bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Introducing the γ function in quantum theory
Authors: Surján Péter R.
Published: April 2020

Through a series of postulates, we define a function
γ(x) whose square acts as Dirac's
δ(x) and exhibits several unusual properties. Though the square root of δ cannot be defined among distributions, it appears in quantum theory if one wants to associate a wave function to a (quasi)classical particle having charge distribution
δ(x). The newly defined function
γ(x) serves to describe quasi‐classical particles using part of the quantum formalism (eg, wave functions, operators, expectation values) but exhibiting classical properties. The function
γ(x) appears to be useful to define model wave functions for simple (quasi)quantum systems. In a spherical coordinate system,
γ(r − r0) leads to a quasi‐classical “bubble” model of the hydrogen atom, where the electron is distributed on the surface of a sphere with radius r0, and it provides exact quantum mechanical energies of its total symmetric levels. For other simple quantum systems, it provides approximate but meaningful energies. In particular, exact energy differences for harmonic oscillator levels are obtained, with the zero‐point energy missing.
Selective Catalytic Dehydration of Xylose to Furfural and Fructose and Glucose to 5‐Hydroximethylfurfural (HMF) Using Preyssler Heteropolyacid
Authors: Pardo Cuervo Oscar H. , Romanelli Gustavo P. , Cubillos Jairo A. , Rojas Hugo A. , Martínez José J.
Published: April 2020

Catalytic dehydration of xylose to yield furfural was studied by testing different heteropolyacid‐type catalysts. Preyssler heteropolyacid (HPA‐Preyssler) (H14[NaP5W30O110]) was the most efficient. Under the optimal reaction conditions, xylose was dehydrated into furfural with 73% of yield and 95% of selectivity using DMSO as solvent at 140 °C for 4 h. The HPA‐Preyssler catalyst also exhibited good catalytic activity in the dehydration of fructose and glucose to yield 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). Thus, from fructose a yield and selectivity to HMF of 97% and 98%, respectively, was obtained in just 10 min, while from glucose, 91% of conversion and 23% of yield were obtained after 9 h. An easy and efficient methodology for the recovery and reuse of HPA‐Preyssler in at least six reaction cycles without appreciable loss of its initial catalytic activity is reported.
TRanscranial AlterNating current Stimulation FOR patients with Mild Alzheimer's Disease (TRANSFORM‐AD study): Protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Xing Yi , Wei Penghu , Wang Changming , Shan Yi , Yu Yueying , Qiao Yuchen , Xie Beijia , Shi Xinrui , Zhu Zhongfang , Lu Jie , Zhao Guoguang , Jia Jianping , Tang Yi
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Recently, transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), which can interact with ongoing neuronal activity, has emerged as a potentially effective and promising treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the 40 Hz gamma frequency was suggested as a suitable stimulation frequency for AD.

Methods

The TRANSFORM‐AD study is a double‐blind, randomized‐controlled trial that will include 40 individuals with mild AD. Eligible patients need to have amyloid β (Aβ) loads examined by Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) positron emission tomography (PET) or decreased Aβ level in cerebrospinal fluid. Participants will be randomized into either a 40 Hz tACS group or a sham stimulation group. Both groups will undergo 30 one‐hour sessions across 3 weeks (21 days). The outcome measures will be assessed at baseline, at the end of the intervention, and 3 months after the first session. The primary outcome is global cognitive function, assessed by the 11‐item cognitive subscale of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS‐Cog), and the secondary outcomes include changes in other neuropsychological assessments and in PiB‐PET, structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), resting electroencephalography (EEG), and simultaneous EEG–functional MRI (EEG‐fMRI) results.

Results

The trial is currently ongoing, and it is anticipated that recruitment will be completed in June 2021.

Discussion

This trial will evaluate the efficacy and safety of 40 Hz tACS in patients with AD, and further explore the potential mechanisms by analyzing amyloid deposits using PiB‐PET, brain volume and white matter integrity by structural MRI, and neural activity by EEG and EEG‐fMRI.
Efficient and Scalable Universal Circuits
Authors: Alhassan Masaud Y. , Günther Daniel , Kiss Ágnes , Schneider Thomas
Published: April 2020

A universal circuit (UC) can be programmed to simulate any circuit up to a given size n by specifying its program inputs. It provides elegant solutions in various application scenarios, e.g., for private function evaluation (PFE) and for improving the flexibility of attribute-based encryption schemes. The asymptotic lower bound for the size of a UC is $$\Omega (n\log n)$$Ω(nlogn), and Valiant (STOC’76) provided two theoretical constructions, the so-called 2-way and 4-way UCs (i.e., recursive constructions with 2 and 4 substructures), with asymptotic sizes $${\sim }\,5n\log _2n$$∼5nlog2n and $${\sim }\,4.75n\log _2n$$∼4.75nlog2n, respectively. In this article, we present and extend our results published in (Kiss and Schneider EUROCRYPT’16) and (Günther et al. ASIACRYPT’17). We validate the practicality of Valiant’s UCs by realizing the 2-way and 4-way UCs in our modular open-source implementation. We also provide an example implementation for PFE using these size-optimized UCs. We propose a 2/4-hybrid approach that combines the 2-way and the 4-way UCs in order to minimize the size of the resulting UC. We realize that the bottleneck in universal circuit generation and programming becomes the memory consumption of the program since the whole structure of size $${\mathcal {O}}(n\log n)$$O(nlogn) is handled by the algorithms in memory. In this work, we overcome this by designing novel scalable algorithms for the UC generation and programming. Both algorithms use only $${\mathcal {O}}(n)$$O(n) memory at any point in time. We prove the practicality of our scalable design with a scalable proof-of-concept implementation for generating Valiant’s 4-way UC. We note that this can be extended to work with optimized building blocks analogously. Moreover, we substantially improve the size of our UCs by including and implementing the recent optimization of Zhao et al. (ASIACRYPT’19) that reduces the asymptotic size of the 4-way UC to $${\sim }\,4.5n\log _2n$$∼4.5nlog2n. Furthermore, we include their optimization in the implementation of our 2/4-hybrid UC which yields the smallest UC construction known so far.
Advances of single-cell genomics and epigenomics in human disease: where are we now?
Authors: Kamies Rizqah , Martinez-Jimenez Celia P.
Published: April 2020

Cellular heterogeneity is revolutionizing the way to study, monitor and dissect complex diseases. This has been possible with the technological and computational advances associated to single-cell genomics and epigenomics. Deeper understanding of cell-to-cell variation and its impact on tissue function will open new avenues for early disease detection, accurate diagnosis and personalized treatments, all together leading to the next generation of health care. This review focuses on the recent discoveries that single-cell genomics and epigenomics have facilitated in the context of human health. It highlights the potential of single-cell omics to further advance the development of personalized treatments and precision medicine in cancer, diabetes and chronic age-related diseases. The promise of single-cell technologies to generate new insights about the differences in function between individual cells is just emerging, and it is paving the way for identifying biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets to tackle age, complex diseases and understand the effect of life style interventions and environmental factors.
Effect of mixed solvents on polyelectrolyte complexes with salt
Authors: Meng Siqi , Liu Yueming , Yeo Jihyeon , Ting Jeffrey M. , Tirrell Matthew V.
Published: April 2020

Strongly interacting polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) are a versatile class of materials whose physical states can be driven from solids into liquids and ultimately into homogenous solution upon salt addition. However, many of these materials can display high stability using common monovalent salts, leading to difficulties in accessing the entire PEC spectrum. Here, the model system, composed of two styrenic polyelectrolytes, required exceptionally high salt to drive phase transition. We term the amount of salt required to drive these transitions salt resistance. In water, the PEC transferred from solid into liquid at 2.5 M NaBr and never fully dissociated within the studied salt range. We discovered an unconventional approach of weakening salt resistance by switching the solvent to miscible ethylene glycol/water and ethanol/water, allowing us to systematically introduce more hydrophobic constituents. Employing microscopy to determine physical states qualitatively, we found that higher hydrophobicity lowered salt resistance for phase transition and disassembly.
The polymorphisms of IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway may contribute to cutaneous T-cell lymphomas susceptibility
Authors: Olszewska Berenika , Gleń Jolanta , Zabłotna Monika , Nowicki Roman J. , Sokołowska-Wojdyło Małgorzata
Published: April 2020

IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway has been suggested to play a role in CTCL pathogenesis. Polymorphisms in STAT3 signaling pathway-related genes might be a risk factor for CTCL. However, the exact role of inherited gene polymorphisms of IL-6 and STAT3 in the pathogenesis of CTCL is still not fully understood. The aim was to examine whether IL-6 cytokine and polymorphisms of IL-6 and STAT3 gene are associated with CTCL susceptibility, stage of disease and pruritus intensity. We compared the IL-6 serum level and the frequency of selected single nucleotide polymorphisms of IL-6 and STAT3 in 106 CTCL and 198 control group using polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers method and ELISA. We have found that serum IL-6 level in CTCL patients was significantly higher than in healthy controls (p < 0.05). We also demonstrated that two genotypes, CC of IL-6 and GG of STAT3, were overexpressed in CTCL patients compared to healthy controls, and that they increase the risk of malignancy development (OR = 1.8,p = 0.04 for IL-6 and OR 2.53,p = 0.0064 for STAT3). Moreover, the GG genotype of STAT3 polymorphism seems to be associated with lack of pruritus or mild pruritus in CTCL patients. Our results indicate that IL-6 is involved in pathogenesis of CTCL but not pruritus. Moreover, CC of IL-6 and GG genotype of STAT3 genes might be considered as the risk factor for development of CTCL.
The Development and Feasibility Study of a Multimodal ‘Talking Wall’ to Facilitate the Voice of Young People with Autism and Complex Needs: A Case Study in a Specialist Residential School
Authors: Richards Norah , Crane Laura
Published: April 2020

Limited research has examined methods to investigate the views, preferences and experiences of young people with autism and complex needs. The aim of this study, based at a specialist residential school in England, was to develop and pilot an innovative method for this purpose—a ‘Talking Wall’—that was trialled over a 6-month period. Thematic analysis of data from focus groups and semi structured interviews with staff, combined with structured observations of pupils, resulted in three key themes: supporting the expression and evaluation of emotions that underlie preferences; recognising the impact of transitions; and the important role of familiar adults in interpreting communication bids. These positive, initial findings suggest the Talking Wall approach merits further development and evaluation.
Development and Evaluation of an In-line and On-line Monitoring System for Granule Size Distributions in Continuous Roll Compaction/Dry Granulation Based on Laser Diffraction
Authors: Wilms Annika , Meier Robin , Kleinebudde Peter
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Roll compaction/dry granulation is established in manufacturing of solid oral dosage forms and, within the context of continuous manufacturing, it has sparked interest as material is fed, processed, and ejected continuously while also providing large possible throughputs. However, this amount of material has to be adequately controlled in real time to assure quality.

Methods

This research aimed at monitoring the critical quality attribute granule size distribution in continuous roll compaction/dry granulation (QbCon®; L.B. Bohle, Ennigerloh, Germany) using in-line and on-line laser diffraction. The influence of varying process parameters and excipient formulations was studied and evaluated with the prospect of using this technique to develop control loops. For this purpose, residence time parameters were assessed. In- and on-line data was compared with off-line laser diffraction and dynamic image analysis data.

Results

The system successfully monitored the granule size distribution in a variety of process parameters and throughputs (up to 27.5 kg/h). It was sensitive to changes in process parameters and changes in material blends, which could pose a potential threat to the final drug products’ quality. Average event propagation time from the compaction zone to the laser diffraction system of 17.7 s demonstrates the systems’ fast reaction time.

Conclusion

Results highlight laser diffraction as a valuable method of in- and on-line size determination and allow for the development of a control strategy using this principle.
Correlation between the numbers of rotation steps in the ATPase and proton-conducting domains of F- and V-ATPases
Authors: Noji Hiroyuki , Ueno Hiroshi , Kobayashi Ryohei
Published: April 2020

This letter reports the correlation in the number of distinct rotation steps between the F1/V1 and Fo/Vo domains that constitute common rotary F- and V-ATP synthases/ATPases. Recent single-molecule studies on the F1-ATPase revealed differences in the number of discrete steps in rotary catalysis between different organisms—6 steps per turn in bacterial types and mitochondrial F1 from yeast, and 9 steps in the mammalian mitochondrial F1 domains. The number of rotational steps that Fo domain makes is thought to correspond to that of proteolipid subunits within the rotating c-ring present in Fo. Structural studies on Fo and in the whole ATP synthase complex have shown a large diversity in the number of proteolipid subunits. Interestingly, 6 steps in F1 are always paired with 10 steps in Fo, whereas 9 steps in F1 are paired with 8 steps in Fo. The correlation in the number of steps has also been revealed for two types of V-ATPases: one having 6 steps in V1 paired with 10 steps in Vo, and the other one having 3 steps in V1 paired with 12 steps in Vo. Although the abovementioned correlations await further confirmation, the results suggest a clear trend; ATPase motors with more steps have proton-conducting motors with less steps. In addition, ATPases with 6 steps are always paired with proton-conducting domains with 10 steps.
Treatment of fracture-related infection of the lower extremity with antibiotic-eluting ceramic bone substitutes: case series of 35 patients and literature review
Authors: Pesch Sebastian , Hanschen Marc , Greve Frederik , Zyskowski Michael , Seidl Fritz , Kirchhoff Chlodwig , Biberthaler Peter , Huber-Wagner Stefan
Published: April 2020

Introduction

The current treatment concepts of fracture-related infection (FRI) [Consensus Conference (Anti-Infection Task Force (AITF)) on the definition of acute or chronic osteomyelitis (cOM)] are associated with unsolved challenges and problems, underlining the need for ongoing medical research.

Method

Literature review of treatments for FRI and description of own cases.

Results

We could include eight papers with 394 patients reporting treatments and outcome in FRI. The infection was resolved in 92.9% (mean) of all treatments. The mean follow-up was 25 months with a persistent non-union in 7% of the patients. We diagnosed 35 (19f/16m; 56.4 ± 18.6 years) patients with bone infections anatomically allocated to the proximal and distal femur (12×), the pelvis (2×), distal tibia (3×), tibial diaphysis (11×), the ankle joint (4×) and calcaneus (3×). These 35 patients were treated (1) with surgical debridement; (2) with antibiotic-eluting ceramic bone substitutes; (3) bone stabilization (including nail fixation, arthrodesis nails, plates, or external ring fixation), (4) optionally negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) and (5) optionally soft tissue closure with local or free flaps. The mean follow-up time was 14.9 ± 10.6 months (min/max: 2/40 month). The overall recurrence rate is low (8.5%, 3/35). Prolonged wound secretion was observed in six cases (17.1%, 6/35). The overall number of surgeries was a median of 2.5.

Conclusion

The results in the literature and in our case series are explicitly promising regarding the treatment of posttraumatic fracture-related infection.
Concrete with high-purity volcanic glass fine powder manufactured from pyroclastic deposit
Authors: Tomoyose A. , Noguchi T. , Sodeyama K. , Higashi K.
Published: April 2020

Volcanic deposits, which are pozzolanically reactive, have long been known to improve the durability of concrete. Nevertheless, it has also been pointed out that the use of a natural pozzolan as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) can pose problems of low workability and slow strength development. Also, in addition, its composition and physical properties have large variety and variability. We have been conducting studies on the total utilization of volcanic deposits for applications suitable for respective properties by classifying them by floating speed difference and particle diameter. It is reported that sorting out particles less than 2.4 g/cm3 by dry gravity classification and removal of smaller clay fraction by dust collector is technically effective to recover high purity volcanic glass from pyroclastic flow deposits called “Ito-Shirasu”, which is a local name for pyroclastic flow deposits in Japan. In this study, concrete containing high-purity volcanic glass powders with different finenesses are investigated regarding fresh properties, strength development, chloride ion penetration and CO2 reduction. As a result, it was found that volcanic glass powders made an excellent contribution to the improvement of flowability comparable to fly ash, the enhancement of strength comparable to silica fume, and the restraint of chloride ion penetration. Volcanic glass powders can also contrbute to the reduction of CO2 emission because the content of Portland cement can be significantly reduced to obtain the same strength compared to concrete with 100% Portland cement. This study provides a possibility to produce high performance SCMs in volcanic regions worldwide from volcanic ejecta by sorting out a high purity volcanic glass by the same method.
The Right to Life Under the EU Charter and Cooperation with Third States to Combat Human Smuggling
Authors: Stoyanova Vladislava
Published: April 2020

According to EU policy documents, “[s]aving lives of people in distress is a primary goal of EU action in relation to managing the EU external borders.” The EU preferred strategy to achieve this objective is to take measures against human smuggling—including the establishment of cooperation with third countries—ostensibly so that migrants are contained and their irregular movement is prevented. This Article examines whether this strategy complies with the positive obligations corresponding to the right to life as enshrined in Article 2 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. After considering any formal obstacles that might prevent the activation of the Charter, this Article clarifies the factors that determine the scope of these positive obligations. Procedural and substantive obligations are then distinguished. The procedural positive obligation demands that the EU and its Member States (MS) consider alternatives to the measures of containment. Due to difficulties in assessing the reasonableness of such alternatives, the EU and the MS are also under the positive obligation to initiate studies that can provide reliable evidence that alternative measures—such as the possibility of issuing humanitarian visas—would be too burdensome. As to the substantive positive obligation corresponding to the right to life, this Article will argue that the EU and the MS need to be attentive about the cumulative outcome of their migration policies. The more successful they are in their indiscriminate containment policies—and the more unlikely any protection possibilities in the region of containment—the more likely it is that the positive obligation to protect life will remain unfulfilled.
Human Rights Due Diligence Policies Applied to Extraterritorial Cooperation to Prevent “Irregular” Migration: European Union and United Kingdom Support to Libya
Authors: Ferstman Carla
Published: April 2020

Extraterritorial cooperation—including by providing funds, equipment, training, and technical support—has become central to policies aimed at preventing access of refugees and “irregular” migrants to particular countries and regions. But cooperating countries and international organizations have due diligence obligations under human rights law to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the cooperation they provide does not result in human rights violations, even when the violations are perpetrated extraterritorially by third parties. Consequently, they can become liable for the failure to exercise due diligence to prevent human rights violations from occurring in the receiving states. Also, they may incur responsibility for the resulting acts where they knowingly aided or assisted the receiving state to commit human rights violations with the support provided.

International organizations and some states have begun to adopt human rights due diligence policies to assess and mitigate the risks of such cooperation. Using the examples of European Union and United Kingdom support to Libya, this Article analyzes the due diligence policies they have applied to extraterritorial cooperation in the area of border control and the detention of refugees and other migrants. It finds that the policies as implemented have provided only superficial scrutiny and argues that they should be made more robust and transparent. Ultimately, this will help mitigate the human rights risks associated with extraterritorial assistance, and ideally help ensure that assistance contributes to the strengthening of human rights protections in recipient countries.
Edwards' condition for quasitraces on C*-algebras
Authors: Antoine Ramon , Perera Francesc , Robert Leonel , Thiel Hannes
Published: April 2020

We prove that Cuntz semigroups of C*-algebras satisfy Edwards' condition with respect to every quasitrace. This condition is a key ingredient in the study of the realization problem of functions on the cone of quasitraces as ranks of positive elements. In the course of our investigation, we identify additional structure of the Cuntz semigroup of an arbitrary C*-algebra and of the cone of quasitraces.
Palynological evidence of sea-surface conditions in the Barents Sea off northeast Svalbard during the postglacial period
Authors: Brice Camille , de Vernal Anne , Ivanova Elena , van Bellen Simon , Van Nieuwenhove Nicolas
Published: April 2020

Postglacial changes in sea-surface conditions, including sea-ice cover, summer temperature, salinity, and productivity were reconstructed from the analyses of dinocyst assemblages in core S2528 collected in the northwestern Barents Sea. The results show glaciomarine-type conditions until about 11,300 ± 300 cal yr BP and limited influence of Atlantic water at the surface into the Barents Sea possibly due to the proximity of the Svalbard-Barents Sea ice sheet. This was followed by a transitional period generally characterized by cold conditions with dense sea-ice cover and low-salinity pulses likely related to episodic freshwater or meltwater discharge, which lasted until 8700 ± 700 cal yr BP. The onset of “interglacial” conditions in surface waters was marked by a major change in dinocyst assemblages, from dominant heterotrophic to dominant phototrophic taxa. Until 4100 ± 150 cal yr BP, however, sea-surface conditions remained cold, while sea-surface salinity and sea-ice cover recorded large amplitude variations. By ~4000 cal yr BP optimum sea-surface temperature of up to 4°C in summer and maximum salinity of ~34 psu suggest enhanced influence of Atlantic water, and productivity reached up to 150 gC/m2/yr. After 2200 ± 1300 cal yr BP, a distinct cooling trend accompanied by sea-ice spreading characterized surface waters. Hence, during the Holocene, with exception of an interval spanning about 4000 to 2000 cal yr BP, the northern Barents Sea experienced harsh environments, relatively low productivity, and unstable conditions probably unsuitable for human settlements.
A TRUNCATED IDENTITY OF EULER AND RELATED -CONGRUENCES
Authors: LIU JI-CAI , HUANG ZHONG-YU
Published: April 2020

We discuss a truncated identity of Euler and present a combinatorial proof of it. We also derive two finite identities as corollaries. As an application, we establish two related $q$-congruences for sums of $q$-Catalan numbers, one of which has been proved by Tauraso [‘$q$-Analogs of some congruences involving Catalan numbers’, Adv. Appl. Math. 48 (2012), 603–614] by a different method.
Spheres, Sefirot, and the Imaginal Astronomical Discourse of Classical Kabbalah
Authors: Chajes J. H.
Published: April 2020

The medieval expression of Jewish esotericism known as Kabbalah is distinguished by its imaging of the divine as ten hypostatic sefirot that structure the Godhead and generate the cosmos. Since Gershom Scholem, the preeminent twentieth-century scholar of Kabbalah, declared the term sefirah (sg.) as deriving from “sapphire”—pointedly rejecting its connection to the Greek σφαῖρα—scholars have paid scant attention to the profound indebtedness of the visual and verbal lexicon of the kabbalists to the Greco-Arabic scientific tradition. The present paper seeks to redress this neglect through an examination of the appropriation of the diagrammatic-iconographical and rhetorical languages of astronomy and natural philosophy in medieval and early modern kabbalistic discourse. This study will place particular emphasis on the adoption-adaptation and ontologization of the dominant schemata of these most prestigious fields of medieval science by classical kabbalists, what it reveals about their self-understanding, and how it contributed to the perception of Kabbalah as a “divine science” well into the early modern period.
iMAgery focused psychological therapy for persecutory delusions in PSychosis (iMAPS): a multiple baseline experimental case series
Authors: Taylor Christopher D.J. , Bee Penny E. , Kelly James , Emsley Richard , Haddock Gillian
Published: April 2020

Background:

Many people with psychosis experience persecutory delusions and report negative schematic beliefs and intrusive mental images which may be maintaining factors for psychotic symptoms.

Aims:

This study examined the feasibility and acceptability of a new psychological therapy targeting schemas and images (iMAPS therapy).

Method:

The study used a randomised multiple baseline design. Participants with first episode psychosis were randomised using a multiple baseline design with 2–5 assessments. Six sessions of therapy, consisting of a combination of imagery techniques and imagery rescripting techniques, was used. In each session, participants completed a Mental Imagery in Psychosis Questionnaire (MIPQ) and imagery interview. Mood and delusional beliefs (PSYRATS) were also measured at each session.

Results:

Five participants with first episode psychosis completed the baseline visits and attended all therapy sessions. One participant declined the final assessment. Results demonstrated significant reductions in negative schematic beliefs, delusions, imagery distress and other measures of schema (YSQ, SMI). Although multiple baseline randomisation strengthens the study, it lacked a control arm and blind assessments.

Conclusions:

iMAPS appears a feasible and acceptable treatment for psychosis, and further evaluation is indicated.
Insights From CMIP6 for Australia's Future Climate
Authors: Grose M. R. , Narsey S. , Delage F. P. , Dowdy A. J. , Bador M. , Boschat G. , Chung C. , Kajtar J. B. , Rauniyar S. , Freund M. B. , Lyu K. , Rashid H. , Zhang X. , Wales S. , Trenham C. , Holbrook N. J. , Cowan T. , Alexander L. , Arblaster J. M. , Power S.
Published: April 2020

Outputs from new state‐of‐the‐art climate models under the Coupled Model Inter‐comparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6) promise improvement and enhancement of climate change projections information for Australia. Here we focus on three key aspects of CMIP6: what is new in these models, how the available CMIP6 models evaluate compared to CMIP5, and their projections of the future Australian climate compared to CMIP5 focussing on the highest emissions scenario. The CMIP6 ensemble has several new features of relevance to policymakers and others, for example, the integrated matrix of socioeconomic and concentration pathways. The CMIP6 models show incremental improvements in the simulation of the climate in the Australian region, including a reduced equatorial Pacific cold tongue bias, slightly improved rainfall teleconnections with large‐scale climate drivers, improved representation of atmosphere and ocean extreme heat events, as well as dynamic sea level. However, important regional biases remain, evident in the excessive rainfall over the Maritime Continent and rainfall pattern biases in the nearby tropical convergence zones. Projections of Australian temperature and rainfall from the available CMIP6 ensemble broadly agree with those from CMIP5, except for a group of CMIP6 models with higher climate sensitivity and greater warming and increase in some extremes after 2050. CMIP6 rainfall projections are similar to CMIP5, but the ensemble examined has a narrower range of rainfall change in austral summer in Northern Australia and austral winter in Southern Australia. Overall, future national projections are likely to be similar to previous versions but perhaps with some areas of improved confidence and clarity.
Chemical Cycling in the Venusian Atmosphere: A Full Photochemical Model From the Surface to 110 km
Authors: Bierson C. J. , Zhang X.
Published: April 2020

Venus is an exceptional natural experiment to test our understanding of atmospheric sulfur chemistry. Previous modeling efforts have focused on understanding either the middle or lower atmosphere. In this work, we performed the first full atmosphere analysis of the chemical transport processes on Venus from the surface to 110 km using a 1‐D diffusion model with photochemistry. We focused on the cycling of chemical species between the upper and lower atmospheres and interactions between distinct species groups including SO
, CO
 + OCS, chlorides, NO
, O
, and S
. We tested different eddy diffusivity profiles and investigated their influences on the vertical profiles of important species. We find that the assumed boundary conditions in previous models strongly impacted their simulation results. This has a particularly large effect for SO
. We find the high SO
abundance in the lower atmosphere is readily transported into the middle atmosphere, far exceeding observed values. This implies some yet unknown chemistry or process limiting SO
mixing. We summarize outstanding questions raised by this work and note chemical reactions that should be the highest priority for future laboratory studies and ab initio calculations.
On the Reliability of Variable‐Rate Pumping Test Results: Sensitivity to Information Content of the Recorded Data
Authors: Naderi Mostafa , Gupta Hoshin V.
Published: April 2020

Pumping tests are widely used to estimate parameters such as transmissivity and storativity, using aquifer response equations that assume a time‐constant pumping rate. However, in actual practice the discharge rate will often vary erratically and follow a generally decreasing trend as the test proceeds. In such cases, if the discharge history is recorded with sufficient temporal fidelity, accurate solutions can be obtained via time domain piecewise‐linear numerical integration. However, if the discharge data do not adequately characterize the variability in the dynamics of the pumping rate, the result can be information loss leading to bias in the inferred parameter estimates. Here, we investigate the severity of this problem for six selected aquifer types, including those that are confined, leaky, and unconfined. Our results indicate that the effects of information loss due to inadequate temporal resolution of the discharge data and systematic observational error are significantly more severe than due to random observational error. The implication is that operators should make a concerted effort to record the pumping rate at the highest practical temporal resolution throughout the duration of the test.
On the Link Between the Madden‐Julian Oscillation, Euro‐Mediterranean Weather Regimes, and Morocco Winter Rainfall
Authors: Gadouali F. , Semane N. , Muñoz Á.G. , Messouli M.
Published: April 2020

K‐means cluster analysis of wintertime 500‐hPa geopotential height anomalies allowed identifying seven weather regimes (WRs) describing the atmospheric variability over the Euro‐Mediterranean domain. The study of transitions between those WRs provided consistent results with the westward displacement of the blocking nearby northern Europe before the onset of the negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO−). The onset of the latter is, indeed, preceded by the North Atlantic blocking regime (NABl). In addition, we detected a preferred transition from the Scandinavian Blocking (ScBl) to NAO+ through the European Ridge regime (EuRG), which is modulated by active phases of the Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO). The examination of the relationship between WRs and precipitation over Morocco showed that the NAO− (NAO+) regime is accompanied by more (less) rainy episodes. The investigation of the lagged relationships between the MJO and the WRs depicted the role of an active MJO in Phase 2 as a precursor of the ScBl and of an active MJO in Phase 6 as a precursor of the NABl. The exploration of the 10–15 days lagged impact of the MJO on Moroccan rainfall showed an increase (decrease) of wet (dry) conditions 10 to 15 days after the occurrence of an active MJO in Phases 6 and 8 (Phases 2‐3‐4). The MJO modulation of the WRs and rainfall patterns over Morocco constitutes an important source of predictability at the medium‐ and the extended‐range (subseasonal) time scales, with potential use by decision makers in key socioeconomic sectors in the region.
Patient perspectives on how to optimise benefits from a breathlessness service for people with COPD
Authors: Luckett Tim , Roberts Mary M. , Smith Tracy , Swami Vinita , Cho Jin-Gun , Wheatley John R.
Published: April 2020

This study aimed to inform understanding of how to optimise patient-perceived benefits from a breathlessness service designed for patients with moderate to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The Westmead Breathlessness Service (WBS) trains patients to self-manage over an 8-week programme, with multidisciplinary input and home visits. A qualitative approach was taken, using semi-structured telephone interviews. Each transcript was globally rated as suggesting ‘significant’, ‘some’ or ‘no’ impact from WBS, and thematic analysis used an integrative approach. Forty-one consecutive participants were interviewed to reach ‘information power’. Eighteen (44%) participants reported ‘significant’ impact, 17 (41%) ‘some’ impact, and two (5%) ‘no’ impact. Improvements to breathlessness were usually in the affective and impact dimensions but, more uncommonly, also sensory-perceptual. Participants who benefited in self-esteem, confidence and motivation attributed this to one-to-one multidisciplinary coaching and home visits. Further research should test whether including/excluding more intensive programme elements based on individual need might improve cost-effectiveness.
Adaptive rewiring evolves brain-like structure in weighted networks
Authors: Rentzeperis Ilias , van Leeuwen Cees
Published: April 2020

Activity-dependent plasticity refers to a range of mechanisms for adaptively reshaping neuronal connections. We model their common principle in terms of adaptive rewiring of network connectivity, while representing neural activity by diffusion on the network: Where diffusion is intensive, shortcut connections are established, while underused connections are pruned. In binary networks, this process is known to steer initially random networks robustly to high levels of structural complexity, reflecting the global characteristics of brain anatomy: modular or centralized small world topologies. We investigate whether this result extends to more realistic, weighted networks. Both normally- and lognormally-distributed weighted networks evolve either modular or centralized topologies. Which of these prevails depends on a single control parameter, representing global homeostatic or normalizing regulation mechanisms. Intermediate control parameter values exhibit the greatest levels of network complexity, incorporating both modular and centralized tendencies. The simulation results allow us to propose diffusion based adaptive rewiring as a parsimonious model for activity-dependent reshaping of brain connectivity structure.
Predators and dispersers: Context-dependent outcomes of the interactions between rodents and a megafaunal fruit plant
Authors: Loayza Andrea P. , Luna Claudia A. , Calviño-Cancela María
Published: April 2020

Many plant species bear fruits that suggest adaptation to seed dispersal by extinct megafauna. Present-day seed dispersal of these megafaunal plants is carried out by rodents, which can act as predators or dispersers; whether this interaction is primarily positive or negative can depend on the context. Here, we parameterized a stochastic model using data from the field and experimental arenas to estimate the effect of rodents on the recruitment of Myrcianthes coquimbensis -an Atacama Desert shrub with megafaunal fruits- and examine whether environmental conditions can alter the sign and strength of these rodent-plant interactions. We show that the outcome of these interactions is context-dependent: in wet conditions seed removal by rodents negatively impacts the recruitment probability of M. coquimbensis; in contrast, in dry conditions, the interaction with rodents increases recruitment success. In all cases, the strength of the effect of rodents on the recruitment success was determined mainly by their role as dispersers, which could be positive or negative. This study demonstrates that by caching seeds, rodents can be effective dispersers of a megafaunal fruit plant, but that the sign and magnitude of their effect on recruitment changes as a function of the environmental context in which the interaction occurs.
Shape analysis of railway ballast stones: curvature-based calculation of particle angularity
Authors: Suhr Bettina , Skipper William A. , Lewis Roger , Six Klaus
Published: April 2020

Particle shape analysis is conducted, to compare two types of railway ballast: Calcite and Kieselkalk. Focus lies on the characterisation of particle angularity using 3D scanner data. In the literature, angularity is often characterised using 2D data, as these types of data are easier to collect. 3D scanner data contain a vast amount of information (e.g. curvatures) which can be used for shape analysis and angularity characterisation. Literature approaches that use 3D data are often not thoroughly tested, due to a lack of test cases. In this work, two new curvature-based angularity indices are introduced and compared to one from the literature. Analytical test bodies with shapes ranging from spherical towards cubic are used for a first plausibility test. Then, 3D scans of ballast stones are compared to artificially rounded meshes. Only one out of three evaluated angularity indices seem to be suited to characterise angularity correctly in all of the above tests: the newly introduced scaled Willmore energy. A complete shape analysis of the scanned ballast stones is conducted and no difference between the two types of ballast can be seen regarding form, angularity, roughness, sphericity or convexity index. These findings of shape analysis are set in the context of previous works, where experimental results and DEM simulations of uniaxial compression tests and direct shear tests were presented for the same ballast types.
Hypothermic Oxygenated New Machine Perfusion System in Liver and Kidney Transplantation of Extended Criteria Donors:First Italian Clinical Trial
Authors: Ravaioli Matteo , De Pace Vanessa , Angeletti Andrea , Comai Giorgia , Vasuri Francesco , Baldassarre Maurizio , Maroni Lorenzo , Odaldi Federica , Fallani Guido , Caraceni Paolo , Germinario Giuliana , Donadei Chiara , Malvi Deborah , Del Gaudio Massimo , Bertuzzo Valentina Rosa , Siniscalchi Antonio , Ranieri Vito Marco , D’Errico Antonietta , Pasquinelli Gianandrea , Morelli Maria Cristina , Pinna Antonio Daniele , Cescon Matteo , La Manna Gaetano
Published: April 2020

With the aim to explore innovative tools for organ preservation, especially in marginal organs, we hereby describe a clinical trial of ex-vivo hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (HOPE) in the field of liver (LT) and kidney transplantation (KT) from Extended Criteria Donors (ECD) after brain death. A matched-case analysis of donor and recipient variables was developed: 10 HOPE-ECD livers and kidneys (HOPE-L and HOPE-K) were matched 1:3 with livers and kidneys preserved with static cold storage (SCS-L and SCS-K). HOPE and SCS groups resulted with similar basal characteristics, both for recipients and donors. Cumulative liver and kidney graft dysfunction were 10% (HOPE L-K) vs. 31.7%, in SCS group (p = 0.05). Primary non-function was 3.3% for SCS-L vs. 0% for HOPE-L. No primary non-function was reported in HOPE-K and SCS-K. Median peak aspartate aminotransferase within 7-days post-LT was significantly higher in SCS-L when compared to HOPE-L (637 vs.344 U/L, p = 0.007). Graft survival at 1-year post-transplant was 93.3% for SCS-L vs. 100% of HOPE-L and 90% for SCS-K vs. 100% of HOPE-K. Clinical outcomes support our hypothesis of machine perfusion being a safe and effective system to reduce ischemic preservation injuries in KT and in LT.
Dynamic spherical harmonics approach for shape classification of migrating cells
Authors: Medyukhina Anna , Blickensdorf Marco , Cseresnyés Zoltán , Ruef Nora , Stein Jens V. , Figge Marc Thilo
Published: April 2020

Cell migration involves dynamic changes in cell shape. Intricate patterns of cell shape can be analyzed and classified using advanced shape descriptors, including spherical harmonics (SPHARM). Though SPHARM have been used to analyze and classify migrating cells, such classification did not exploit SPHARM spectra in their dynamics. Here, we examine whether additional information from dynamic SPHARM improves classification of cell migration patterns. We combine the static and dynamic SPHARM approach with a support-vector-machine classifier and compare their classification accuracies. We demonstrate that the dynamic SPHARM analysis classifies cell migration patterns more accurately than the static one for both synthetic and experimental data. Furthermore, by comparing the computed accuracies with that of a naive classifier, we can identify the experimental conditions and model parameters that significantly affect cell shape. This capability should – in the future – help to pinpoint factors that play an essential role in cell migration.
A transition of ω-Fe3C → ω′-Fe3C → θ′-Fe3C in Fe-C martensite
Authors: Ping D. H. , Xiang H. P. , Chen H. , Guo L. L. , Gao K. , Lu X.
Published: April 2020

Carbon steel is strong primarily because of carbides with the most well-known one being θ-Fe3C type cementite. However, the formation mechanism of cementite remains unclear. In this study, a new metastable carbide formation mechanism was proposed as ω-Fe3C → ω′-Fe3C → θ′-Fe3C based on the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation. Results shown that in quenched high-carbon binary alloys, hexagonal ω-Fe3C fine particles are distributed in the martensite twinning boundary alone, while two metastable carbides (ω′ and θ′) coexist in the quenched pearlite. These two carbides both possess orthorhombic crystal structure with different lattice parameters (aθ′ = aω′ = aω = $$\sqrt{2}$$2aα-Fe = 4.033 Å, bθ′ = 2 × bω′ = 2 × cω = $$\sqrt{3}$$3aα-Fe = 4.94 Å, and cθ′ = cω′ = $$\sqrt{3}$$3aω = 6.986 Å for aα-Fe = 2.852 Å). The θ′ unit cell can be constructed simply by merging two ω′ unit cells together along its bω′ axis. Thus, the θ′ unit cell contains 12 Fe atoms and 4 C atoms, which in turn matches the composition and atomic number of the θ-Fe3C cementite unit cell. The proposed theory in combination with experimental results gives a new insight into the carbide formation mechanism in Fe-C martensite.
Rh-Catalyzed nitrene alkyne metathesis/formal C–N bond insertion cascade: synthesis of 3-iminoindolines
Authors: Hong Kemiao , Zhou Su , Hu Wenhao , Xu Xinfang
Published: April 2020

A Rh-catalyzed nitrene/alkyne metathesis (NAM) cascade reaction terminated by a formal C–N bond insertion has been developed, which provides facile access to the tricyclic 3-iminoindolines in good yields with broad substrate scope.
Optical nanogap antennas as plasmonic biosensors for the detection of miRNA biomarkers
Authors: Portela Alejandro , Calvo-Lozano Olalla , Estevez M.-Carmen , Medina Escuela Alfonso , Lechuga Laura M.
Published: April 2020

Gold nanogap antennas fabricated by hole-mask colloidal lithography as sensitive substrates for plasmonic biosensing.
Neonatal Resuscitation and Postresuscitation Care of Infants Born to Mothers with Suspected or Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Chandrasekharan Praveen , Vento Maximo , Trevisanuto Daniele , Partridge Elizabeth , Underwood Mark A. , Wiedeman Jean , Katheria Anup , Lakshminrusimha Satyan
Published: April 2020

The first case of novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was reported in November2019. The rapid progression to a global pandemic of COVID-19 has had profound medical, social, and economic consequences. Pregnant women and newborns represent a vulnerable population. However, the precise impact of this novel virus on the fetus and neonate remains uncertain. Appropriate protection of health care workers and newly born infants during and after delivery by a COVID-19 mother is essential. There is some disagreement among expert organizations on an optimal approach based on resource availability, surge volume, and potential risk of transmission. The manuscript outlines the precautions and steps to be taken before, during, and after resuscitation of a newborn born to a COVID-19 mother, including three optional variations of current standards involving shared-decision making with parents for perinatal management, resuscitation of the newborn, disposition, nutrition, and postdischarge care. The availability of resources may also drive the application of these guidelines. More evidence and research are needed to assess the risk of vertical and horizontal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and its impact on fetal and neonatal outcomes.

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