Mandal Badal Kumar
Published: January 2020

This study describes biosynthesis of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using agro-waste durva grass aqueous extract without uses of any hazardous chemicals and stabilizing agents. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band of the synthesized ZnO NPs confirmed its conversion from its metal salt to NPs by UV–vis spectroscopy. Characterization of functional groups in durva grass aqueous extract and ZnO NPs surfaces were identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), purity and crystallinity by power x-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), size and morphology by transmission electron microscopy analysis (TEM), elemental composition by Energy Dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), stability by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) study. The synthesized ZnO NPs was highly stable with average particle size of 17 nm. The photocatalytic activity of ZnO NPs was studied under UV irradiation to methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) degradation (10 mg l−1 each). 98.1% of MB was degraded within 60 min, while 97.5% of MO within 100 min. In addition, antioxidant activity of ZnO NPs showed 91.8% free radical scavenging capacity at the dose of 250 mg l−1 which implies its importance in biomedical applications.
Investigation of crystallinity, mechanical properties, fracture toughness and cell proliferation in plasma sprayed graphene nano platelets reinforced hydroxyapatite coating
Authors: Singh Swarnima , Pandey Krishna Kant , Asiq Rahman O S , Haldar Swati , Lahiri Debrupa , Keshri Anup Kumar
Published: January 2020

Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) (0, 1 wt% and 2 wt%) reinforced hydroxyapatite (HA), denoted by HA, HA-1G and HA-2G respectively, coatings were fabricated on titanium substrate (Ti-6Al-4V) through atmospheric plasma spraying. The major parameters such as porosity, crystallinity, mechanical properties, toughness and cell proliferation were manipulated by varying plasma power from 15 kW to 35 kW and content of GNPs. For the coating synthesized at all plasma power, GNPs were found to be retained by Raman spectroscopy. GNPs reinforcement has led to an improvement in the crystallinity of the composite coatings as compared to HA coatings. On the contrary to it, increase in plasma power from 15 kW to 35 kW resulted in decrease in crystallinity for all three individual coating. Further, Increment in plasma power from 15 kW to 35 kW delivered a significant enhancement in hardness, elastic modulus and fracture toughness up to 81%, 149% and 282% respectively for HA-1 wt% GNPs coating, while it improved to 20%, 50% and 173% respectively on the addition of 2 wt% GNPs in HA coating fabricated at 35 kW. Enhancement in hardness, elastic modulus and fracture toughness was due to three simultaneous reasons: (1) Reduction in porosity (2) Uniform dispersion of GNPs and (3) Toughening mechanism offered by GNPs. Further, the addition of GNPs showed a remarkable improvement in the rate of cell proliferation in the HA coating. A detailed discussion over the reasons behind every results have been made profoundly.
Polyacrylonitrile nanofiber mats containing titania/AgNP composite nanoparticles for antibacterial applications
Authors: Wahab Jatoi Abdul , Mamun Shamim Al
Published: January 2020

Here in we present our research on electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofiber films embedded with titania/AgNP nanoparticles for sustained antibacterial applications. Although silver possesses excellent antimicrobial characteristics and have been extensively exploited in applications where protection from microbial species and bacterial colonization is needed. Recently, it was discovered that silver may be allergic to skin and may induce detrimental side-effects such as argyria and argyrosis. Excess utilization of silver may even cause carcinoma. In continuation of our research on preparation of biologically safe antibacterial materials producing longer timed protection, here we proposed electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofiber mats containing titania/AgNP composite nanoparticles. The titania/AgNP nanoparticles were prepared using polydopamine hydrochloride (pdopa) as adhesive and reducing agent. The nanoparticles were then added into polyacrylonitrile polymer solution and electrospun to fabricate polyacrylonitrile/titania/AgNP composite nanofiber mats (PTAgNP). The samples were characterized with XRD, TEM, SEM, FT-IR, SEM-EDX and antibacterial assays. Synthesis of the titania/AgNP was confirmed by XRD, TEM and EDX analysis. The nanofibers were studied with SEM, XRD, TEM and antibacterial tests. The SEM observations confirmed regular morphology of the nanofibers. The XRD and TEM analysis evidenced titania/AgNP contents in the polyacrylonitrile nanofibers. The antibacterial assays demonstrated excellent bacterial growth inhibition on agar plates and in the liquid medium. The samples were observed to inhibit growth of E. coli and S. aureus bacteria for up to 120 h. The quantitative bactericidal assay (relative cell viability, %) demonstrated 0% bacteria cell viability by polyacrylonitrile nanofibers containing 10 wt% of titania/AgNP nanoparticles.
EPPA for two-graphs and antipodal metric spaces
Authors: Evans David , Hubička Jan , Konečný Matěj , Nešetřil Jaroslav
Published: January 2020

We prove that the class of finite two-graphs has the extension property for partial automorphisms (EPPA, or Hrushovski property), thereby answering a question of Macpherson. In other words, we show that the class of graphs has the extension property for switching automorphisms. We present a short, self-contained, purely combinatorial proof which also proves EPPA for the class of integer-valued antipodal metric spaces of diameter 3, answering a question of Aranda et al.

The class of two-graphs is an important new example which behaves differently from all the other known classes with EPPA: Two-graphs do not have the amalgamation property with automorphisms (APA), their Ramsey expansion has to add a graph, it is not known if they have coherent EPPA, and even EPPA itself cannot be proved using the Herwig–Lascar theorem.
ℓ² decoupling in ℝ² for curves with vanishing curvature
Authors: Biswas Chandan , Gilula Maxim , Li Linhan , Schwend Jeremy , Xi Yakun
Published: January 2020

We expand the class of curves

(

φ
1

(
t
)
,

φ
2

(
t
)
)
,
 
t
∈
[
0
,
1
]

(\varphi _1(t),\varphi _2(t)),\ t\in [0,1]

for which the

ℓ
2

\ell ^2

decoupling conjecture holds for

2
≤
p
≤
6

2\leq p\leq 6

. Our class of curves includes all real-analytic regular curves with isolated points of vanishing curvature and all curves of the form

(
t
,

t

1
+
ν

)

(t,t^{1+\nu })

for

ν
∈
(
0
,
∞
)

\nu \in (0,\infty )

.
Limiting Carleman weights and conformally transversally anisotropic manifolds
Authors: Angulo Pablo , Faraco Daniel , Guijarro Luis , Salo Mikko
Published: January 2020

We analyze the structure of the set of limiting Carleman weights in all conformally flat manifolds,33-manifolds, and44-manifolds. In particular we give a new proof of the classification of Euclidean limiting Carleman weights, and show that there are only three basic such weights up to the action of the conformal group. In dimension three we show that if the manifold is not conformally flat, there could be one or two limiting Carleman weights. We also characterize the metrics that have more than one limiting Carleman weight. In dimension four we obtain a complete spectrum of examples according to the structure of the Weyl tensor. In particular, we construct unimodular Lie groups whose Weyl or Cotton-York tensors have the symmetries of conformally transversally anisotropic manifolds, but which do not admit limiting Carleman weights.
Cutting off ciliary protein import: intraflagellar transport after dendritic femtosecond-laser ablation
Authors: Mijalkovic Jona , Girard Jules , van Krugten Jaap , van Loo Jasmijn , Zhang Zhiqing , Loseva Elizaveta , Oswald Felix , Peterman Erwin J. G.
Published: January 2020

Femtosecond-laser ablation is used in combination with fluorescence microscopy to study how intraflagellar transport in Caenorhabditis elegans is affected by cutting off supply via the dendrite. It is found that IFT reacts in a remarkable, multistep response, allowing rapid adaptation to the environment.
Functions for Cdc42p BEM adaptors in regulating a differentiation-type MAP kinase pathway
Authors: Basu Sukanya , González Beatriz , Li Boyang , Kimble Garrett , Kozminski Keith G. , Cullen Paul J.
Published: January 2020

How Rho GTPases are directed to effector pathways is an important question. We show here that BEM-type adaptors play unique roles in sequentially directing Cdc42 to an effector MAPK pathway. Our study may provide insight into Rho GTPase specification in other systems.
Bcl-3 promotes multi-modal tumour cell migration via NF-κB1 mediated regulation of Cdc42
Authors: Turnham Daniel J , Yang William W , Davies Julia , Varnava Athina , Ridley Anne J , Conlan R Steven , Clarkson Richard W E
Published: January 2020

A key challenge in the implementation of anti-metastatics as cancer therapies is the multi-modal nature of cell migration, which allows tumour cells to evade the targeted inhibition of specific cell motility pathways. The nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) co-factor B-cell lymphoma 3 (Bcl-3) has been implicated in breast cancer cell migration and metastasis, yet it remains to be determined exactly which cell motility pathways are controlled by Bcl-3 and whether migrating tumour cells are able to evade Bcl-3 intervention. Addressing these questions and the mechanism underpinning Bcl-3’s role in this process would help determine its potential as a therapeutic target. Here we identify Bcl-3 as an upstream regulator of the two principal forms of breast cancer cell motility, involving collective and single-cell migration. This was found to be mediated by the master regulator Cdc42 through binding of the NF-κB transcription factor p50 to the Cdc42 promoter. Notably, Bcl-3 depletion inhibited both stable and transitory motility phenotypes in breast cancer cells with no evidence of migratory adaptation. Overexpression of Bcl-3 enhanced migration and increased metastatic tumour burden of breast cancer cells in vivo, whereas overexpression of a mutant Bcl-3 protein, which is unable to bind p50, suppressed cell migration and metastatic tumour burden suggesting that disruption of Bcl-3/NF-κB complexes is sufficient to inhibit metastasis. These findings identify a novel role for Bcl-3 in intrinsic and adaptive multi-modal cell migration mediated by its direct regulation of the Rho GTPase Cdc42 and identify the upstream Bcl-3:p50 transcription complex as a potential therapeutic target for metastatic disease.
Task-Dependent Recruitment of Modality-Specific and Multimodal Regions during Conceptual Processing
Authors: Kuhnke Philipp , Kiefer Markus , Hartwigsen Gesa
Published: January 2020

Conceptual knowledge is central to cognitive abilities such as word comprehension. Previous neuroimaging evidence indicates that concepts are at least partly composed of perceptual and motor features that are represented in the same modality-specific brain regions involved in actual perception and action. However, it is unclear to what extent the retrieval of perceptual–motor features and the resulting engagement of modality-specific regions depend on the concurrent task. To address this issue, we measured brain activity in 40 young and healthy participants using functional magnetic resonance imaging, while they performed three different tasks—lexical decision, sound judgment, and action judgment—on words that independently varied in their association with sounds and actions. We found neural activation for sound and action features of concepts selectively when they were task-relevant in brain regions also activated during auditory and motor tasks, respectively, as well as in higher-level, multimodal regions which were recruited during both sound and action feature retrieval. For the first time, we show that not only modality-specific perceptual–motor areas but also multimodal regions are engaged in conceptual processing in a flexible, task-dependent fashion, responding selectively to task-relevant conceptual features.
Effectiveness of 2 Influenza Vaccines in Nationwide Cohorts of Finnish 2-Year-Old Children in the Seasons 2015–2016 Through 2017–2018
Authors: Baum Ulrike , Kulathinal Sangita , Auranen Kari , Nohynek Hanna
Published: January 2020

Background

From 2015–2016 through 2017–2018, injectable, trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV3) and a nasal spray, tetravalent live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV4) were used in parallel in Finland. To understand how well vaccination with each vaccine type protected children against influenza under real-life conditions, vaccine effectiveness in 2-year-olds was estimated for all 3 seasons.

Methods

Each season, a nationwide register-based cohort study was conducted. The study population comprised 60 088, 60 860, and 60 345 children in 2015–2016, 2016–2017, and 2017–2018, respectively. Laboratory-confirmed influenza was the study outcome. Seasonal influenza vaccination with either LAIV4 or IIV3 was the time-dependent exposure of interest. Vaccine effectiveness was defined as 1 minus the hazard ratio comparing vaccinated with unvaccinated children.

Results

From 2015–2016 through 2017–2018, the effectiveness of LAIV4 against influenza of any virus type was estimated at 54.2% (95% confidence interval, 32.2–69.0%), 20.3% (−12.7%, 43.6%), and 30.5% (10.9–45.9%); the corresponding effectiveness of IIV3 was 77.2% (48.9–89.8%), 24.5% (−29.8%, 56.1%), and −20.1% (−61.5%, 10.7%). Neither influenza vaccine clearly excelled in protecting children. The LAIV4 effectiveness against type B was greater than against type A and greater than the IIV3 effectiveness against type B.

Conclusions

To understand how influenza vaccines could be improved, vaccine effectiveness must be analyzed by vaccine and virus type. Effectiveness estimates also expressing overall protection levels are needed to guide individual and programmatic decision-making processes. Supported by this analysis, the vaccination program in Finland now recommends LAIV4 and injectable, tetravalent inactivated influenza vaccines replacing IIV3.
Control of hyperparathyroidism with the intravenous calcimimetic etelcalcetide in dialysis patients adherent and non-adherent to oral calcimimetics
Authors: Arenas Maria Dolores , Rodelo-Haad Cristian , de Mier M Victoria Pendón-Ruiz , Rodriguez Mariano
Published: January 2020

Background

In dialysis patients, non-adherence to oral cinacalcet adds complexity to the control of secondary hyperparathyroidism. The present study aims to evaluate the use of intravenous calcimimetic, etelcalcetide, in the control of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients adherent and non-adherent to oral calcimimetics.

Method

The Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire was used to identify non-adherence. Almost half of the patients were non-adherent to the treatment with cinacalcet. Twenty-five patients (15 non-adherent) were switched from cinacalcet to etelcalcetide and were followed-up monthly for 8 months.

Results

Cinacalcet was discontinued for 1 week before the initiation of etelcalcetide. After this period, the serum PTH levels increased by2-fold in adherent patients, whereas it did not change in non-adherent patients suggesting that they were not taking the medication. Etelcalcetide progressively reduced serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) (mean ± standard deviation) from 818 ± 395 to 367 ± 289 pg/mL (P < 0.001) in non-adherents, and from 496 ± 172 to 228 ± 111 pg/mL (P < 0.01) in adherent patients with a mean dose of 7.0 ± 2.3 and 5.1 ± 1.2 mg in non-adherent and in adherent patients, respectively. Etelcalcetide increased the percentage of patients with PTH on target from 28% to 58%. Patients with serum calcium <8.4 mg/dL increased from 8% to 40%, although they remained asymptomatic. The percent of patients with serum phosphate on target increased from 40% to 65%.

Conclusion

The lack of adherence to cinacalcet is a possible cause of the apparent lack of response to oral calcimimetic. The use of etelcalcetide ensures compliance and control of secondary hyperparathyroidism in both non-adherent and adherent patients.
Coronary microvascular dysfunction in stable ischaemic heart disease (non-obstructive coronary artery disease and obstructive coronary artery disease)
Authors: Sechtem Udo , Brown David , Godo Shigeo , Lanza Gaetano Antonio , Shimokawa Hiro , Sidik Novalia
Published: January 2020

Diffuse and focal epicardial coronary disease and coronary microvascular abnormalities may exist side-by-side. Identifying the contributions of each of these three players in the coronary circulation is a difficult task. Yet identifying coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) as an additional player in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) may provide explanations of why symptoms may persist frequently following and why global coronary flow reserve may be more prognostically important than fractional flow reserve measured in a single vessel before percutaneous coronary intervention. This review focuses on the challenges of identifying the presence of CMD in the context of diffuse non-obstructive CAD and obstructive CAD. Furthermore, it is going to discuss the pathophysiology in this complex situation, examine the clinical context in which the interaction of the three components of disease takes place and finally look at non-invasive diagnostic methods relevant for addressing this question.
Reexamining remodelling in children
Authors: Matsushima Shunsuke , Heß Alexander , Lämmerzahl Julia Renata , Karliova Irem , Giebels Christian , Schäfers Hans-Joachim
Published: January 2020

OBJECTIVES

Some studies have suggested that root remodelling is unsuitable as valve-sparing aortic root replacement in children because of the increased risk of valve failure. This study reviewed our experience with root remodelling in children.

METHODS

All patients who underwent root remodelling at the age of ≤18 years between 1999 and 2016 were evaluated. In 2004, cusp effective height was measured intraoperatively and prolapse was corrected with central plication on the cusp. Suture annuloplasty was introduced after 2009 for annular dilatation.

RESULTS

There were 17 consecutive patients. The median age at operation was 14 (2.8–18) years. Aortic valve morphology was tricuspid in 10 patients, bicuspid in 5 patients, unicuspid in 1 patient and a pulmonary autograft in 1 patient. Marfan syndrome, Loeys-Dietz syndrome and other connective tissue diseases were present in 11, 1 and 2 patients, respectively. Five patients had more than moderate aortic regurgitation. The median graft size used for root remodelling was 24 (18–26) mm. Cusp repair and annuloplasty were performed in 15 and 14 patients, respectively. The mean follow-up time was 6.5 ± 4.3 years. One patient with preoperatively severely depressed ventricular function died in the hospital from persistent heart failure. One patient (operated on before 2004) required aortic valve reoperation due to cusp prolapse. One patient with a unicuspid valve had developed moderate aortic regurgitation, and the other 14 patients had mild or less regurgitation. The median diameter of the sinus of Valsalva at the last follow-up was 36 (30–43) mm, Z-score of 1.5 (−3.5 to 3.9).

CONCLUSIONS

Root remodelling can be performed in children with favourable results by appropriate cusp repair and annuloplasty.
Teaching associations and professionalism
Authors: Rimmer Wayne , Floyd Alan
Published: January 2020

Although teaching associations (TAs) have been aligned to professionalism, there is little evidence to support their actual role in developing EFL teachers’ sense of being a professional. This study explores this purported relationship through content analysis of interviews with ten members of TAs and nine non-members. Three themes emerged: status, how TAs contribute to teachers’ sense of self-worth; continuing professional development (CPD), how TAs allow teachers to acquire competencies relevant to professionalism; and impact, the influence of TAs on the professionalism of EFL as a field. Regarding status, non-members rejected members’ commitment to TA membership as confirmation of professionalism. However, all teachers agreed TAs made a considerable contribution to professionalism through CPD. Concerning impact, the only consensus was that too few teachers are aware of TAs for them to be significant. The findings suggest that TAs can play a role in professionalism provided they remain relevant to teachers’ changing contexts and consider non-members’ interests.
The travels of a tune: Purcell’s ‘If love’s a sweet passion’ and the cultural translation of 17th-century English music
Authors: Lebedinski Ester
Published: January 2020

The travels of a tune: Purcell’s ‘If love’s a sweet passion’ and the cultural translation of 17th-century English music

This article discusses Henry Purcell’s theatre song ‘If love’s a sweet passion’ (from The Fairy Queen, 1692) and its journey into various contexts in England and abroad. The article analyses the song’s appearance in printed songbooks, broadside ballads and single-sheet engravings, and in the Dutch manuscript songbook Finspång 9096:7 (now in Norrköping, Sweden), to show how the song was adapted to various contexts and conventions. The appearance of ‘If love’s a sweet passion’ in Finspång 9096:7 further suggests that there was greater reciprocity in the exchanges between England and continental Europe than hitherto thought. I nuance this claim by arguing that such exchanges were dependent on translation and mediation by musicians such as John Abell (1653–after 1716) or translators such as Abel Boyer (?1667–1729). Boyer used ‘If love’s a sweet passion’ in his Compleat French-Master (1694) and his French lyrics appear in Finspång 9096:7. The article shows the variety of uses and adaptations of ‘If love’s a sweet passion’ in English and French-language contexts. This both challenges notions of ‘elite’ and ‘popular’ music as entirely separate, and invites scholars and performers to imagine Purcell’s theatre songs performed and consumed in new ways.
Characteristics of two myoviruses induced from the coastal photoheterotrophic bacterium Porphyrobacter sp. YT40
Authors: Lin Wenxin , Chen Qi , Liu Yanting , Jiao Nianzhi , Zheng Qiang
Published: January 2020

In this study, we characterized two induced myoviruses from one marine photoheterotrophic bacterium Porphyrobacter sp. YT40 belonging to the Sphingomonadales family in Alphaproteobacteria. The genome sequence of prophage A is ∼36.9 kb with an average GC content of 67.1%, and its core or functional genes are homologous to Mu or Mu-like phages. Furthermore, induced viral particles from prophage A show a knob-like neck structure, which is only found in bacteriophage Mu. The genome size of prophage B is ∼36.8 kb with an average GC content of 65.3%. Prophage B contains a conserved gene cluster Q-P-O-N-M-L, which is unique in P2 phages. Induced viral particles from prophage B display an icosahedral head with a diameter of ∼55 nm and a 130 ± 5 nm long contractile tail. To our knowledge, this is the first report that characterizes the induced P2-like phage in marine Alphaproteobacteria. Phylogeny analyses suggest that these two types of prophages are commonly found in sequenced bacteria of the Sphingomonadales family. This study sheds light on the ongoing interaction between marine bacteria and phages, and improves our understanding of bacterial genomic plasticity and evolution.
Comparative Genomics Identifies Putative Signatures of Sociality in Spiders
Authors: Tong Chao , Najm Gabriella M , Pinter-Wollman Noa , Pruitt Jonathan N , Linksvayer Timothy A
Published: January 2020

Comparative genomics has begun to elucidate the genomic basis of social life in insects, but insight into the genomic basis of spider sociality has lagged behind. To begin, to characterize genomic signatures associated with the evolution of social life in spiders, we performed one of the first spider comparative genomics studies including five solitary species and two social species, representing two independent origins of sociality in the genus Stegodyphus. We found that the two social spider species had a large expansion of gene families associated with transport and metabolic processes and an elevated genome-wide rate of molecular evolution compared with the five solitary spider species. Genes that were rapidly evolving in the two social species relative to the five solitary species were enriched for transport, behavior, and immune functions, whereas genes that were rapidly evolving in the solitary species were enriched for energy metabolism processes. Most rapidly evolving genes in the social species Stegodyphus dumicola were broadly expressed across four tissues and enriched for transport functions, but 12 rapidly evolving genes showed brain-specific expression and were enriched for social behavioral processes. Altogether, our study identifies putative genomic signatures and potential candidate genes associated with spider sociality. These results indicate that future spider comparative genomic studies, including broader sampling and additional independent origins of sociality, can further clarify the genomic causes and consequences of social life.
Socioeconomic Inequalities in Disability-free Life Expectancy in Older People from England and the United States: A Cross-national Population-Based Study
Authors: Zaninotto Paola , Batty George David , Stenholm Sari , Kawachi Ichiro , Hyde Martin , Goldberg Marcel , Westerlund Hugo , Vahtera Jussi , Head Jenny
Published: January 2020

Background

We examined socioeconomic inequalities in disability-free life expectancy in older men and women from England and the United States and explored whether people in England can expect to live longer and healthier lives than those in the United States.

Methods

We used harmonized data from the Gateway to Global Aging Data on 14,803 individuals aged 50+ from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and 10,754 from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Disability was measured in terms of impaired activities and instrumental activities of daily living. We used discrete-time multistate life table models to estimate total life expectancy and life expectancy free of disability.

Results

Socioeconomic inequalities in disability-free life expectancy were of a similar magnitude (in absolute terms) in England and the United States. The socioeconomic disadvantage in disability-free life expectancy was largest for wealth, in both countries: people in the poorest group could expect to live seven to nine fewer years without disability than those in the richest group at the age of 50.

Conclusions

Inequalities in healthy life expectancy exist in both countries and are of similar magnitude. In both countries, efforts in reducing health inequalities should target people from disadvantaged socioeconomic groups.
Propagation of distinct Love-wave pulses from regional to teleseismic distances in continental and oceanic environments
Authors: Furumura Takashi , Kennett Brian L N
Published: January 2020

Surface waves are usually dispersive with long wave trains and steady decay of amplitude with distance. However, if the group velocity is nearly constant for a span of periods a strong pulse is produced that retains its amplitude for large distances. This situation arises for the fundamental mode of Love waves in the period band 40–500 s for crust and mantle structures with a positive gradient of S wave speed in the uppermost mantle. Such a distinct Love-wave pulse with limited dispersion observed at teleseismic distance is termed the G wave in honour of Gutenberg. The long-period G-wave pulse caused by large earthquakes carries a large amount of energy to substantial distances, with significant effects across the globe, for example event triggering. A similar G-type Love-wave pulse with a much shorter-period of 10–20 s is generated for crustal structures without thick sediment. Such pulses produce anomalously large ground displacement at near-regional distances with, for example an overestimate of surface wave magnitude. We investigate the generation and propagation mechanism of the G-type Love-wave pulses in the crust and upper-mantle with the analysis of observed strong motion records from the Mw 6.2 2016 Central Tottori earthquake and the Mw 9.0 2011 Off Tohoku earthquake in Japan, in conjunction with 3-D finite-difference simulation of seismic wave propagation and analysis of dispersion curves.
Overabundance of unhealthy food advertising targeted to children on Guatemalan television
Authors: Cosenza-Quintana Emma Lucia , Morales-Juárez Analí , Ramirez-Zea Manuel , Vandevijvere Stefanie , Kroker-Lobos Maria F
Published: January 2020

To assess, for the first time, the extent (by hour channel) and nature (e.g. persuasive marketing techniques (PMT) and health-related claims) of unhealthy food advertisements (ads) targeted at children (3–11 years) on the six most-watched television (TV) channels in Guatemala. We recorded 864 h of video on the six most popular channels featuring children’s programmes. We classified food and beverage ads as permitted or non-permitted for marketing to children, according to the 2015 World Health Organisation (WHO) nutrient profile. Furthermore, we also analysed PMT (i.e. premium offers, promotional characters, brand benefit claims) and health-related claims. Most food ads (85%) were non-permitted to be marketed to children. Non-permitted food ads were six times more likely, either on weekdays or weekends, for all programme and channel categories compared with permitted food ads. There was no difference in the frequency of non-permitted food ads between peak and non-peak hours, weekend and weekdays or children and non-children programmes. PMT and health-related claims were present in all food ads (5.3 ± 1.9 techniques/claims per ad). There is a need to regulate food ads on TV channels featuring children’s programmes in Guatemala as a result of a high frequency of non-permitted food ads and extensive use of PMT together with health-related claims.
Structural basis for the dominant or recessive character of GLIALCAM mutations found in leukodystrophies
Authors: Elorza-Vidal Xabier , Xicoy-Espaulella Efren , Pla-Casillanis Adrià , Alonso-Gardón Marta , Gaitán-Peñas Héctor , Engel-Pizcueta Carolyn , Fernández-Recio Juan , Estévez Raúl
Published: January 2020

Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts (MLC) is a type of leukodystrophy characterized by white matter edema, and it is caused mainly by recessive mutations in MLC1 and GLIALCAM genes. These variants are called MLC1 and MLC2A with both types of patients sharing the same clinical phenotype. In addition, dominant mutations in GLIALCAM have also been identified in a subtype of MLC patients with a remitting phenotype. This variant has been named MLC2B. GLIALCAM encodes for an adhesion protein containing two immunoglobulin (Ig) domains and it is needed for MLC1 targeting to astrocyte–astrocyte junctions. Most mutations identified in GLIALCAM abolish GlialCAM targeting to junctions. However, it is unclear why some mutations behave as recessive or dominant. Here, we used a combination of biochemistry methods with a new developed anti-GlialCAM nanobody, double-mutants and cysteine cross-links experiments, together with computer docking, to create a structural model of GlialCAM homo-interactions. Using this model, we suggest that dominant mutations affect different GlialCAM–GlialCAM interacting surfaces in the first Ig domain, which can occur between GlialCAM molecules present in the same cell (cis) or present in neighbouring cells (trans). Our results provide a framework that can be used to understand the molecular basis of pathogenesis of all identified GLIALCAM mutations.
Long-term outcomes after coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with diabetes
Authors: Axelsson Tomas Andri , Adalsteinsson Jonas A , Arnadottir Linda O , Helgason Dadi , Johannesdottir Hera , Helgadottir Solveig , Orrason Andri Wilberg , Andersen Karl , Gudbjartsson Tomas
Published: January 2020

OBJECTIVES

Our aim was to investigate the outcome of patients with diabetes undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery in a whole population with main focus on long-term mortality and complications.

METHODS

This was a nationwide retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent isolated primary CABG in Iceland between 2001 and 2016. Overall survival together with the composite end point of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events was compared between patients with diabetes and patients without diabetes during a median follow-up of 8.5 years. Multivariable regression analyses were used to evaluate the impact of diabetes on both short- and long-term outcomes.

RESULTS

Of a total of 2060 patients, 356 (17%) patients had diabetes. Patients with diabetes had a higher body mass index (29.9 vs 27.9 kg/m2) and more often had hypertension (83% vs 62%) and chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate ≤60 ml/min/1.73 m2, 21% vs 14%). Patients with diabetes had an increased risk of operative mortality [odds ratio 2.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27–4.80] when adjusted for confounders. 5-Year overall survival (85% vs 91%, P < 0.001) and 5-year freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events were also inferior for patients with diabetes (77% vs 82%, P < 0.001). Cox regression analysis adjusting for potential confounders showed that the diagnosis of diabetes significantly predicted all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 1.87, 95% CI 1.53–2.29] and increased risk of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (HR 1.47, 95% CI 1.23–1.75).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with diabetes have significantly lower survival after CABG, both within 30 days and during long-term follow-up.
Development of a practical prediction score for acute renal injury after surgery for Stanford type A aortic dissection
Authors: Dong Ning , Piao Hulin , Du Yu , Li Bo , Xu Jian , Wei Shibo , Liu Kexiang
Published: January 2020

OBJECTIVES

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of cardiovascular surgery that is associated with increased mortality, especially after surgeries involving the aorta. Early detection and prevention of AKI in patients with aortic dissection may help improve outcomes. The objective of this study was to develop a practical prediction score for AKI after surgery for Stanford type A acute aortic dissection (TAAAD).

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study that included 2 independent hospitals. A larger cohort of 326 patients from The Second Hospital of Jilin University was used to identify the risk factors for AKI and to develop a risk score. The derived risk score was externally validated in a separate cohort of 102 patients from the other hospital.

RESULTS

The scoring system included the following variables: (i) age >45 years; (ii) body mass index >25 kg/m2; (iii) white blood cell count >13.5 × 109/l; and (iv) lowest perioperative haemoglobin <100 g/l, cardiopulmonary bypass duration >150 min and renal malperfusion. On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the score predicted AKI with fair accuracy in both the derivation [area under the curve 0.778, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.726–0.83] and the validation (area under the curve 0.747, 95% CI 0.657–0.838) cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a convenient scoring system to identify patients at high risk of developing AKI after surgery for TAAAD. This scoring system may help identify patients who require more intensive postoperative management and facilitate appropriate interventions to prevent AKI and improve patient outcomes.
The role of nanotechnology on post-combustion CO2 absorption in process industries
Authors: Kumar Ravinder , Mangalapuri Rajesh , Ahmadi Mohammad Hossein , Vo Dai-Viet N , Solanki Rajniesh , Kumar Pawan
Published: January 2020

At present, higher greenhouse gas (GHG) have triggered global efforts to reduce their level as much as possible for sustainable development. Carbon dioxide is one of the imperative anthropogenic emissions due to its increased excessive accumulation in the environment. Thus, serious attention is required to reduce the level of CO2 using advanced and efficient CO2 capture technologies. Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) technologies may play an important role in this direction. At present, solvent-based sorbents are being utilized in CO2 capture for various industrial processes. In this category, the characters of non-materials are playing a crucial role to improve the CO2 absorption capacity of the process. This study is mainly focused on the role of nanotechnology in the post-combustion CO2 absorption process. The functions of nanomaterials and nanoparticles have been studied in the present work. Additionally, various challenges related to absorption efficiency using nanomaterials have been discussed. The study concludes that the higher thermal stability and exceptional properties of nanomaterials popularized them for use in CO2 capture processes.
Analysis of limited-memory BFGS on a class of nonsmooth convex functions
Authors: Asl Azam , Overton Michael L
Published: January 2020

The limited-memory BFGS (Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno) method is widely used for large-scale unconstrained optimization, but its behavior on nonsmooth problems has received little attention. L-BFGS (limited memory BFGS) can be used with or without ‘scaling’; the use of scaling is normally recommended. A simple special case, when just one BFGS update is stored and used at every iteration, is sometimes also known as memoryless BFGS. We analyze memoryless BFGS with scaling, using any Armijo–Wolfe line search, on the function $f(x) = a|x^{(1)}| + \sum _{i=2}^{n} x^{(i)}$, initiated at any point $x_0$ with $x_0^{(1)}\not = 0$. We show that if $a\ge 2\sqrt{n-1}$, the absolute value of the normalized search direction generated by this method converges to a constant vector, and if, in addition, $a$ is larger than a quantity that depends on the Armijo parameter, then the iterates converge to a nonoptimal point $\bar x$ with $\bar x^{(1)}=0$, although $f$ is unbounded below. As we showed in previous work, the gradient method with any Armijo–Wolfe line search also fails on the same function if $a\geq \sqrt{n-1}$ and $a$ is larger than another quantity depending on the Armijo parameter, but scaled memoryless BFGS fails under a weaker condition relating $a$ to the Armijo parameter than that implying failure of the gradient method. Furthermore, in sharp contrast to the gradient method, if a specific standard Armijo–Wolfe bracketing line search is used, scaled memoryless BFGS fails when $a\ge 2 \sqrt{n-1}$regardless of the Armijo parameter. Finally, numerical experiments indicate that the results may extend to scaled L-BFGS with any fixed number of updates $m$, and to more general piecewise linear functions.