bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combined influence of nano‐CaCO3 and polyvinyl alcohol fibers on fresh and mechanical performance of concrete incorporating fly ash
Authors: Zhang Peng , Zheng Yuanxun , Wang Kejin , Zhang Kaixuan
Published: October 2019

In this investigation, the combined influence of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers and nano‐CaCO3 particles on fresh and mechanical performance of concrete containing fly ash was assessed. In the concrete, Portland cement was replaced with 1, 2, 3, and 4% (by weight) of nano‐CaCO3. PVA fibers were added to the concrete at a dosage of 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.2% (by volume). The flowability of the fresh concrete was assessed using slump and slump flow measurements. The mechanical properties of the concrete evaluated included compressive and flexural strength as well as elastic modulus under both compression and flexure conditions. Our results showed that the workability of the concrete decreased with increases in nano‐CaCO3 and PVA fiber content. When the dosage of nano‐CaCO3 was no more than 3%, the flexural and compressive elastic modulus, flexural, and compressive strength of the concrete increased with nano‐CaCO3 content. However, these mechanical property values decreased when the dosage of nano‐CaCO3 increased from 3 to 4%. When the fiber content was less than 0.15%, the compressive and flexural strength and elastic modulus of the concrete increased with fiber content. However, these values began to decrease as the PVA fiber dosage increased from 0.15 to 0.2%.
ESCRT-III-associated proteins and spastin inhibit protrudin-dependent polarised membrane traffic
Authors: Connell James W. , Allison Rachel J. , Rodger Catherine E. , Pearson Guy , Zlamalova Eliska , Reid Evan
Published: October 2019

Mutations in the gene encoding the microtubule severing ATPase spastin are the most frequent cause of hereditary spastic paraplegia, a genetic condition characterised by length-dependent axonal degeneration. Here, we show that HeLa cells lacking spastin and embryonic fibroblasts from a spastin knock-in mouse model become highly polarised and develop cellular protrusions. In HeLa cells, this phenotype was rescued by wild-type spastin, but not by forms unable to sever microtubules or interact with endosomal ESCRT-III proteins. Cells lacking the spastin-interacting ESCRT-III-associated proteins IST1 or CHMP1B also developed protrusions. The protrusion phenotype required protrudin, a RAB-interacting protein that interacts with spastin and localises to ER–endosome contact sites, where it promotes KIF5-dependent endosomal motility to protrusions. Consistent with this, the protrusion phenotype in cells lacking spastin also required KIF5. Lack or mutation of spastin resulted in functional consequences for receptor traffic of a pathway implicated in HSP, as Bone Morphogenetic Protein receptor distribution became polarised. Our results, therefore, identify a novel role for ESCRT-III proteins and spastin in regulating polarised membrane traffic.
Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Access and Utilization of Adrenal Metastasectomy
Authors: Pearlstein Sarah S. , Salerno Marco , Chabot John A. , Lee James A. , Kuo Jennifer H.
Published: October 2019

Background

There is substantial evidence that resecting adrenal metastases can be safely accomplished and extend overall survival in select patients. However, patient access to this operation has not been studied at the population level. The purpose of this study was to determine differences in utilization rates of adrenal metastasectomy (ADMX) across patient populations.

Methods

The Healthcare Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample was used to identify patients who had adrenal metastases (ADM) and who underwent ADMX from 2007 to 2011. Patients were identified by ICD‐9‐CM diagnosis and procedure codes. Predictor variables included sex, race, median household income, and primary insurance payer. Primary outcomes included receiving an ADMX and same hospitalization mortality. Secondary outcomes included length of stay, infection, cardiac, pulmonary, and renal complications. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify statistical associations.

Results

32,331 ADM and 1070 ADMX patients identified in the database. Despite similar comorbidities, Black patients had 0.30 (95% CI 0.21–0.41) lower odds to receive an ADMX compared to White patients. Medicaid patients had 0.38 (0.28–0.52) less odds and Private Insurance patients 1.18 (1.00–1.39) more odds to receive an ADMX compared to Medicare patients. Women had a 1.39 (1.22–1.58) higher odds ratio of undergoing ADMX compared to men. Of the ADMX cohort, there was no difference in same hospitalization mortality or surgical complications.

Conclusions

Black and Medicaid patients underwent fewer adrenal metastasectomies despite similar comorbidities and postoperative outcomes. This suggests a potential disparity in access to this treatment that disproportionately affects Black and low‐income patients, and prompts further study, outreach attempts, as well as, research into improving access.
Structural changes and variability of the ITCZ induced by radiation–cloud–convection–circulation interactions: inferences from the Goddard Multi-scale Modeling Framework (GMMF) experiments
Authors: Lau William K. M. , Kim Kyu-Myong , Chern Jiun-Dar , Tao W. K. , Leung L. Ruby
Published: October 2019

In this paper, we have investigated the impact of radiation–cloud–convection–circulation interaction (RC3I) on structural changes and variability of the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) using the Goddard Multi-scale Modeling Framework, where cloud processes are super-parameterized, i.e., explicitly resolved with 2-D cloud resolving models embedded in each coarse grid of the host Goddard Earth Observing System-Version 5 global climate model. Experiments have been conducted under prescribed sea surface temperature conditions for 10 years (2007–2016), with and without cloud radiation feedback in the atmosphere, respectively. Diagnostic analyses separately for January and July show that RC3I leads to an enhanced and expanded Hadley Circulation characterized by (1) a quasi-uniform warming and moistening of the tropical atmosphere and a sharpening of the ITCZ with enhanced deep convection, more intense precipitation and higher clouds, (2) extended drying of the tropical marginal convective zones, and extratropical mid- to lower troposphere, and (3) a cooling of the polar regions, with increased baroclinicity and midlatitude storm track activities. Computations based on the zonal mean thermodynamic energy balance equation show that the radiative warming and cooling are strongly balanced by local adiabatic processes associated with changes in large-scale vertical motions, as well as horizontal atmospheric heat transport. In the tropics, enhanced short-wave absorption and longwave water vapor greenhouse effects by high clouds play key roles in providing strong positive feedback to the tropospheric warming. In the extratropics, increased atmospheric heat transport associated with changes in the Hadley circulation is balanced by strong longwave cooling above, and warming below due to increased high clouds. We also find a strong positive correlation between daily and pentad heavy rain in the ITCZ core, and expansion of the drier zones coupled to a contraction of the highly convective zones in the ITCZ, indicating a strong tendency RC3I-induced convective aggregation in tropical clouds i.e., wet-regions-get-wetter and contracted, and dry-areas-get-drier and expanded.
The degree of inhomogeneity of the absorbed cell nucleus doses in the bronchial region of the human respiratory tract
Authors: Füri Péter , Farkas Árpád , Madas Balázs G. , Hofmann Werner , Winkler-Heil Renate , Kudela Gábor , Balásházy Imre
Published: October 2019

Inhalation of short-lived radon progeny is an important cause of lung cancer. To characterize the absorbed doses in the bronchial region of the airways due to inhaled radon progeny, mostly regional lung deposition models, like the Human Respiratory Tract Model (HRTM) of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, are used. However, in this model the site specificity of radiation burden in the airways due to deposition and fast airway clearance of radon progeny is not described. Therefore, in the present study, the Radact version of the stochastic lung model was used to quantify the cellular radiation dose distribution at airway generation level and to simulate the kinetics of the deposited radon progeny resulting from the moving mucus layer. All simulations were performed assuming an isotope ratio typical for an average dwelling, and breathing mode characteristic of a healthy adult sitting man. The study demonstrates that the cell nuclei receiving high doses are non-uniformly distributed within the bronchial airway generations. The results revealed that the maximum of the radiation burden is at the first few bronchial airway generations of the respiratory tract, where most of the lung carcinomas of former uranium miners were found. Based on the results of the present simulations, it can be stated that regional lung models may not be fully adequate to describe the radiation burden due to radon progeny. A more realistic and precise calculation of the absorbed doses from the decay of radon progeny to the lung requires deposition and clearance to be simulated by realistic models of airway generations.
Clinical features distinguish cerebral amyloid angiopathy-associated convexity subarachnoid haemorrhage from suspected TIA
Authors: Stanton Joel Elliot Dane , Chandratheva Arvind , Wilson Duncan , Hostettler Isabel Charlotte , Islam Saiful , Werring David John
Published: October 2019

Objective

To identity clinical features that distinguish between cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA)-associated convexity subarachnoid haemorrhage (cSAH) and suspected TIA.

Methods

We undertook a single-centre, retrospective case–control study. We identified cases [patients with cSAH presenting with transient focal neurological episodes (TFNE)] from radiological and clinical databases of patients assessed at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and UCLH Comprehensive Stroke Service. We identified age- and gender-matched controls at a 1:4 ratio from a database of consecutive suspected TIA clinic attendances at UCLH. We compared presenting symptoms and vascular risk factors between cases and controls.

Results

We included 19 patients with cSAH-associated TFNE and 76 matched controls with suspected TIA. Migratory (spreading) symptoms (32% vs. 3%, OR 17.3; p = 0.001), sensory disturbance (47% vs. 14%, OR 5.3; p = 0.003,) and recurrent stereotyped events (47% vs. 19%, OR 3.7; p = 0.02,) occurred more frequently in patients with cSAH compared to controls. Hypercholesterolaemia was less common in patients with cSAH (16% vs 53%, OR 0.17; p = 0.008).

Conclusion

Simple clinical features could help distinguish cSAH-associated TFNE from suspected TIA, with relevance for investigation and management, including the use of antithrombotic drugs.
Elevating local knowledge through participatory modeling: active community engagement in restoration planning in coastal Louisiana
Authors: Hemmerling Scott A. , Barra Monica , Bienn Harris C. , Baustian Melissa M. , Jung Hoonshin , Meselhe Ehab , Wang Yushi , White Eric
Published: October 2019

Numerical modeling efforts in support of restoration and protection activities in coastal Louisiana have traditionally been conducted externally to any stakeholder engagement processes. This separation has resulted in planning- and project-level models built solely on technical observation and analysis of natural processes. Despite its scientific rigor, this process often fails to account for the knowledge, values, and experiences of local stakeholders that often contextualizes a modeled system. To bridge this gap, a team of natural and social scientists worked directly with local residents and resource users to develop a participatory modeling approach to collect and utilize local knowledge about the Breton Sound Estuary in southeast Louisiana, USA. Knowledge capture was facilitated through application of a local knowledge mapping methodology designed to catalog local understanding of current and historical conditions within the estuary and identify desired ecological and hydrologic end states. The results of the mapping endeavor informed modeling activities designed to assess the applicability of the identified restoration solutions. This effort was aimed at increasing stakeholder buy-in surrounding the utility of numerical models for planning and designing coastal protection and restoration projects and included an ancillary outcome aimed at elevating stakeholder empowerment regarding the design of nature-based restoration solutions and modeling scenarios. This intersection of traditional science and modeling activities with the collection and analysis of traditional ecological knowledge proved useful in elevating the confidence that community members had in modeled restoration outcomes.
“Plis de passage” Deserve a Role in Models of the Cortical Folding Process
Authors: Mangin Jean-François , Le Guen Yann , Labra Nicole , Grigis Antoine , Frouin Vincent , Guevara Miguel , Fischer Clara , Rivière Denis , Hopkins William D. , Régis Jean , Sun Zhong Yi
Published: October 2019

Cortical folding is a hallmark of brain topography whose variability across individuals remains a puzzle. In this paper, we call for an effort to improve our understanding of the pli de passage phenomenon, namely annectant gyri buried in the depth of the main sulci. We suggest that plis de passage could become an interesting benchmark for models of the cortical folding process. As an illustration, we speculate on the link between modern biological models of cortical folding and the development of the Pli de Passage Frontal Moyen (PPFM) in the middle of the central sulcus. For this purpose, we have detected nine interrupted central sulci in the Human Connectome Project dataset, which are used to explore the organization of the hand sensorimotor areas in this rare configuration of the PPFM.
Big in Japan: Regularizing Networks for Solving Inverse Problems
Authors: Schwab Johannes , Antholzer Stephan , Haltmeier Markus
Published: October 2019

Deep learning and (deep) neural networks are emerging tools to address inverse problems and image reconstruction tasks. Despite outstanding performance, the mathematical analysis for solving inverse problems by neural networks is mostly missing. In this paper, we introduce and rigorously analyze families of deep regularizing neural networks (RegNets) of the form $$\mathbf {B}_\alpha + \mathbf {N}_{\theta (\alpha )} \mathbf {B}_\alpha $$Bα+Nθ(α)Bα, where $$\mathbf {B}_\alpha $$Bα is a classical regularization and the network $$\mathbf {N}_{\theta (\alpha )} \mathbf {B}_\alpha $$Nθ(α)Bα is trained to recover the missing part $${\text {Id}}_X - \mathbf {B}_\alpha $$IdX-Bα not found by the classical regularization. We show that these regularizing networks yield a convergent regularization method for solving inverse problems. Additionally, we derive convergence rates (quantitative error estimates) assuming a sufficient decay of the associated distance function. We demonstrate that our results recover existing convergence and convergence rates results for filter-based regularization methods as well as the recently introduced null space network as special cases. Numerical results are presented for a tomographic sparse data problem, which clearly demonstrate that the proposed RegNets improve classical regularization as well as the null space network.
Twofold quantization in digital control: deadzone crisis and switching line collision
Authors: Gyebrószki Gergely , Csernák Gábor
Published: October 2019

Quantization, sampling and delay may cause undesired oscillations in digitally controlled systems. These vibrations are often neglected or replaced by random noise (Widrow and Kollár in Quantization noise: roundoff error in digital computation, signal processing, control, and communications, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2008); however, we have shown that digital effects may lead to small amplitude deterministic chaotic solutions—the so-called micro-chaos (Csernák and Stépán in Int J Bifurc Chaos 5(20):1365–1378, 2010). Although the amplitude of the micro-chaotic oscillations is small, multiple chaotic attractors can appear in the state space of the digitally controlled system—situated far away from the desired state—causing significant control error (Csernák and Stépán in Proceedings of the 19th mediterranean conference on control and automation, 2011). In this paper, we are interested in the analysis of a digitally controlled inverted pendulum with both input and output quantizers along with sampling. We show that this twofold quantization creates patterns in the state space corresponding to different control effort (force or torque) values for a simple PD control. We also highlight how these patterns lead to chaotic attractors or periodic cycles with superimposed chaotic oscillations.
An LCMS-based untargeted metabolomics protocol for cochlear perilymph: highlighting metabolic effects of hydrogen gas on the inner ear of noise exposed Guinea pigs
Authors: Pirttilä Kristian , Videhult Pierre Pernilla , Haglöf Jakob , Engskog Mikael , Hedeland Mikael , Laurell Göran , Arvidsson Torbjörn , Pettersson Curt
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is an increasing problem in society and accounts for a third of all cases of acquired hearing loss. NIHL is caused by formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cochlea causing oxidative stress. Hydrogen gas (H2) can alleviate the damage caused by oxidative stress and can be easily administered through inhalation.

Objectives

To present a protocol for untargeted metabolomics of guinea pig perilymph and investigate the effect of H2 administration on the perilymph metabolome of noise exposed guinea pigs.

Methods

The left ear of guinea pigs were exposed to hazardous impulse noise only (Noise, n = 10), noise and H2 (Noise + H2, n = 10), only H2 (H2, n = 4), or untreated (Control, n = 2). Scala tympani perilymph was sampled from the cochlea of both ears. The polar component of the perilymph metabolome was analyzed using a HILIC-UHPLC-Q-TOF–MS-based untargeted metabolomics protocol. Multivariate data analysis (MVDA) was performed separately for the exposed- and unexposed ear.

Results

MVDA allowed separation of groups Noise and Noise + H2 in both the exposed and unexposed ear and yielded 15 metabolites with differentiating relative abundances. Seven were found in both exposed and unexposed ear data and included two osmoprotectants. Eight metabolites were unique to the unexposed ear and included a number of short-chain acylcarnitines.

Conclusions

A HILIC-UHPLC-Q-TOF–MS-based protocol for untargeted metabolomics of perilymph is presented and shown to be fit-for-purpose. We found a clear difference in the perilymph metabolome of noise exposed guinea pigs with and without H2 treatment.
Effect of dilute acid treatment on adhesion properties of Longmaxi black shale
Authors: Zhang Pan-Pan , Tian Shou-Ceng , Sheng Mao , Wang Tian-Yu , Khan Waleed Ali , Xu Quan , Xiao Li-Zhi
Published: October 2019

Properties of shale in an acid environment are important when acid or CO2 is injected into geologic formations as a working fluid for enhanced oil and gas recovery, hydraulic fracturing and reduced fracture initiation pressure. It has previously been shown that acid fluids can enhance the formation conductivity and decrease the hardness of shale. However, less is known about the effect of dilute acid on the adhesion properties of shale. In the study, shale samples are characterized in detail with advanced analysis. Adhesion properties of shale via dilute acid treatment were revealed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) for the first time. Results indicate that acid treatment can greatly enhance adhesion forces of the shale surface. After acid treatment, the average adhesion forces show a platform-like growth with an increase in loading force. Through analysis of results from AFM, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction, we affirm that the enhanced adhesion forces are mainly from increased specific surface area and reduced elastic modulus. The results presented in this work help understand the adhesion properties of shale oil/gas present in an acidic environment, which have great significance in unconventional resources development.
A simple NMR methodology for evaluating filter cake properties and drilling fluid-induced formation damage
Authors: Adebayo Abdulrauf R. , Bageri Badr S.
Published: October 2019

An efficient drilling fluid will form a filter cake that will minimize the drilling fluid invasion into any drilled formation. Drilling fluid must therefore be adequately evaluated in the laboratory prior to field trial. Filter cake properties such as thickness, porosity, permeability, and pore structure are frequently evaluated using several techniques such as CT scan, SEM, and XRF. However, each of these techniques can evaluate only one or two filter cake properties. This paper presents a simple but novel NMR technique to evaluate filter cake properties such as thickness, pore volume, porosity, and possibly permeability. Furthermore, the amount and particle size distribution of solids that invaded a given rock sample can be obtained using the same technique. The full procedure was tested and verified using four identical rock samples. Drilling fluid invasion and filter cake deposition experiments were conducted on each of the samples, using the same drilling fluid but four different concentrations of fluid loss additive. NMR T2 relaxation measurements were taken at three different stages of each rock sample: before filter cake deposition; after fluid invasion and filter cake deposition; and after filter cake removal. A material balance analysis of the probability density function and cumulative distribution function of the measured T2 profile at the different stages of each sample yielded multiple filtration loss properties of the filter cake. The results obtained showed high accuracy of the NMR versus the current techniques. Moreover, this current method evaluated the majority of the filter cake properties at the same time and in situ hence eliminated the need of using multi-procedures that disturb the sample state. Finally, the presented method can also be used to evaluate secondary damage associated with filter cake removal process.
Anionic polyacrylamide as a substance strengthening the Pb(II) immobilization on the kaolinite surface
Authors: Fijałkowska G. , Szewczuk-Karpisz K. , Wiśniewska M.
Published: October 2019

The main purpose of the study was to examine lead(II) ion immobilization on the kaolinite surface and determine the effect of soil flocculant (macromolecular compound) on this process. For this reason, the adsorption measurements of anionic polyacrylamide and/or Pb(II) ions on the kaolinite surface were performed. Moreover, the impact of heavy metal on electrokinetic and stability properties of kaolinite/polyacrylamide/supporting electrolyte system was determined. It was done based on the results of potentiometric titration, electrophoretic mobility, and absorbance measurements. The most important conclusions of the study were as follows: (1) kaolinite is an effective Pb(II) adsorbent when ion concentration in the environment equals 1 or 10 ppm (it adsorbs 80% and 72% of the ions, respectively), (2) when Pb(II) concentration in the environment is 100 ppm, kaolinite adsorbs only 29% of the ions, and (3) anionic polyacrylamide may strengthen the Pb(II) adsorption on the kaolinite surface (in the presence of 100 ppm AN PAM 30% and 1 ppm Pb(II), even 96% of the ions are adsorbed). Due to the above process, the bioavailability of heavy metal for organisms is considerably limited.

Graphic Abstract
Impact of meteorological variables on water quality parameters of a reservoir and ecological filtration system
Authors: Pompei C. M. E. , Alves E. D. L. , Vieira E. M. , Campos L. C.
Published: October 2019

Recently, special attention has been given to low-cost technologies for water treatment, with the aim of serving remote communities and thus enabling everyone to have access to drinking water and basic sanitation. In that context, the ecological filter is an alternative for treating water for human consumption. Some studies show that climate change and meteorological parameters can influence the water quality of water bodies and the water supply system. However, most of the papers deal with model projections and therefore do not show real situations. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of meteorological variables (e.g. atmospheric pressure, evaporation, wind speed, radiation, precipitation) on the physico-chemical and biological parameters (e.g. turbidity, apparent colour, pH, total coliforms, Escherichia coli) of Lobo reservoir water treated by 22 ecological filters during a period of 4 months. Statistically significant correlations were found between the water from the Lobo reservoir and the weather variables, and between the water quality parameters of the 22 ecological filters and the average weather variables. The results from the statistical analysis indicate that climatic variations may influence treatment performance.
Application of Chebyshev tau method for bending analysis of elastically restrained edge functionally graded nano/micro-scaled sandwich beams, under non-uniform normal and shear loads
Authors: Matinfar M. , Mahdavi Shirazi M. , Alipour M. M.
Published: October 2019

In this study, for the first time, an approximate solution procedure based on the Chebyshev tau method (CTM) is developed for bending analysis of functionally graded nano/micro-scaled sandwich beams. The proposed approach has the advantage of decreasing the problem to the solution of a system of algebraic equations, which may then be solved by any numerical method. In the CTM, the solution is approximated via a truncated Chebyshev series expansion and the Chebyshev polynomials are used as the test function. Based on the proposed technique, sandwich beams with elastically restrained edges under arbitrary non-uniform distributed normal and shear loads can be analyzed. The effectiveness of the CTM is illustrated by comparison of the obtained results for various end supports with those extracted from the ABAQUS software. In each considered cases, the numerical results indicate that the proposed scheme is of high accuracy and is efficient for solving the ordinary differential equations and systems of them.
Uniting the wave and the particle in quantum mechanics
Authors: Holland Peter
Published: October 2019

We present a unified field theory of wave and particle in quantum mechanics. This emerges from an investigation of three weaknesses in the de Broglie–Bohm theory: its reliance on the quantum probability formula to justify the particle-guidance equation; its insouciance regarding the absence of reciprocal action of the particle on the guiding wavefunction; and its lack of a unified model to represent its inseparable components. Following the author’s previous work, these problems are examined within an analytical framework by requiring that the wave–particle composite exhibits no observable differences with a quantum system. This scheme is implemented by appealing to symmetries (global gauge and spacetime translations) and imposing equality of the corresponding conserved Noether densities (matter, energy, and momentum) with their Schrödinger counterparts. In conjunction with the condition of time-reversal covariance, this implies the de Broglie–Bohm law for the particle where the quantum potential mediates the wave–particle interaction (we also show how the time-reversal assumption may be replaced by a statistical condition). The method clarifies the nature of the composite’s mass, and its energy and momentum conservation laws. Our principal result is the unification of the Schrödinger equation and the de Broglie–Bohm law in a single inhomogeneous equation whose solution amalgamates the wavefunction and a singular soliton model of the particle in a unified spacetime field. The wavefunction suffers no reaction from the particle since it is the homogeneous part of the unified field to whose source the particle contributes via the quantum potential. The theory is extended to many-body systems. We review de Broglie’s objections to the pilot-wave theory and suggest that our field-theoretic description provides a realization of his hitherto unfulfilled ‘double solution’ programme. A revised set of postulates for the de Broglie–Bohm theory is proposed in which the unified field is taken as the basic descriptive element of a physical system.
Abrasive wear behavior of PTFE for seal applications under abrasive-atmosphere sliding condition
Authors: Shen Mingxue , Li Bo , Zhang Zhinan , Zhao Longzhi , Xiong Guangyao
Published: October 2019

Abrasive wear is a common failure phenomenon that often limits the service life of sealing elements. Evaluation and comparison of the abrasion resistance of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) were conducted using Al2O3 particles with sizes in the range 5 to 200 µm on a pin-on-flat tribo-tester under dry reciprocating sliding conditions at room temperature. Based on the examined worn surface characteristics of both PTFE and 316L stainless steel (as a counterpart) and the analyzed coefficient of friction (COF) evolutions, the wear mechanism and particle size effect have been explored in detail. The results demonstrate that the abrasive size is the main contributing factor, which can drastically impact the wear mechanism and tribological properties of tribo-pairs. The COF exhibits different evolution characteristics (trends) for different abrasive sizes. For moderate particle sizes, the COF trends become more complicated and the most evident wear of the metallic counterpart is evident. The activity behaviors of abrasives are dominated by the particle size. Particles can becomes embedded in one of the tribo-pair materials to plough-cut the counterpart, thus causing two-body abrasive wear. The abrasives can also behave as free rolling bodies, which play the role of third body to realize three-body “PTFE-abrasive-316L” abrasion. When abrasives are involved in the wear process, both the wear rate and COF of the metallic counterpart increase, but the material removal rate of the PTFE is reduced. The results obtained can offer guidelines regarding the design and protection of seals.
Anemia and clinical outcomes in patients with non-dialysis dependent or dialysis dependent severe chronic kidney disease: a Danish population-based study
Authors: Toft Gunnar , Heide-Jørgensen Uffe , van Haalen Heleen , James Glen , Hedman Katarina , Birn Henrik , Christiansen Christian F. , Thomsen Reimar W.
Published: October 2019

Background

Routine clinical evidence is limited on clinical outcomes associated with anemia in patients with severe chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods

We linked population-based medical databases to identify individuals with severe CKD (eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2) in Northern Denmark from 2000 to 2016, including prevalent patients as of 1 January 2009 or incident patients hereafter into the study. We classified patients as non-anemic (≥ 12/≥ 13 g/dl hemoglobin (Hgb) in women/men), anemia grade 1 (10–12/13 g/dl Hgb in women/men), 2 (8–10 g/dl Hgb), and 3+ (< 8 g/dl Hgb), allowing persons to contribute with patient profiles and risk time in consecutively more severe anemia grade cohorts. Patients were stratified by dialysis status and followed for clinical outcomes.

Results

We identified 16,972 CKD patients contributing with a total of 28,510 anemia patient profiles, of which 3594 had dialysis dependent (DD) and 24,916 had non-dialysis dependent (NDD) severe CKD. Overall, 14% had no anemia, 35% grade 1 anemia, 44% grade 2 anemia and 17% grade 3+ anemia. Compared to patients with no anemia, adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for NDD patients with grade 3+ anemia were elevated for incident dialysis (1.91, 95% CI 1.61–2.26), any acute hospitalization (1.74, 95% CI 1.57–1.93), all-cause death (1.82, 95% CI 1.70–1.94), and MACE (1.14, 95% CI 1.02–1.26). Similar HRs were observed among DD patients.

Conclusions

Among NDD or DD patients with severe CKD, presence and severity of anemia were associated with increased risks of incident dialysis for NDD patients and with acute hospitalizations, death and MACE for all patients.
A fast DFT method for generally k sparse signals recovery
Authors: Tariq Irfan , Qiao Meng
Published: October 2019

In this paper, a new method to fast compute DFT of generally sparse signals is presented. Firstly, the original signal is downsampled with different time shifts, and the discrete Fourier Transforms (DFTs) of downsampled signals are calculated by FFT. Then the DFTs are used to determine and measure the K non-zero (significant) freq. grids by combining the moment preserving problem with the BigBand method. The proposed method is hardware-friendly, and simulation results show that the proposed method has better recovery performance compared with other methods.
Connecting the museum to the city environment from the visitor’s perspective
Authors: Koukoulis Konstantinos , Koukopoulos Dimitrios , Tzortzi Kali
Published: October 2019

Recommendation systems are widely used in tourism in order to provide people personalized suggestions that would make their trip memorable. Nowadays, mobile assisted guided tours based on recommendation services are used in museums to enhance visitors ’ experience. However, all those systems have been designed to target indoor or outdoor museum visits. Is it feasible to design a system that supports mobile services that connect a museum visit to artworks situated outdoor in the city environment? Is it possible to connect the artworks of a city center to the exhibits of a museum? In this work, we attempt to give a first answer to such questions proposing and implementing a set of services that connects the museum to the city public space. In order to show the strength of the implemented services, we present a basic usage scenario along with a first system evaluation showing positive results.
Escitalopram for agitation in Alzheimer's disease (S‐CitAD): Methods and design of an investigator‐initiated, randomized, controlled, multicenter clinical trial
Authors: Ehrhardt Stephan , Porsteinsson Anton P. , Munro Cynthia A. , Rosenberg Paul B. , Pollock Bruce G. , Devanand Davangere P. , Mintzer Jacobo , Rajji Tarek K. , Ismail Zahinoor , Schneider Lon S. , Baksh Sheriza N. , Drye Lea T. , Avramopoulos Dimitri , Shade David M. , Lyketsos Constantine G. ,   S‐CitAD Research Group
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a disabling, common cause of dementia, and agitation is one of the most common and distressing symptoms for patients with AD. Escitalopram for agitation in Alzheimer's disease (S‐CitAD) tests a novel, clinically derived therapeutic approach to treat agitation in patients with AD.

Methods

S‐CitAD is a NIH‐funded, investigator‐initiated, randomized, multicenter clinical trial. Participants receive a structured psychosocial intervention (PSI) as standard of care. Participants without sufficient response to PSI are randomized to receive 15 mg escitalopram/day or a matching placebo in addition to PSI. Primary outcome is the Modified Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study ‐ Clinical Global Impression of Change (mADCS‐CGIC).

Discussion

S‐CitAD will provide information about a practical, immediately available approach to treating agitation in patients with AD. S‐CitAD may become a model of how to evaluate and predict treatment response in patients with AD and agitation as a neuropsychiatric symptom (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03108846).
Developmental Landmarks and the Warnock Report: A Sociological Account of Biological Translation
Authors: Franklin Sarah
Published: October 2019

At a crucial meeting during their proceedings, on 9 November 1983, the sixteen members of Britain's influential Warnock Inquiry into Human Fertilisation and Embryology reached a key decision on how to base proposals for comprehensive legislation governing this largely uncharted territory. Famously, they chose the formation of the “primitive streak” in the early embryo as the basis for the fourteen-day rule that has now served as the global benchmark for experimental research in this area for nearly thirty years. Based on newly available archival material and interviews, this article offers a sociological account of the ways in which a specific translation of biological facts became the basis for an enduring social contract governing controversial bioinnovation in the UK. In particular, the combined roles of Committee Chair Mary Warnock and biologist Anne McLaren are examined in terms of how a decision, or “iterative settlement,” was reached as to “where to draw the line” using specific “developmental landmarks” to establish a basis for legal regulation. Drawing from this analysis, I offer a broader argument concerning the sociology of biological translation and biogovernance that is germane to ongoing debates such that over how to limit CRISPR-Cas 9 gene editing. I contend also that we have yet to fully grasp the historical and sociological lessons to be drawn from the early histories of establishing governance over new forms of technological assistance to human reproduction, and in particular the formation of the “Warnock Consensus.”
Negotiating Relationships in Transition: War, Famine, and Embodied Accountability in Mozambique
Authors: Igreja Victor
Published: October 2019

In conflict-ridden communities, justice specialists gather evidence through verbal accounts and material vestiges of violations committed by repressive regimes and during warfare, to eventually lay legal charges against alleged perpetrators. Anthropologists and sociologists engage with similar contexts but have included conventional bodily rituals, routinized practices, and commemoration practices as sources of knowledge of violent pasts and struggles for historical justice, although without the intention of determining legal accountability. This article shifts from the prevailing focus on repressive regimes and warfare to analyze the famine continuum and expands the procedures for gathering evidence of violations. It shows how, in one Mozambique community, a contingent combination of singular bodily actions, collective imagination and negotiations, and kinship norms evolved and became instrumental in two ways: contested fragments of evidence of violations perpetrated during the experiences of the 1980s famine were refined, and local struggles for accountability conveyed through bodily actions were sustained. The ensuing embodied accountability reshaped relationships by overcoming silence and denial, exposing ordinary perpetrators of violations, and cementing memories of guilt in the landscape. To capture the diversity of legacies of violations marred by fragile evidence, we must be attentive to the versatility of singular bodily actions. We need to consider the multiplicity of meanings, contexts, and perpetrators and how those in conflict zones struggle with embodied accountability.
Legislating the Labor Force: Sedentarization and Development in India and the United States, 1870–1915
Authors: Subramanian Divya
Published: October 2019

Scholars have treated British colonial rule in India and the internal colonization of the United States in the nineteenth century as analytically distinct moments. Yet these far-flung imperial projects shared a common set of anxieties regarding land and labor. This paper seeks to conceptualize the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 in India and the Indian Appropriation Acts of 1851–1871 in the United States as part of a congruent effort to manage and define the labor force in the context of the intensified expropriation of land. In the complement to agricultural improvement programs, British and American colonizers sought to rehabilitate itinerant populations to create a labor pool endowed with suitable qualities for unleashing the productive capacity of land. While in India the cumulative effect of criminal tribes legislation was inclusive in that members of criminal tribes were purportedly reformed in preparation for joining the colonial labor force, reservation policy in the United States excluded Native Americans from lands that were the preserve of white labor while simultaneously laying the groundwork for assimilation.
Interstellar Interloper Borisov Looks Like a Regular Comet, for Now
Authors: Redd Nola
Published: October 2019

A first look at the chemical composition of the interstellar comet Borisov reveals ingredients that look a lot like those found in solar system comets. That’s not likely to last very long.
Exploring genetic variation that influences brain methylation in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Pineda-Cirera Laura , Shivalikanjli Anu , Cabana-Domínguez Judit , Demontis Ditte , Rajagopal Veera M. , Børglum Anders D. , Faraone Stephen V. , Cormand Bru , Fernàndez-Castillo Noèlia
Published: October 2019

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by an interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Epigenetics is crucial to lasting changes in gene expression in the brain. Recent studies suggest a role for DNA methylation in ADHD. We explored the contribution to ADHD of allele-specific methylation (ASM), an epigenetic mechanism that involves SNPs correlating with differential levels of DNA methylation at CpG sites. We selected 3896 tagSNPs reported to influence methylation in human brain regions and performed a case-control association study using the summary statistics from the largest GWAS meta-analysis of ADHD, comprising 20,183 cases and 35,191 controls. We observed that genetic risk variants for ADHD are enriched in ASM SNPs and identified associations with eight tagSNPs that were significant at a 5% false discovery rate (FDR). These SNPs correlated with methylation of CpG sites lying in the promoter regions of six genes. Since methylation may affect gene expression, we inspected these ASM SNPs together with 52 ASM SNPs in high LD with them for eQTLs in brain tissues and observed that the expression of three of those genes was affected by them. ADHD risk alleles correlated with increased expression (and decreased methylation) of ARTN and PIDD1 and with a decreased expression (and increased methylation) of C2orf82. Furthermore, these three genes were predicted to have altered expression in ADHD, and genetic variants in C2orf82 correlated with brain volumes. In summary, we followed a systematic approach to identify risk variants for ADHD that correlated with differential cis-methylation, identifying three novel genes contributing to the disorder.
Correction: Keratinocyte differentiation promotes ER stress-dependent lysosome biogenesis
Authors: Mahanty Sarmistha , Dakappa Shruthi Shirur , Shariff Rezwan , Patel Saloni , Swamy Mruthyunjaya Mathapathi , Majumdar Amitabha , Setty Subba Rao Gangi
Published: October 2019

Following publication of this article, the authors realized there was an error in Figure 2b that needed correction. The TFEB panel of Figure 2b (total lysate) appears to be the same as the TFEB panel of Figure 2e (cytosolic fraction); the TFE3 panels of Figure 2b (total lysate) appear to be the same as the TFE3 panels of Figure 2e (cytosolic fraction) which happened during image assembly.

This error did not impact the scientific conclusions of the article.
The desmosomal cadherin desmoglein-3 acts as a keratinocyte anti-stress protein via suppression of p53
Authors: Rehman Ambreen , Cai Yang , Hünefeld Christian , Jedličková Hana , Huang Yunying , Teck Teh Muy , Sharif Ahmad Usama , Uttagomol Jutamas , Wang Ying , Kang Angray , Warnes Gary , Harwood Catherine , Bergamaschi Daniele , Kenneth Parkinson Eric , Röcken Martin , Wan Hong
Published: October 2019

Desmoglein-3 (Dsg3), the Pemphigus Vulgaris (PV) antigen (PVA), plays an essential role in keratinocyte cell–cell adhesion and regulates various signaling pathways involved in the progression and metastasis of cancer where it is upregulated. We show here that expression of Dsg3 impacts on the expression and function of p53, a key transcription factor governing the responses to cellular stress. Dsg3 depletion increased p53 expression and activity, an effect enhanced by treating cells with UVB, mechanical stress and genotoxic drugs, whilst increased Dsg3 expression resulted in the opposite effects. Such a pathway in the negative regulation of p53 by Dsg3 was Dsg3 specific since neither E-cadherin nor desmoplakin knockdown caused similar effects. Analysis of Dsg3−/− mouse skin also indicated an increase of p53/p21WAF1/CIP1 and cleaved caspase-3 relative to Dsg3+/− controls. Finally, we evaluated whether this pathway was operational in the autoimmune disease PV in which Dsg3 serves as a major antigen involved in blistering pathogenesis. We uncovered increased p53 with diffuse cytoplasmic and/or nuclear staining in the oral mucosa of patients, including cells surrounding blisters and the pre-lesional regions. This finding was verified by in vitro studies where treatment of keratinocytes with PV sera, as well as a characterized pathogenic antibody specifically targeting Dsg3, evoked pronounced p53 expression and activity accompanied by disruption of cell–cell adhesion. Collectively, our findings suggest a novel role for Dsg3 as an anti-stress protein, via suppression of p53 function, and this pathway is disrupted in PV.
Correction: Chaperonin 60 sustains osteoblast autophagy and counteracts glucocorticoid aggravation of osteoporosis by chaperoning RPTOR
Authors: Lian Wei-Shiung , Ko Jih-Yang , Chen Yu-Shan , Ke Huei-Ching , Wu Shin-Long , Kuo Chung-Wen , Wang Feng-Sheng
Published: October 2019

Following publication of this article, the authors realized that there were 1) errors made in the author affiliations and that 2) a typo in a grant number needed to be corrected. The corrected author affiliations and grant numbers are listed below. We apologize for the inconvenience.
A new era for giant cell arteritis
Authors: Lyons H. S. , Quick V. , Sinclair A. J. , Nagaraju S. , Mollan S. P.
Published: October 2019

The landscape of the investigation and management of giant cell arteritis (GCA) is advancing. In this review we will outline the recent advances by searching the current English literature for relevant articles using key words of giant cell arteritis, temporal arteritis, Horton’s disease, investigation, and treatment. Delay in diagnosis, diagnostic uncertainty and glucocorticoid (GC) morbidity are among the highest concerns of clinicians and patients in this disease area. The positive news is that fast track pathways, imaging techniques and new therapies are emerging for routine management of GCA. Future directions for intervention in the treatment paradigm will be discussed.
Unraveling the coordination structure-performance relationship in Pt1/Fe2O3 single-atom catalyst
Authors: Ren Yujing , Tang Yan , Zhang Leilei , Liu Xiaoyan , Li Lin , Miao Shu , Sheng Su Dang , Wang Aiqin , Li Jun , Zhang Tao
Published: October 2019

Heterogeneous single-atom catalyst (SAC) opens a unique entry to establishing structure–performance relationship at the molecular level similar to that in homogeneous catalysis. The challenge lies in manipulating the coordination chemistry of single atoms without changing single-atom dispersion. Here, we develop an efficient synthetic method for SACs by using ethanediamine to chelate Pt cations and then removing the ethanediamine by a rapid thermal treatment (RTT) in inert atmosphere. The coordination chemistry of Pt single atoms on a Fe2O3 support is finely tuned by merely adjusting the RTT temperature. With the decrease in Pt-O coordination number, the oxidation state of Pt decreases, and consequently the hydrogenation activity increases to a record level without loss of chemoselectivity. The tunability of the local coordination chemistry, oxidation states of the metal, and the catalytic performance of single atoms reveals the unique role of SACs as a bridge between heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis.