bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contrasting effects of heat stress on neuromuscular performance
Authors: Ball Derek
Published: July 2020

New Findings

What is the central question of this review?

Is exposure to a hot environment detrimental to neuromuscular performance?

What is the main finding and what is its importance?

Elevating body temperature improves peak power during short‐duration, high‐intensity exercise but trades off with an accelerated rate of decay. Higher muscle temperatures and cross‐bridge cycling rate resemble a shift in contractile characteristic to a faster phenotype. Prolonged moderate‐intensity exercise capacity is impaired in a hot environment. Fatigue appears to combine a reduced drive from the CNS and increased cardiovascular strain to maintain skeletal muscle perfusion and thermoregulation.

The effect of thermal stress on human work capacity and neuromuscular function has been of interest to physiologists since the 19th century. The aim of the present review is to examine the impact of exposure to heat stress on neuromuscular performance. Exposure to heat stress during exercise is known to increase strain on the cardiovascular system owing to the competing demands of skeletal muscle perfusion and homeostatic thermoregulation. The effects of exposure to heat stress on the neuromuscular system are more complex, because in some circumstances an elevation in muscle temperature leads to an improvement in function, whereas in other circumstances an increase in temperature leads to a decrement in function that is a consequence of the mode, metabolic demand and duration of the exercise. The ability to sustain isometric tension is impaired with an elevated muscle temperature and so too is locomotor capacity over prolonged periods of time. In contrast, peak power production is enhanced by increasing muscle temperature but is achieved at the expense of maintaining power output, owing to a higher rate of decay in power production. The different effects on neuromuscular function at an elevated muscle temperature are explained, in part, by a higher rate of energy turnover. In addition, the effect of an elevated core temperature also appears to impair neuromuscular performance either owing to a reduced voluntary drive in motor unit recruitment or to a failure in muscle afferent feedback, or a combination of the two.
Techno-Economic Feasibility Analysis of Pumped Storage Hydroelectricity in Abandoned Underground Coal Mines
Authors: Shang Dacheng , Pei Peng , Zuo Yujun
Published: July 2020

It is anticipated that utilizing the underground space in abandoned mines to build and operate pumped-storage hydroelectricity (PSH) plants can reduce capital investment and geological constraints. However, there are currently few detailed investigations into techno-economic feasibility except for conceptual studies. In this paper, an underground coal mine in Guizhou, China was used as a reference, and the PSH layout was designed; in addition, the head loss, plant efficiency, and major cost components were investigated. The calculation results show that the capital investment of mine-based PSH was 33–50% less than that of conventional PSH. Sensitivity analysis found a clear influence of coal seam inclination on the performance of the mine-based PSH. Under the assumed conditions, the plant cycle efficiency increased from 62.7% to 71.5% when the coal seam dip varied from 5 deg to 25 deg. Depending on different price scenarios, when the coal seam inclination was steep enough, the cost of energy storage of a mine-based PSH plant was competitive compared with conventional PSH, and the plant could even become profitable. The influence of the dip of coal seam was more pronounced when in the lower range (5–15 deg) than the higher range (15–25 deg).
Evaluation of Technological Options for Carbon Dioxide Utilization
Authors: Kalina Jacek , Skorek-Osikowska Anna , Bartela Łukasz , Gładysz Paweł , Lampert Krzysztof
Published: July 2020

In this paper, various technologies for the utilization of captured carbon dioxide (CO2) are evaluated using parametric and expert evaluation methods. About 25 technologies at different technology readiness level (TRL) have been identified and classified as either major or minor candidates for implementation under conditions of the Polish national economy. In relation to 14 technologies, extensive literature studies have been conducted. Several assessment criteria have been defined, and the ranking list of technologies has been created. At the final stage, a feasibility assessment has been made for the top two technologies of CO2 utilization in the context of cooperation with the 910 MW block in Jaworzno (Poland) coal-fired power plant.
Novel Performance-Oriented Tolerance Design Method Based on Locally Inferred Sensitivity Analysis and Improved Polynomial Chaos Expansion
Authors: Sa Guodong , Liu Zhenyu , Qiu Chan , Peng Xiang , Tan Jianrong
Published: July 2020

Tolerance design is becoming increasingly important for electromechanical products. Reasonable tolerance design can reduce production costs and improve product performance. However, as the complexity of the coupling of tolerances and performance increases, it becomes difficult for designers to establish accurate tolerance design models, leading to experience-based design. This study proposes a novel performance-oriented tolerance design method. First, the main tolerance variables affecting the product performance are rapidly determined based on the proposed locally inferred sensitivity analysis method. Then, based on the improved approximate polynomial chaos expansion, a surrogate model of the product performance and main tolerance variables is established. Finally, the geometric tolerances of the electromechanical products are optimized based on the surrogate model with performance requirements. The proposed tolerance design method is computationally efficient and accurate, and it can be implemented with a small number of samples. To demonstrate its performance, the proposed method is validated with a spaceborne active-phased array antenna. The optimal tolerance design of the antenna for the electrical performance requirements is performed successfully.
A Framework for Designing the Customer-Order Decoupling Point to Facilitate Mass Customization
Authors: Guo Lin , Chen Suhao , Allen Janet K. , Mistree Farrokh
Published: July 2020

In the age of Industry 4.0, manufacturing enterprises are under pressure to improve mass customization to satisfy evolving demands in different markets. One challenge is to fulfill orders swiftly at an acceptable cost, while maintaining service quality. To do this, the customer-order decoupling point (CODP), where value-adding activities take place, should be designed and adapted to changing market demands. We propose a formulation-exploration framework to make decisions on customer-order decoupling point positioning and improve the supply chain to support mass customization. A test problem of auto parts manufacturing is used to illustrate the efficacy of our framework. The formulation-exploration framework can be used to design a supply chain to facilitate the mass customization of products, especially when information is incomplete and inaccurate (including uncertainties), and goals conflict with each other. In this paper, we focus on the method embodied in the framework rather than the results per se.
Mapping-Based Hierarchical Sensitivity Analysis for Multilevel Systems With Multidimensional Correlations
Authors: Xu Can , Zhu Ping , Liu Zhao , Tao Wei
Published: July 2020

Hierarchical sensitivity analysis (HSA) of multilevel systems is to assess the effect of system’s input uncertainties on the variations of system’s performance through integrating the sensitivity indices of subsystems. However, it is difficult to deal with the engineering systems with complicated correlations among various variables across levels by using the existing hierarchical sensitivity analysis method based on variance decomposition. To overcome this limitation, a mapping-based hierarchical sensitivity analysis method is proposed to obtain sensitivity indices of multilevel systems with multidimensional correlations. For subsystems with dependent variables, a mapping-based sensitivity analysis, consisting of vine copula theory, Rosenblatt transformation, and polynomial chaos expansion (PCE) technique, is provided for obtaining the marginal sensitivity indices. The marginal sensitivity indices can allow us to distinguish between the mutual depend contribution and the independent contribution of an input to the response variance. Then, extended aggregation formulations for local variables and shared variables are developed to integrate the sensitivity indices of subsystems at each level so as to estimate the global effect of inputs on the response. Finally, this paper presents a computational framework that combines related techniques step by step. The effectiveness of the proposed mapping-based hierarchical sensitivity analysis (MHSA) method is verified by a mathematical example and a multiscale composite material.
Vibrations of Air-Coupled Web Systems
Authors: Feng Dan , Wang Jie , Chiu George T.-C. , Raman Arvind
Published: July 2020

The prediction and measurement of vibrations of the low-frequency transverse modes of tensioned webs are of increasing interest for process monitoring, quality control, and process stability in roll-to-roll flexible hybrid and stretchable electronics manufacturing, nanomanufacturing, coated layer patterning, and other continuous manufacturing technologies. Acting as distributed added mass, the surrounding air significantly affects the frequency responses of taut thin webs in ambient roll-to-roll processes in comparison with those in vacuo. In this paper, we present closed-form, semi-analytical, universal hydrodynamic functions used to accurately predict the lowest symmetric and anti-symmetric transverse frequency response for any uniaxially tensioned web of arbitrary material and aspect ratio used in roll-to-roll processes. Experimental validation is carried out by using pointwise laser measurements of acoustically excited webs with different pre-tensions, web materials, and aspect ratios. These closed-form hydrodynamic functions provide roll-to-roll process designers a convenient way to predict the lowest frequencies of such web systems without the need to resort to computationally intensive methods; alternately, these functions allow for the quick identification of conditions when air-coupling is important to determine the web’s vibration response. The results presented herein are expected to help ongoing efforts to improve process monitoring and control in a variety of roll-to-roll continuous manufacturing technologies.
Fractional Calculus-Based Energy Efficient Active Chatter Control of Milling Process Using Small Size Electromagnetic Actuators
Authors: Vashisht Rajiv Kumar , Peng Qingjin
Published: July 2020

For a larger depth of cutting above a certain critical value, self-excited vibrations occur in case of milling operations. This phenomenon of unstable milling tool vibrations is called chatter and is the main cause of the workpiece surface finish deterioration. The working life of the milling tool decreases substantially if the chatter is ignored. Active chatter control technique using the fractional order control methodology is investigated in the present work. Controller parameters are optimized by using the pattern search optimization technique. Electromagnetic actuators are used to generate the required control forces. The proposed technique is compared with the optimal loop shaping (LS) robust controller and optimal traditional proportional-derivative controller. It has been observed that the chatter can be avoided with relatively much less amplitude of control forces using the proposed controller. This aspect not only reduces the size of the required actuators but substantially reduces the control energy required to maintain stability. With the proposed controller, there is 168% saving in the control energy compared with the widely used robust control strategy. The robustness properties of the proposed controller are comparable with the loop shaping robust controller. Experimental results verify the efficiency and robustness of the proposed method.
Vibration Analysis of a Tire Under Static Loading Using Flexible Ring-Based Model
Authors: Swami Aakash , Pandey Ashok Kumar
Published: July 2020

To address various tire vibration characteristics such as noise, vibration, and harshness, it is necessary to study the tire dynamic performance. In this paper, we focus on investigating the influence of static loading on radial (in-plane) and bending modes and their frequencies of a tire. To model the effect, we first identify important tire parameters, termed as modal parameters, based on three-dimensional ring model and three-dimensional finite element results under free-free conditions without and with temperature variations. After finding the parameters, we have used three-dimensional flexible ring model in which both in-plane and bending modes are considered under static loading. When load is applied, tire behavior changes and it becomes more stiffer. Thus, it fixes the tire to the road and increases the contact region. In this paper, we define this contact region over θf < θ < 2π and the region 0 < θ < θf can be considered free-free. Subsequently, we assume the expression of radial and bending modes in terms of generalized coordinates satisfying the above boundary conditions and obtain kinetic and potential energy by integrating it over 0 < θ < θf. The unknown coordinate is obtained by satisfying the governing conditions. Finally, corresponding mode shapes and frequencies are obtained. The assumed modes and frequencies are validated with three-dimensional finite element model using abaqus. The same procedure can be extended to compute modes and frequencies as a function of temperature under static loading for a constant tire pressure.
#NCAAInclusion: Using Social Media to Engage NCAA Student-Athletes in Strategic Efforts to Promote Diversity and Inclusion
Authors: Kluch Yannick , Wilson Amy S.
Published: July 2020

In an increasingly diverse sports industry, inclusive excellence becomes an important axiom to engage a variety of stakeholders. This case study outlines the development of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Social Media Campaign launched by the NCAA’s Minority Opportunities and Interest Committee in partnership with the national Student-Athlete Advisory Committees. The goals of this campaign were to provide the more than 500,000 student-athletes in the NCAA with a platform to create a dialogue on diversity and inclusion on their campuses as well as to communicate the benefit of inclusive environments to the student-athlete experience. By outlining the steps from the campaign idea to its implementation, this case study provides students with the ability to (a) understand a major sport organization’s planning process for a national social media campaign focused on diversity and inclusion, (b) analyze current diversity trends in the sports industry using the NCAA as an example, (c) trace the NCAA membership’s engagement with the campaign, and (d) determine to which extent a campaign such as this one can serve as a starting point for anchoring inclusive excellence in the fabric of intercollegiate athletics departments.
Calpain-2 as a therapeutic target in repeated concussion–induced neuropathy and behavioral impairment
Authors: Wang Yubin , Liu Yan , Nham Amy , Sherbaf Arash , Quach Diana , Yahya Emad , Ranburger Davis , Bi Xiaoning , Baudry Michel
Published: July 2020

A selective calpain-2 inhibitor represents a potential therapeutic treatment for concussion.
Cellular senolytics
Authors: Aguilar Carlos A.
Published: July 2020

Repurposing CAR T cells to target senescent cells ameliorates liver fibrosis and extends survival in mice with lung adenocarcinoma.
3-Hydroxybutyrate Derived from Poly-3-Hydroxybutyrate Mobilization Alleviates Protein Aggregation in Heat-Stressed Herbaspirillum seropedicae SmR1
Authors: Alves Luis Paulo Silveira , Santana-Filho Arquimedes Paixão , Sassaki Guilherme Lanzi , de Oliveira Pedrosa Fabio , Maltempi de Souza Emanuel , Chubatsu Leda Satie , Müller-Santos Marcelo
Published: July 2020

Bacteria are subject to abrupt changes in environmental conditions affecting their growth, requiring rapid adaptation. Increasing the concentration of some metabolites can protect bacteria from hostile conditions that lead to protein denaturation and precipitation, as well as damage to plasma membranes. In this work, we demonstrated that under thermal shock, the bacterium
Herbaspirillum seropedicae
depolymerized its intracellular stock polymer known as poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), rapidly increasing the concentration of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and decreasing protein precipitation by thermal denaturation. Mutant
H. seropedicae
strains unable to produce or depolymerize PHB suffered irreparable damage during thermal shock, resulting in fast death when incubated at 45°C. Our results will contribute to the development of bacteria better adapted to high temperatures found either in natural conditions or in industrial processes. In the case of
H. seropedicae
and other bacteria that interact beneficially with plants, the understanding of PHB metabolism can be decisive for the development of more-competitive strains and their application as biofertilizers in agriculture.
Gold Standard Cholera Diagnostics Are Tarnished by Lytic Bacteriophage and Antibiotics
Authors: Nelson E. J. , Grembi J. A. , Chao D. L. , Andrews J. R. , Alexandrova L. , Rodriguez P. H. , Ramachandran V. V. , Sayeed M. A. , Wamala J. F. , Debes A. K. , Sack D. A. , Hryckowian A. J. , Haque F. , Khatun S. , Rahman M. , Chien A. , Spormann A. M. , Schoolnik G. K.
Published: July 2020

A fundamental, clinical, and scientific concern is how lytic bacteriophage, as well as antibiotics, impact diagnostic positivity. Cholera was chosen as a model disease to investigate this important question, because cholera outbreaks enable large enrollment, field methods are well established, and the predatory relationship between lytic bacteriophage and the etiologic agent
Vibrio cholerae
share commonalities across bacterial taxa. Patients with diarrheal disease were enrolled at two remote hospitals in Bangladesh.
Nearly Complete Genome Sequence of Brugia pahangi FR3
Authors: Mattick John , Libro Silvia , Sparklin Benjamin C. , Chung Matthew , Bromley Robin E. , Nadendla Suvarna , Zhao Xuechu , Ott Sandra , Sadzewicz Lisa , Tallon Luke J. , Michalski Michelle L. , Foster Jeremy M. , Dunning Hotopp Julie C.
Published: July 2020

Brugia pahangi
is a zoonotic parasite that is closely related to human-infecting filarial nematodes. Here, we report the nearly complete genome of
Brugia pahangi
, including assemblies of four autosomes and an X chromosome, with only seven gaps. The Y chromosome is still not completely assembled.
Complete Genome Sequence of
w
Bp, the
Wolbachia
Endosymbiont of Brugia pahangi FR3
Authors: Lebov Jarrett F. , Mattick John , Libro Silvia , Sparklin Benjamin C. , Chung Matthew , Bromley Robin E. , Nadendla Suvarna , Zhao Xuechu , Ott Sandra , Sadzewicz Lisa , Tallon Luke J. , Michalski Michelle L. , Foster Jeremy M. , Dunning Hotopp Julie C.
Published: July 2020

Lymphatic filariasis is a devastating disease caused by filarial nematode roundworms, which contain obligate
Wolbachia
endosymbionts. Here, we assembled the genome of
w
Bp, the
Wolbachia
endosymbiont of the filarial nematode
Brugia pahangi
, from Illumina, Pacific Biosciences, and Oxford Nanopore data. The complete, circular genome is 1,072,967 bp.
Draft Genome Sequence of a New
Oscillospiraceae
Bacterium Isolated from Anaerobic Digestion of Biomass
Authors: Pascual Javier , Hahnke Sarah , Abendroth Christian , Langer Thomas , Ramm Patrice , Klocke Michael , Luschnig Olaf , Porcar Manuel
Published: July 2020

Here, we present the genome sequence and annotation of the novel bacterial strain HV4-5-C5C, which may represent a new genus within the family
Oscillospiraceae
(order
Eubacteriales
). This strain is a potential keystone species in the hydrolysis of complex polymers during anaerobic digestion of biomass.
Genome Sequencing of a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Isolate Obtained from a South African Patient with Coronavirus Disease 2019
Authors: Allam Mushal , Ismail Arshad , Khumalo Zamantungwa T. H. , Kwenda Stanford , van Heusden Peter , Cloete Ruben , Wibmer Constantinos Kurt , Mtshali Phillip Senzo , Mnyameni Florah , Mohale Thabo , Subramoney Kathleen , Walaza Sibongile , Ngubane Wendy , Govender Nevashan , Motaze Nkengafac V. , Bhiman Jinal N.
Published: July 2020

As a contribution to the global efforts to track and trace the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, here we present the sequence, phylogenetic analysis, and modeling of nonsynonymous mutations for a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome that was detected in a South African patient with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Complete Genome Sequence of Burkholderia contaminans SK875, Isolated from the Respiratory Tract of a Pig in the Republic of Korea
Authors: Jung Hae-In , Lee Sang-Won , Kim Soo-Ki
Published: July 2020

Burkholderia contaminans
SK875 was isolated from the respiratory tract of a pig in the Republic of Korea. Here, we report the genome of
B. contaminans
SK875, which consists of three circular chromosomes and one plasmid of 8,596,045 bp with 7,727 genes.
Progressive retinal nerve fibre layer thinning and choroidal microvasculature
dropout at the location of disc haemorrhage in glaucoma
Authors: Kim Chung Young , Lee Eun Ji , Kim Ji-Ah , Kim Hyunjoong , Kim Tae-Woo
Published: July 2020

Background/Aims

To investigate whether parapapillary choroidal microvasculature dropout
(MvD) is associated with progressive retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thinning
in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and disc haemorrhage
(DH).

Methods

Parapapillary microvasculature was evaluated by swept-source optical
coherence tomography (OCT) angiography (OCTA) in 50 eyes with POAG and DH, 1
year before, at the time of and 1 year after the detection of DH. MvD was
defined as an area in the parapapillary deep layer of focal sectoral dropout
with no visible microvascular network. Progressive changes in OCT RNFL
thickness were compared in groups of eyes with and without MvD.

Results

Cumulative prevalence of MvD was 76.0% (38 eyes) at 1 year after detection
of DH. All MvDs were detected in the same sectoral locations as DH. In eyes
with MvD, global RNFL thickness and sectoral RNFL thickness at the location of
DH were significantly reduced, both from 1 year before to the time of DH
detection (both p<0.001) and from DH detection to 1 year later (both
p<0.001). In eyes without MvD, however, the reductions in global (p=0.011)
and sectoral (p=0.007) RNFL thickness were significant only from DH detection
to 1 year later.

Conclusion

In eyes with POAG, RNFL thinning was spatially consistent and progressive
at the location of MvD accompanied by subsequent DH and continued to progress
after the occurrence of DH. When DH was not accompanied by MvD, progressive
RNFL thinning was more likely to occur after the detection of DH.
Eleven-year multimorbidity burden among 637 255 people with and without type 2 diabetes: a population-based study using primary care and linked hospitalisation data
Authors: Zghebi Salwa S , Steinke Douglas T , Rutter Martin K , Ashcroft Darren M
Published: July 2020

Objectives

To compare the patterns of 18 physical and mental health comorbidities between people with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D) and people without diabetes and how these change by age, gender and deprivation over time between 2004 and 2014. Also, to develop a metric to identify most prevalent comorbidities in people with T2D.

Design

Population-based cohort study.

Setting

Primary and secondary care, England, UK.

Participants

108 588 people with T2D and 528 667 comparators registered in 391 English general practices. Each patient with T2D aged ≥16 years between January 2004 and December 2014 registered in Clinical Practice Research Datalink GOLD practices was matched to up to five comparators without diabetes on age, gender and general practice.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Prevalence of 18 physical and mental health comorbidities in people with T2D and comparators categorised by age, gender and deprivation. Odds for association between T2D diagnosis and comorbidities versus comparators. A metric for comorbidities with prevalence of ≥5% and/or odds ≥2 in patients with T2D.

Results

Overall, 77% of patients with T2D had ≥1 comorbidity and all comorbidities were more prevalent in patients with T2D than in comparators. Across both groups, prevalence rates were higher in older people, women and those most socially deprived. Conditional logistic regression models fitted to estimate (OR, 95% CI) for association between T2D diagnosis and comorbidities showed that T2D diagnosis was significantly associated with higher odds for all conditions including myocardial infarction (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.85 to 2.46); heart failure (OR 2.12, 1.84 to 2.43); depression (OR 1.75, 1.62 to 1.89), but non-significant for cancer (OR 1.12, 0.98 to 1.28). In addition to cardiovascular disease, the metric identified osteoarthritis, hypothyroidism, anxiety, schizophrenia and respiratory conditions as highly prevalent comorbidities in people with T2D.

Conclusions

T2D diagnosis is associated with higher likelihood of experiencing other physical and mental illnesses. People with T2D are twice as likely to have cardiovascular disease as the general population. The findings highlight highly prevalent and under-reported comorbidities in people with T2D. These findings can inform future research and clinical guidelines and can have important implications on healthcare resource allocation and highlight the need for more holistic clinical care for people with recently diagnosed T2D.
Flare-IBD: development and validation of a questionnaire based on patients’ messages on an internet forum for early detection of flare in inflammatory bowel disease: study protocol
Authors: Ricci Laetitia , Epstein Jonathan , Buisson Anne , Devos Corinne , Toussaint Yannick , Peyrin-Biroulet Laurent , Guillemin Francis
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the two major forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are chronic disabling conditions characterised by flares followed by periods of remission. However, patients with IBD are seen every 3–6 months in the outpatient clinic, and the occurrence of a flare between two outpatient visits is not captured. To our knowledge, there is no validated patient-reported outcome (PRO) tool to measure the phenomenon of flare in IBD. This study aimed to use an innovative methodology to collect messages posted by patients in an internet forum for developing and validating a PRO measuring flare in IBD.

Methods and analysis

The design involves (1) computer engineering sciences for scraping extraction of messages posted in an internet forum and for identification of messages related to flare; (2) qualitative methods for thematic content analyse of the messages posted, for candidate items generation, for items selection (Delphi process) and for items adjustment (‘think-aloud’ interviews) and (3) quantitative methods for psychometric validation of the PRO.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was obtained from the Comité de Protection des Personnes (CPP) CPP Nord-Ouest I (19.07.15.44139) in November 2019. The project aims to provide a tool to evaluate IBD flare in current medical practice that is constructed with patients’ perspectives. Items generation from a source corresponding to exchanges in an internet forum is an innovative method in this field and provides a wider coverage of qualitative data. If such a forum can result in interesting material, then this could be a new methodological perspective for generating items for questionnaires. Findings will be reported and disseminated widely through international peer-reviewed journal publications, oral and poster presentations at scientific conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT04180345.
Does reduced employment protection increase the employment disadvantage of workers with low education and poorer health?
Authors: Schuring Merel , Robroek Suzan J W , Carrino Ludovico , O’Prinsen Anouk C , Oude Hengel Karen M , Avendano Mauricio , Burdorf Alex
Published: July 2020

Background

Declines in employment protection may have disproportionate effects on employment opportunities of workers with low education and poorer health. This study investigates the impact of changes in employment protection levels on employment rates according to education and health in 23 European countries.

Methods

Data were taken from the 4-year rotating panel European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions study. Employed participants aged 29–59 years (n = 334 999) were followed for 1 year over an 11-year period, from 2003 up to 2014. A logistic regression model with country and period fixed effects was used to estimate the association between changes in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) employment protection index and labour market outcomes, incorporating interaction terms with education and health.

Results

15 of the 23 countries saw their level of employment protection decline between 2003 and 2014. Reduced employment protection of temporary workers increased odds of early retirement (OR 6.29, 95% CI 3.17 to 12.48) and unemployment (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.76). Reduced employment protection of permanent workers increased odds of early retirement more among workers in poor health (OR 4.46, 95% CI 2.26 to 8.78) than among workers in good health (OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.30 to 5.10). The impact of reduced employment protection of temporary workers on unemployment was stronger among lower-educated workers (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.90) than among higher-educated workers (OR 1.21, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.54).

Conclusion

Reduced employment protection increased the odds of early exit from paid employment, especially among workers with lower education and poorer health. Employment protection laws may help reduce the employment disadvantage of workers with low education and poorer health.
Trauma and violent offending among adolescents: a birth cohort study
Authors: Peltonen Kirsi , Ellonen Noora , Pitkänen Joonas , Aaltonen Mikko , Martikainen Pekka
Published: July 2020

Background

Earlier studies, based on data collected among juvenile court clients or prisoners, suggest that there is an association between trauma and adolescent-onset offending. However, there is a lack of large-scale data on juvenile violence and clinical mental health observations with unselected participants, and a risk-factor-oriented research combining multiple variables affecting violent behaviour.

Methods

We analyse the effect of trauma on violent offending using longitudinal register-linkage population data. The study is based on administrative data on all Finnish children born between 1986 and 2000, linked with their biological and adoptive parents (N=913 675). The data include annually updated demographic and socioeconomic information from Statistics Finland, hospital discharge and specialised outpatient service records as well as the data from all suspected criminal offences known to the police (1996–2017). We measured trauma diagnosis at age 12–14 and followed participants for subsequent violent criminality from age 15 to 17.

Results

The population average estimates, taking into account observed substance abuse and other mental health diagnoses, shows that trauma-related disorders (adjustment problems, post-traumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder) were associated with violent offending. The same was true in sibling fixed effect models, which take into account genetic and environmental confounding shared by siblings.

Discussion

These results suggest that severe stress related to traumatic or strong negative life changes in adolescence is a risk factor for violent behaviour.
Diagnostic and prognostic value of serum NfL and p-Tau181in frontotemporal lobar degeneration
Authors: Benussi Alberto , Karikari Thomas K , Ashton Nicholas , Gazzina Stefano , Premi Enrico , Benussi Luisa , Ghidoni Roberta , Rodriguez Juan Lantero , Emeršič Andreja , Simrén Joel , Binetti Giuliano , Fostinelli Silvia , Giunta Marcello , Gasparotti Roberto , Zetterberg Henrik , Blennow Kaj , Borroni Barbara
Published: July 2020

Objective

To assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of serum neurofilament light (NfL) and serum phospho-Tau181(p-Tau181) in a large cohort of patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD).

Methods

In this retrospective study, performed on 417 participants, we analysed serum NfL and p-Tau181concentrations with an ultrasensitive single molecule array (Simoa) approach. We assessed the diagnostic values of serum biomarkers in the differential diagnosis between FTLD, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and healthy ageing; their role as markers of disease severity assessing the correlation with clinical variables, cross-sectional brain imaging and neurophysiological data; their role as prognostic markers, considering their ability to predict survival probability in FTLD.

Results

We observed significantly higher levels of serum NfL in patients with FTLD syndromes, compared with healthy controls, and lower levels of p-Tau181compared with patients with AD. Serum NfL concentrations showed a high accuracy in discriminating between FTLD and healthy controls (area under the curve (AUC): 0.86, p<0.001), while serum p-Tau181showed high accuracy in differentiating FTLD from patients with AD (AUC: 0.93, p<0.001). In FTLD, serum NfL levels correlated with measures of cognitive function, disease severity and behavioural disturbances and were associated with frontotemporal atrophy and indirect measures of GABAergic deficit. Moreover, serum NfL concentrations were identified as the best predictors of survival probability.

Conclusions

The assessment of serum NfL and p-Tau181may provide a comprehensive view of FTLD, aiding in the differential diagnosis, in staging disease severity and in defining survival probability.
Against the use and publication of contemporary unethical research: the case of Chinese transplant research
Authors: Higgins Wendy C , Rogers Wendy A , Ballantyne Angela , Lipworth Wendy
Published: July 2020

Recent calls for retraction of a large body of Chinese transplant research and of Dr Jiankui He’s gene editing research has led to renewed interest in the question of publication, retraction and use of unethical biomedical research. In Part 1 of this paper, we briefly review the now well-established consequentialist and deontological arguments for and against the use of unethical research. We argue that, while there are potentially compelling justifications for use under some circumstances, these justifications fail when unethical practices are ongoing—as in the case of research involving transplantations in which organs have been procured unethically from executed prisoners. Use of such research displays a lack of respect and concern for the victims and undermines efforts to deter unethical practices. Such use also creates moral taint and renders those who use the research complicit in continuing harm. In Part 2, we distinguish three dimensions of ‘non-use’ of unethical research: non-use of published unethical research, non-publication, and retraction and argue that all three types of non-use should be upheld in the case of Chinese transplant research. Publishers have responsibilities to not publish contemporary unethical biomedical research, and where this has occurred, to retract publications. Failure to retract the papers implicitly condones the research, while uptake of the research through citations rewards researchers and ongoing circulation of the data in the literature facilitates subsequent use by researchers, policymakers and clinicians.
Withholding conflicts of interest: the many flaws of the new ICMJE disclosure form
Authors: Shaw David
Published: July 2020

In this article, I describe and analyse the proposed new International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosing conflicts of interest and conclude that it has many flaws. The form does not mention ‘conflicts of interest’ even once in either its body or its title, it introduces a conceptually confused categorisation of different potential conflicts and it ignores future conflicts and intellectual biases. Finally, many of the authors of the new form have themselves failed to declare relevant potential conflicts of interest.
Temporal trends in the healthy soldier effect in a cohort of Royal Norwegian Navy servicemen followed for 67 years
Authors: Strand Leif Aage , Martinsen Jan Ivar , Fadum Elin Anita , Borud Einar Kristian
Published: July 2020

Objectives

To investigate temporal trends in the ‘healthy soldier effect’ (HSE) among 28 300 Royal Norwegian Navy servicemen who served during 1950–2004.

Methods

Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) for all causes, diseases and external causes were calculated from national rates for the entire study period (1951–2017), and for seven successive follow-up periods after the first recorded day of Naval service, for the overall cohort and for two subgroups: land-based personnel and vessel crews. Poisson regression, expressed as rate ratios, was used to compare all-cause mortality between the subgroups.

Results

In the overall cohort, SMRs for all-cause mortality increased steadily during the first six 10-year follow-up periods, from 0.52 to 0.94, which was still lower than national rates. After 60 years, the lower mortality compared with national rates was no longer statistically significant (SMR=0.93). Low non-neoplastic disease mortality contributed most to the longevity of the HSE. For neoplastic diseases, there was a mortality deficit only for the first and third 10-year follow-up periods. External-cause mortality rose to national rates after 40 years. An HSE was present among vessel crews, but their total mortality rate was 24% higher than that among land-based personnel, who also showed a longer-lasting HSE.

Conclusions

The HSE eroded gradually over time but was still present at 60 years of follow-up for all-cause mortality. The effect was strongest and most long-lived for non-neoplastic disease, lasted up to 40 years for external causes, and was relatively short for cancers. Land-based personnel showed stronger and longer-lasting HSE than vessel crews.
Analysis of spatial variability of soil water retention using the cumulative distribution function matching
Authors: Gummatov Nizami , Pachepsky Yakov A.
Published: July 2020

The importance of modeling dependencies of spatial variability of soil water content on soil matric potential grows due to the proliferation of ensemble modeling, data assimilations, and other soil water modeling applications. The objective of this work was to investigate conversions between cumulative distribution functions of water contents at different matric potentials. In total, 80 samples were taken in the nodes of the grid to measure soil water retention using sand and sand–kaolin capillarimeters at absolute values of soil matric potential of 0.001, 0.003, 0.010, 0.020, and 0.050 MPa, and with the water vapor desorption method at 3, 21, 39, 82, and 142 MPa. The probabilities of distributions of both non-transformed and log-transformed soil water contents being normal appeared to be larger than 0.05 in most cases. Using the probit function to represent the observed variability allowed us to match cumulative probability distributions at different soil water potentials. Slopes of dependencies of probits on non-transformed and log-transformed water contents had one-parametric linear dependencies on the logarithms of the absolute value of soil matric potential in capillary and adsorptive potential ranges.
Analytical solutions and expressions of the propagator for Bloch equations
Authors: Noh Heung-Ryoul
Published: July 2020

In this paper, we present analytical solutions to the Bloch equations. After solving the secular equation for the eigenvalues, derived from the Bloch equations, analytical solutions for the temporal evolution of the magnetization vector are obtained at arbitrary initial conditions. Subsequently, explicit analytical expressions of the propagator for the Bloch equations and optical Bloch equations are obtained. Compared to the results of existing analytical studies, the present results are more succinct and rigorous, and they can predict the behavior of the propagator in different regions of parameter spaces. The analytical solutions to the propagator can be directly used in composite laser-pulse spectroscopy.
Eigentime identity of the weighted (m,n)-flower networks
Authors: Dai Changxi , Dai Meifeng , Ju Tingting , Song Xiangmei , Sun Yu , Su Weiyi
Published: July 2020

The eigentime identity for random walks on the weighted networks is the expected time for a walker going from a node to another node. Eigentime identity can be studied by the sum of reciprocals of all nonzero Laplacian eigenvalues on the weighted networks. In this paper, we study the weighted [Formula: see text]-flower networks with the weight factor [Formula: see text]. We divide the set of the nonzero Laplacian eigenvalues into three subsets according to the obtained characteristic polynomial. Then we obtain the analytic expression of the eigentime identity [Formula: see text] of the weighted [Formula: see text]-flower networks by using the characteristic polynomial of Laplacian and recurrent structure of Markov spectrum. We take [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] as example, and show that the leading term of the eigentime identity on the weighted [Formula: see text]-flower networks obey superlinearly, linearly with the network size.
A comprehensive review on hybrid renewable energy systems
Authors: Sood Karan , Muthusamy Eswaramoorthy
Published: July 2020

Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRESs) are noteworthy devices for enhancement of reliability and performance compared to standalone systems, which are in a combination of more than one energy conversion system in a single unit. The recent developments in materials and technologies of HRESs are cost-effective and are more suitable power options for isolated rural areas. Many researchers have reported to have enhanced the performance of HRESs across India. Hence, this paper presents a comprehensive review of various HRESs that have been reported for their performance evaluation with respect to economic distance limit, techno-economic sensitivity, and optimum analysis. Also, different hybrid combinations are compared based on the factor of Net Present Cost (NPC), Cost of Energy (COE), renewable fraction, maximum renewable penetration, operational cost, and/or emission. Some case studies on various combinations of HRES for telecommunication application, rural electrification and water distillation are discussed and compared. It is concluded from the comprehensive review that there is scope for further studies on hybrid system across the country with adoption of different and newer combinations, materials and thermodynamic approaches. This paper will be helpful to researchers and scientists in understanding the state-of-the-art technologies in the hybrid system.
Ideal diamagnetic response at room temperature by graphene-n-heptane-permalloy system
Authors: Kawashima Yasushi , Dulal Rajendra , Teknowijoyo Serafim , Chahid Sara , Gulian Armen
Published: July 2020

Perfect screening of sub-milligauss magnetic fields (ideal diamagnetism) by a system comprised of a graphene and thin permalloy foil parallel to the graphene layer immersed in [Formula: see text]-heptane is observed at room temperature. The presence of all three components is necessary for the effect to occur. Ideal diamagnetic response appears at the moment of [Formula: see text]-heptane injection and disappears when the liquid evaporates. Until then, no change of diamagnetic moment occurs at further variation of the field. The observed ideal diamagnetic feature is either a footprint of a novel type of superconductivity at room temperature or a yet unknown quantum phenomenon in condensed matter physics.
Bifurcations and Dynamics of Traveling Wave Solutions for the Regularized Saint-Venant Equation
Authors: Li Jibin , Chen Guanrong , Song Jie
Published: July 2020

This paper studies the bifurcations of phase portraits for the regularized Saint-Venant equation (a two-component system), which appears in shallow water theory, by using the theory of dynamical systems and singular traveling wave techniques developed in [Li & Chen, 2007] under different parameter conditions in the two-parameter space. Some explicit exact parametric representations of the solitary wave solutions, smooth periodic wave solutions, periodic peakons, as well as peakon solutions, are obtained. More interestingly, it is found that the so-called [Formula: see text]-traveling wave system has a family of pseudo-peakon wave solutions, and their limiting solution is a peakon solution. In addition, it is found that the [Formula: see text]-traveling wave system has two families of uncountably infinitely many solitary wave solutions and compacton solutions.
Wells sequences for abelian extensions of Lie coalgebras
Authors: Du Lei , Tan Youjun
Published: July 2020

For a Lie comodule [Formula: see text] of a Lie coalgebra [Formula: see text] and the Lie algebra [Formula: see text] (respectively, the group [Formula: see text]) of diagonal coderivations (respectively, Lie coalgebra automorphisms) of the semidirect sum [Formula: see text], we show that there is a representation of [Formula: see text] (respectively, [Formula: see text]) on the second cohomology group [Formula: see text], from which we construct obstruction classes of extensibility of pairs of coderivations (respectively Lie coalgebra automorphisms) and exact sequences of Wells type for abelian extensions of Lie coalgebras.
Lower bounds on approximating some variations of vertex coloring problem over restricted graph classes
Authors: Das Sayani , Mishra Sounaka
Published: July 2020

A [Formula: see text] vertex coloring of a graph [Formula: see text] partitions the vertex set into [Formula: see text] color classes (or independent sets). In minimum vertex coloring problem, the aim is to minimize the number of colors used in a given graph. Here, we consider three variations of vertex coloring problem in which (i) each vertex in [Formula: see text] dominates a color class, (ii) each color class is dominated by a vertex and (iii) each vertex is dominating a color class and each color class is dominated by a vertex. These minimization problems are known as Min-Dominator-Coloring, Min-CD-Coloring and Min-Domination-Coloring, respectively. In this paper, we present approximation hardness results for these problems for some restricted class of graphs.