bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Silicone fire-resistant compositive material modification
Authors: Sadykov R , Rakhmatullina A , Voilochnikov V , Taramasova D
Published: November 2019

The effect of the thermally expanding flame retardant dosage as well as its combination with the modifier - the product of silicone rubber waste destruction - on the properties of cold-cured compositions based on low-molecular-weight silicone rubber was studied. It was shown that equal mass substitution of aluminum hydroxide for thermally expanding graphite in an amount of 5% by weight results in sealants with a swelling ratio of 5.8, which is sufficient for fire retardant systems used in nuclear and thermal power plants. It was established that the use of an optimal amount of destructive material (5% by weight) in combination with thermally expanding graphite leads to an increase of the conditional strength at break of silicone flame-resistant cold-curing compositions by 35%. The use of thermally expanding graphite and the silicone waste destruction product in the formulation of a silicone sealant reduces the cost of the composites obtained by 6% in terms of raw materials.
The fuel burning intensification in the swirl burner using air ionization on the power-generating heat-and-power plant
Authors: Maspanov S , Bogov I , Suhanov V , Shashikhin V , Denisov A , Smirnov Y , Lypar Y , Sidel’nikov B , Korotkov B , Akhmetov T
Published: November 2019

According to experts, the power-generating complex in the entire chain from fuel production to the thermal energy application efficiency of the use of energy resources is only 44 %. That necessitates the researching of ways to enhance efficiency of organic fuel burning. One of the way to solve the problem is the burning fuel in the swirl burner with using of ionizated air. Domestic and international researches have shown that atomic oxygen increases the completeness combustion and reduces the number emitted into the atmosphere of pollutant emissions. At present, the reduction of air pollution of toxic substances allocated by industrial enterprises, is one of the most important problems facing humanity. Air pollution has a unhealthy exposure for humans and the environment. In this paper estimated effectiveness of existing chemical kinetic mechanisms of natural gas burning for the swirl burner and mechanisms unhealthy emissions produced based on the results of the evaluation. The purpose of work is to increase the effectiveness of fuel combustion and technical and economic, as well as environmental indicators in the swirl burner on the heat-and-power plant.
Development of a mobile power plant for thawing frozen soils
Authors: Sinitsyn Anton , Mihin Anton , Zaripova Daniya
Published: November 2019

The article proposes a new device for radiation-convective heating of working fluids, which can be used in particular for emergency and repair and construction works for heating of frozen soil, concrete, road surface and other building materials. The studies were carried out as part of implementation of the Innovation Assistance Fund for Energy Sector Enterprises.
Implementation of noise data into building information model (BIM) to reduce noise in the environment and at workplace
Authors: Butorina Marina , Drozdova Lyudmila , Kuklin Denis , Sharkov Alexander , Aref’ev Konstantin , Sopozhnikov Sergey , Topazh Grigoriy , Lyamaev Boris , Nagornyy Vladimir , Simonov Anatoliy , Muhametova Liliya
Published: November 2019

Noise mapping is the best way to present information on the acoustic pollution. To design noise protection measures, authors use modern software package SoundPLAN, which is based on the up-to-date normative documentation and scientific researches. The program allows importing the results of calculations to Autodesk tools. Improving the efficiency of the noise protection design process is executed through the implementation of building information modeling (BIM). Data exchange between SoundPLAN, AutoCAD 3D or Revit and Navisworks is used in the development of building information model. In the article we present a new approach to noise reduction through implementation of noise data into the overall information model of the infrastructure or building project. BIM helps to track the collision of calculated noise levels with residential buildings, protected premises and workplaces. It lays a basis for the sound proof allocation of workplaces and development of protection measures. BIM also serves as a support tool for the design process of sound protection barriers, since it helps to avoid interconnection of noise barriers basement with engineering networks or paste a barrier in the proper place to provide its efficiency.
Cannabis and residential groundwater pumping impacts on streamflow and ecosystems in Northern California
Authors: Zipper Samuel C , Carah Jennifer K , Dillis Christopher , Gleeson Tom , Kerr Ben , Rohde Melissa M , Howard Jeanette K , Zimmerman Julie K H
Published: November 2019

Cannabis is an emerging agricultural frontier, but due to its quasi-legal status its environmental impacts are poorly understood. Where cannabis is irrigated by groundwater, pumping can lead to streamflow depletion in surrounding streams which may impair other water users or aquatic ecosystems. Here, we investigate the impacts of groundwater pumping for cannabis irrigation at the scale of the watershed, the individual well, and the stream segment, and contextualize by comparing with residential groundwater use. Combining mapped cannabis cultivation and residential structure locations with grower reports of irrigation water sources, we develop distributed estimates of groundwater pumping and associated streamflow depletion caused by cannabis and residential users within the Navarro River Watershed in Northern California (USA). An estimated 73% of cannabis cultivation sites and 92% of residential structures in the watershed rely on groundwater, and groundwater abstraction leads to streamflow depletion during late summer when groundwater is a critical source of baseflow to ecologically important streams. However, streamflow depletion caused by cannabis cultivation is dwarfed by the impacts of residential use, which causes >5 times as much streamflow depletion and is concentrated close to ecologically important stream segments. Focusing on cannabis, a small number of wells (<25%) cause a disproportionate amount of depletion (>50%), and significant predictors for impacts of a well are the annual pumping rate, the distance to the closest stream, and the transmissivity between the well and the stream. Streamflow depletion increases nonlinearly when pumping occurs within 1.2 km of streams, and most cannabis and residential groundwater use is within this critical distance. Given the rapid increase in cannabis cultivation, these results indicate that potential streamflow depletion from groundwater irrigation of cannabis is a current and future concern, and will be superimposed on top of significant depletion already occurring due to residential use in the region studied.
Daily fluctuations in pollination effectiveness explain higher efficiency of native over exotic bees in Lepechinia floribunda (Lamiaceae)
Authors: Baranzelli Matias Cristian , Benitez-Vieyra Santiago , Glinos Evangelina , Trenchi Alejandra , Córdoba Silvina , Camina Julia , Ashworth Lorena , Sérsic Alicia Noemi , Cocucci Andrea Aristides , Fornoni Juan
Published: November 2019

Background

Despite Stebbins’ principle of the most efficient pollinator being proposed decades ago, the most important pollinators are still mainly identified using the frequency of visits to flowers. This shortcoming results in a gap between the characterization of the flower visitors of a plant species and a reliable estimation of the plant fitness consequences of the mutualistic interaction. The performance of a mutualistic visitor depends on its abundance, behaviour, effectiveness (pollen removal and deposition per unit time) and efficiency (seed set per unit time) conditioned by the temporal matching between pollinator activity and temporal patterns of maturation of the sexual functions of flowers. Although there have been recent attempts to provide a conceptual and methodological framework to characterize pollinators’ performance, few have combined all key elements of visitors and plants to provide an accurate estimation of pollinators’ performance under natural conditions.

Methods

We complement information on the flower biology and mating system of the sub-shrub Lepechinia floribunda (Lamiaceae) to provide a daily quantitative estimation of performance (effectiveness and efficiency) of the more abundant pollinators, i.e. native bumble-bees (Bombus spp.) and leafcutter bees (Megachile sp.), and the exotic honey-bee (Apis mellifera).

Key Results

Unlike honey-bees or leafcutter bees, native bumble-bees matched the daily pattern of nectar production and stigma receptivity, and showed higher effectiveness and efficiency. Despite the overabundance of honey-bees, visits occurred mainly when stigmas were not receptive, thus reducing the honey-bees’ overall performance.

Conclusions

Bumble-bees appear to be the most important pollinators and potential historical mediators of reproductive trait evolution in L. floribunda. Because the production of seeds by bumble-bees involved fewer pollen grains for plants and less investment in floral display than honey-bees, contemporary and expected changes in pollinator abundance may affect future L. floribunda floral evolution. If bumble-bees were to be further displaced by anthropogenic disturbance or by competition with honey-bees, their lower efficiency will select for a larger floral display increasing reproductive costs. This scenario may also impose selection to reduce dichogamy to match honey-bee foraging activity.
The role of nectar traits and nectary morphoanatomy in the plant-pollinator interaction between Billbergia distachia (Bromeliaceae) and the hermit Phaethornis eurynome (Trochilidae)
Authors: Zambon Vivian , Agostini Kayna , Nepi Massimo , Rossi Mônica Lanzoni , Martinelli Adriana Pinheiro , Sazima Marlies
Published: November 2019

Nectar production dynamics can show inter- and intraspecific variation, which can be associated with environmental and ecological factors and with the ultrastructural diversity of the floral nectary. In this context, we recorded nectar production dynamics from a morphofunctional perspective using the hummingbird-pollinated Billbergia distachia (Bromeliaceae). The scale-throated hermit Phaethornis eurynome was the only floral visitor observed, indicating a specialized pollination system. Nectar production showed significant differences between day and night, and the periods of major pollinator activity and nectar secretion were synchronous. The ultrastructural features of the nectary showed some evidence of nectar reabsorption in flowers at night, and it can be inferred that this process may be a key factor in the nocturnal pause in nectar production. In this way, nectary morphoanatomy, nectar traits and an energy-saving mechanism through nectar reabsorption contribute to the well-established relationship between B. distachia and P. eurynome.
Knockdown of ISOC1 inhibits the proliferation and migration and induces the apoptosis of colon cancer cells through the AKT/GSK-3β pathway
Authors: Gao Bo , Zhao Lianmei , Wang Feifei , Bai Hanyu , Li Jing , Li Meng , Hu Xuhua , Cao Jian , Wang Guiying
Published: November 2019

Isochorismatase domain-containing 1 (ISOC1) is a coding gene that contains an isochorismatase domain. The precise functions of ISOC1 in humans have not been clarified; however, studies have speculated that it may be involved in unknown metabolic pathways. Currently, it is reported that ISOC1 is associated with breast cancer. In this research, the aim is to investigate the critical role of ISOC1 in colorectal cancer (CRC) and to explore its biological function and mechanism in colon cancer cells. In 106 paired clinical samples, we found that the levels of ISOC1 expression were widely increased in cancer tissues compared with matched adjacent non-tumor tissues and that increased expression of ISOC1 was significantly associated with tumor size, tumor invasion, local lymph node metastasis and Tumor, Node and Metastasis (TNM) stage. Moreover, higher expression levels of ISOC1 were correlated with shorter disease-free survival in patients 2 years after surgery. In vitro, ISOC1 knockdown inhibited the proliferation and migration and induced the apoptosis of colon cancer cells, and in vivo, the xenograft tumors were also inhibited by ISOC1 silencing. We also used MTS, Transwell and cell apoptosis assays to confirm that ISOC1 plays a critical role in regulating the biological functions of colon cancer cells through the AKT/GSK-3β pathway. Additionally, the results of confocal microscopy and western blot analysis indicated that ISOC1 knockdown could promote p-STAT1 translocation to the nucleus.
Osteopontin drives KRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Giopanou Ioanna , Kanellakis Nikolaos I , Giannou Anastasios D , Lilis Ioannis , Marazioti Antonia , Spella Magda , Papaleonidopoulos Vassilios , Simoes Davina C M , Zazara Dimitra E , Agalioti Theodora , Moschos Charalampos , Magkouta Sophia , Kalomenidis Ioannis , Panoutsakopoulou Vily , Lamort Anne-Sophie , Stathopoulos Georgios T , Psallidas Ioannis
Published: November 2019

Increased expression of osteopontin (secreted phosphoprotein 1, SPP1) is associated with aggressive human lung adenocarcinoma (LADC), but its function remains unknown. Our aim was to determine the role of SPP1 in smoking-induced LADC. We combined mouse models of tobacco carcinogen-induced LADC, of deficiency of endogenous Spp1 alleles, and of adoptive pulmonary macrophage reconstitution to map the expression of SPP1 and its receptors and determine its impact during carcinogenesis. Co-expression of Spp1 and mutant KrasG12C in benign cells was employed to investigate SPP1/KRAS interactions in oncogenesis. Finally, intratracheal adenovirus encoding Cre recombinase was delivered to LSL.KRASG12D mice lacking endogenous or overexpressing transgenic Spp1 alleles. SPP1 was overexpressed in experimental and human LADC and portended poor survival. In response to two different smoke carcinogens, Spp1-deficient mice developed fewer and smaller LADC with decreased cellular survival and angiogenesis. Both lung epithelial- and macrophage-secreted SPP1 drove tumor-associated inflammation, while epithelial SPP1 promoted early tumorigenesis by fostering the survival of KRAS-mutated cells. Finally, loss and overexpression of Spp1 was, respectively, protective and deleterious for mice harboring KRASG12D-driven LADC. Our data support that SPP1 is functionally involved in early stages of airway epithelial carcinogenesis driven by smoking and mutant KRAS and may present an important therapeutic target.
Modelling and analysis of tagging networks in Stack Exchange communities
Authors: Fu Xiang , Yu Shangdi , Benson Austin R
Published: November 2019

Large Question-and-Answer (Q&A) platforms support diverse knowledge curation on the Web. While researchers have studied user behaviour on such platforms in a variety of contexts, there is relatively little insight into important by-products of user behaviour that also encode knowledge. Here, we analyse and model the macroscopic structure of tags applied by users to annotate and catalogue questions, using a collection of 168 Stack Exchange websites that span a diversity of sizes and topics. We study the distribution of tag frequencies and also the structure of ‘co-tagging’ networks where nodes are tags and links connect tags that have been applied to the same question. We find striking similarity in tagging structure across Stack Exchange communities, even though each community evolves independently (albeit under similar guidelines). Our findings thus provide evidence that social tagging behaviour is largely driven by the Stack Exchange platform itself and not by the individual Stack Exchange communities. We also develop a simple generative model that creates random bipartite graphs of tags and questions. Our model accounts for the tag frequency distribution but does not explicitly account for co-tagging correlations. Even under these constraints, we demonstrate empirically and theoretically that our model can reproduce a number of the statistical properties that characterize co-tagging networks.
Insight into the Productivity, Cost and Soil Impacts of Cable-assisted Harvester-forwarder Thinning in Western Oregon
Authors: Green Preston Q , Chung Woodam , Leshchinsky Ben , Belart Francisca , Sessions John , Fitzgerald Stephen A , Wimer Jeffrey A , Cushing Tamara , Garland John J
Published: November 2019

Cable-assisted (or tethered) mechanized harvesting has recently been introduced to the Pacific Northwest of the United States, and is rapidly being adopted by the forest industry. However, potential environmental impacts, productivity and cost of the new harvesting systems have not been well-assessed. This study aims to examine the effects of cable assistance on soil compaction, system productivity and cost through a field-based experiment. A harvester-forwarder system was used to thin a harvest unit on dry soils in western Oregon, with and without cable-assistance. We conducted a detailed time study during operations and collected soil measurements before and after machine passes. Machine productivity ranged from 28.75 to 92.36 m3 per scheduled machine hour, with resulting unit costs for untethered and tethered systems ranging from $13.19 to $18.13/m3. Our results showed reduced soil impacts in both extent and degree of soil compaction when cable assistance was employed. The reduced extent of soil impacts is attributed to a reduction in track wander owing to the operative tensions of the tether cable, and the smaller increase in soil density appears to be attributed to combined effects of initially denser soil conditions and reduced shear displacement as a result of cable-assistance.
Interventions Promoting Physical Activity Among Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Grande Guilherme D , Oliveira Crystian B , Morelhão Priscila K , Sherrington Catherine , Tiedemann Anne , Pinto Rafael Z , Franco Marcia R
Published: November 2019

Background and Objectives

Frequent participation in physical activity (PA) has benefits across the lifespan but is particularly important for older adults. PA levels are either measured by objective or self-reported survey methods. Objective PA measurement is used to increase accuracy. This systematic review investigated the effect of physical activity-based interventions on objectively measured PA levels among community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older.

Research Design and Methods

Literature searches were conducted in five electronic databases and four clinical trial registries. Randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of physical activity–based interventions on objectively measured PA levels (e.g., accelerometers or pedometers) in community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older compared with no/minimal intervention were considered eligible. Data were pooled using the most conservative estimates reported from each study using the standardized mean difference (SMD). Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to evaluate the overall quality of the evidence.

Results

Fourteen published trials and 3 ongoing trials were identified. There were significant effects favoring physical activity–based interventions compared with minimal intervention at short-term (less than or equal to 3 months) (SMD: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.17 to 0.43) and intermediate-term (more than 3 months and less than 12 months; SMD: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.49) follow-ups. The quality of evidence was moderate according to GRADE (downgraded for risk of bias).

Discussion and Implications

Our findings suggest that physical activity–based interventions may increase objectively measured PA levels in community-dwelling older adults. Further studies are still needed to identify the optimal dose, intensity, and mode of delivery of physical activity–based interventions.
Gaussian process models—II. Lessons for discrete inversion
Authors: Valentine Andrew P , Sambridge Malcolm
Published: November 2019

By starting from a general framework for probabilistic continuous inversion (developed in Part I) and introducing discrete basis functions, we obtain the well-known algorithms for probabilistic least-squares inversion set out by Tarantola & Valette (1982). In doing so, we establish a direct equivalence between the spatial covariance function that must be specified in continuous inversion, and the combination of basis functions and prior covariance matrix that must be chosen for discretised inversion. We show that the common choice of Tikhonov regularisation ($\mathbf {C_m^{-1}} = \sigma ^2\mathbf {I}$) arises from a delta-function spatial covariance, and that this lies behind many of the artefacts commonly associated with discretised inversion. We show that other choices of spatial covariance function can be used to generate regularisation matrices yielding substantially better results, and permitting localisation of features even if global basis functions are employed. We are also able to offer a straightforward explanation for the spectral leakage problem identified by Trampert & Snieder (1996).
Subaltern Histories
Authors: Schwarz Bill
Published: November 2019

Bill Schwarz reviews the work of the South Asian Subaltern Studies historians of the 1980s and 1990s. Formed in the afterlives of the British Communist Historians Group of the 1940s to the 1970s, the Subaltern Studies collective determined to understand what that inherited historiographical paradigm would look like if the question of colonialism were located at its core. He asks also why it was that the History Workshop approaches to history, which began from a similar starting point and sought to recast how history was conceived – emphasizing less colonialism than gender/sexuality – were relatively deaf to the kindred historical project, when each approach was grappling with similar conceptual issues.
Totally endoscopic aortic valve replacement via an anterolateral approach using a standard prosthesis
Authors: Tokoro Masayoshi , Sawaki Sadanari , Ozeki Takahiro , Orii Mamoru , Usui Akihiko , Ito Toshiaki
Published: November 2019

OBJECTIVES

Totally endoscopic aortic valve replacement (AVR) is still a challenging operation, and only a few series reports exist in the literature. The purposes of this study were to establish a method for endoscopic AVR and evaluate its initial results.

METHODS

A total of 47 patients (median age 76 years, 17 men) underwent endoscopic AVR. The main wound was created in the right anterolateral 4th intercostal space through a 4-cm skin incision. No rib spreader was used. A 3-dimensional endoscope was inserted at the midaxillary line. A 5.5-mm trocar was inserted in the 3rd intercostal space, thus creating a 3-port setting similar to that used for endoscopic mitral valve surgery. A standard prosthesis was used, and the sutures were tied using a knot pusher. Results were compared with those of 157 patients who underwent right transaxillary AVR with direct vision plus endoscopic assist.

RESULTS

Patient backgrounds did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. No deaths occurred in the entire series. There was no conversion to thoracotomy or sternotomy in the endoscopic AVR group. The complication rate did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. The total operating time was significantly shorter in endoscopic AVR (188–206 min); the cardiopulmonary bypass time (130–128 min) and the cross-clamp time (90–95 min) did not differ significantly (median, endoscopic AVR, right transaxillary AVR). Two patients underwent endoscopic double-valve (aortic and mitral) surgery under the same conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic AVR was possible through 3 ports created in the right anterolateral chest, similar to the procedure for endoscopic mitral valve surgery. By adopting a common approach for both the aortic and the mitral valve operations, endoscopic double-valve surgery can be performed seamlessly.
Proxy gene-by-environment Mendelian randomization study confirms a causal effect of maternal smoking on offspring birthweight, but little evidence of long-term influences on offspring health
Authors: Yang Qian , Millard Louise A C , Davey Smith George
Published: November 2019

Background

A lack of genetic data across generations makes transgenerational Mendelian randomization (MR) difficult. We used UK Biobank and a novel proxy gene-by-environment MR to investigate effects of maternal smoking heaviness in pregnancy on offspring health, using participants’ (generation one: G1) genotype (rs16969968 in CHRNA5) as a proxy for their mothers’ (G0) genotype.

Methods

We validated this approach by replicating an established effect of maternal smoking heaviness on offspring birthweight. Then we applied this approach to explore effects of maternal (G0) smoking heaviness on offspring (G1) later life outcomes and on birthweight of G1 women’s children (G2).

Results

Each additional smoking-increasing allele in offspring (G1) was associated with a 0.018 [95% confidence interval (CI): -0.026, -0.009] kg lower G1 birthweight in maternal (G0) smoking stratum, but no meaningful effect (-0.002 kg; 95% CI: -0.008, 0.003) in maternal non-smoking stratum (interaction P-value = 0.004). The differences in associations of rs16969968 with grandchild’s (G2) birthweight between grandmothers (G0) who did, versus did not, smoke were heterogeneous (interaction P-value = 0.042) among mothers (G1) who did (-0.020 kg/allele; 95% CI: -0.044, 0.003), versus did not (0.007 kg/allele; 95% CI: -0.005, 0.020), smoke in pregnancy.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated how offspring genotype can be used to proxy for the mother’s genotype in gene-by-environment MR. We confirmed the causal effect of maternal (G0) smoking on offspring (G1) birthweight, but found little evidence of an effect on G1 longer-term health outcomes. For grandchild’s (G2) birthweight, the effect of grandmother’s (G0) smoking heaviness in pregnancy may be modulated by maternal (G1) smoking status in pregnancy.
Waste Not Want Not
Authors: Crooks Bob
Published: November 2019

Bob Crooks MBE and Chair of the BCS Green Specialist Group takes a look at the challenges faced in managing the physical resource demands that lie behind the mass production of IT devices.
Don’t Forget the Fundamentals of Security
Authors: Edwards Ian
Published: November 2019

Ian Edwards MBCS, Head of Information Security & Risk at MEDICA Group, reminds us not to lose sight of the fundamentals of security
Clouds in the Kill Chain
Authors: Passeri Paolo
Published: November 2019

Paolo Passeri, Cyber Intelligence Principle at Netskope, considers the impact of cloud technology throughout the kill chain and asks what security professionals need to know.
The it History of Jodrell Bank
Authors: Morison Ian
Published: November 2019

Astronomer and Astrophysicist, Ian Morison FRAS, 35th Gresham Professor of Astronomy, explains the computer science history behind the radio telescopes at The Jodrell Bank Observatory.
Conway’s Law: A Focus on Information Systems Development
Authors: McManus John
Published: November 2019

Dating back to the 1960s, Conway’s law suggests that organisations produce designs which mirror the company’s internal communication structures. Dr John McManus asks whether this and other ideas might help us to create designs that are more flexible
Is This the Age of Digital Enlightenment?
Authors: Kaur Rubi
Published: November 2019

Rubi Kaur FBCS MBA discusses how the digital world has transformed our lives beyond all recognition and considers the implications for those who can’t keep up with the tide of technological advancement.
Video Game Currency: Clever or Currupting?
Authors: Hughes Ian
Published: November 2019

Ian Hughes (epradator), Senior Analyst IoT, 451 Research, Scifi Author and Doctor of Technology (Hons) takes a look at what has happened to the games industry and its interaction with IT consumers and their parents.
Lower Extremity Burns, Complications, and Outcome
Authors: Momeni Mahnoush , Sediegh-Marufi Shahnam , Safari-Faramani Roya , Akhoondinasab Mohammad-Reza , Karimi Hamid , Karimi Ali-Mohammad
Published: November 2019

We have encountered many burn cases with lower extremity burn with adverse outcome. The study was a retrospective cohort study in 2 years, mean (SD) of follow up was 12(7) months. All demographic data, cause burn, time, total burn surface area (TBSA), presence lower extremity burn and its burn surface area (BSA), foot burn, delay in treatment, smoking, infection, morbidity, co-morbid diseases, length of stay (LOS), amputation, mortality, and outcome were gathered from patients’ files. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS 21software. We had 14,215 burn patients, of them 995 were admitted according to criteria of ABA. Six hundred and ten (61.3%) were male and 358 (37%) female. Male to female ratio was 1.58:1. The mean age ± SD was 33.64 ±23.45. Mean (SD) of lower extremity BSA was 12.09 ± 9.18%. The patients who had 10 to 19% burn, had 3 times more risk of mortality than patients with 0 to 9% burn (P < .018). And those with 20 to 29% burn had 35 times more risk of mortality comparing to patients with 0 to 9% burn. The difference was significant too. (P < .000). Delay in treatment, presence of co-morbid diseases and diabetes would not do any increase in mortality. The sex, weight, cause of burn, diabetes, and delay in treatment have not any influence on the death risk. But age and lower extremity BSA have influence on the risk of death. According to statistical study: with every 1-year increase in age, death rate increased by 4% (P < .0001). With every 1% increase in lower extremity BSA, death rate increase by 9% (P < .0005) and with every 1 day increase in LOS, the death rate increase by 4%. Statistical study shows lower extremity burn, TBSA, age, and LOS have great influence on the outcome of these patients. Sex, weight, cause of burn, and delay in treatment have not affected the risk of mortality.
A restricted second-order logic for non-deterministic poly-logarithmic time
Authors: Ferrarotti Flavio , GonzÁles SenÉn , Schewe Klaus-Dieter , Turull-Torres JosÉ MarÍa
Published: November 2019

We introduce a restricted second-order logic $\textrm{SO}^{\textit{plog}}$ for finite structures where second-order quantification ranges over relations of size at most poly-logarithmic in the size of the structure. We demonstrate the relevance of this logic and complexity class by several problems in database theory. We then prove a Fagin’s style theorem showing that the Boolean queries which can be expressed in the existential fragment of $\textrm{SO}^{\textit{plog}}$ correspond exactly to the class of decision problems that can be computed by a non-deterministic Turing machine with random access to the input in time $O((\log n)^k)$ for some $k \ge 0$, i.e. to the class of problems computable in non-deterministic poly-logarithmic time. It should be noted that unlike Fagin’s theorem which proves that the existential fragment of second-order logic captures NP over arbitrary finite structures, our result only holds over ordered finite structures, since $\textrm{SO}^{\textit{plog}}$ is too weak as to define a total order of the domain. Nevertheless, $\textrm{SO}^{\textit{plog}}$ provides natural levels of expressibility within poly-logarithmic space in a way which is closely related to how second-order logic provides natural levels of expressibility within polynomial space. Indeed, we show an exact correspondence between the quantifier prefix classes of $\textrm{SO}^{\textit{plog}}$ and the levels of the non-deterministic poly-logarithmic time hierarchy, analogous to the correspondence between the quantifier prefix classes of second-order logic and the polynomial-time hierarchy. Our work closely relates to the constant depth quasipolynomial size AND/OR circuits and corresponding restricted second-order logic defined by David A. Mix Barrington in 1992. We explore this relationship in detail.
Malassezia species dysbiosis in natural and allergen-induced atopic dermatitis in dogs
Authors: Meason-Smith Courtney , Olivry Thierry , Lawhon Sara D , Hoffmann Aline Rodrigues
Published: November 2019

Malassezia dermatitis and otitis are recurrent features of canine atopic dermatitis, increasing the cost of care, and contributing to a reduced quality of life for the pet. The exact pathogenesis of secondary yeast infections in allergic dogs remains unclear, but some have proposed an overgrowth of M. pachydermatis to be one of the flare factors. The distribution of Malassezia populations on healthy and allergic canine skin has not been previously investigated using culture-independent methods. Skin swabs were collected from healthy, naturally affected allergic, and experimentally sensitized atopic dogs. From the extracted DNA, fungal next-generations sequencing (NGS) targeting the ITS region with phylogenetic analysis of sequences for species level classification, and Malassezia species-specific quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were performed. M. globosa was significantly more abundant on healthy canine skin by both methods (NGS P < .0001, qPCR P < .0001). M. restricta was significantly more abundant on healthy skin by NGS (P = .0023), and M. pachydermatis was significantly more abundant on naturally-affected allergic skin by NGS (P < .0001) and on allergen-induced atopic skin lesions by qPCR (P = .0015). Shifts in Malassezia populations were not observed in correlation with the development of allergen-induced skin lesions. Differences in the lipid dependency of predominant Malassezia commensals between groups suggests a role of the skin lipid content in driving community composition and raises questions of whether targeting skin lipids with therapeutics could promote healthy Malassezia populations on canine skin.
When galaxies align: intrinsic alignments of the progenitors of elliptical galaxies in the Horizon-AGN simulation
Authors: Bate James , Chisari Nora Elisa , Codis Sandrine , Martin Garreth , Dubois Yohan , Devriendt Julien , Pichon Christophe , Slyz Adrianne
Published: November 2019

Elliptical galaxies today appear aligned with the large-scale structure of the Universe, but it is still an open question when they acquire this alignment. Observational data is currently insufficient to provide constraints on the time evolution of intrinsic alignments, and hence existing models range from assuming that galaxies gain some primordial alignment at formation, to suggesting that they react instantaneously to tidal interactions with the large-scale structure. Using the cosmological hydrodynamical simulation Horizon-AGN, we measure the relative alignments between the major axes of galaxies and eigenvectors of the tidal field as a function of redshift. We focus on constraining the time evolution of the alignment of the main progenitors of massive z = 0 elliptical galaxies, the main weak lensing contaminant at low redshift. We show that this population, which at z = 0 has a stellar mass above 1010.4 M⊙, transitions from having no alignment with the tidal field at z = 3, to a significant alignment by z = 1. From z = 0.5 they preserve their alignment at an approximately constant level until z = 0. We find a mass-dependence of the alignment signal of elliptical progenitors, whereby ellipticals that are less massive today (1010.4 < M/M⊙ < 1010.7) do not become aligned till later redshifts (z < 2), compared to more massive counterparts. We also present an extended study of progenitor alignments in the parameter space of stellar mass and galaxy dynamics, the impact of shape definition and tidal field smoothing.
The ATLAS 9.0 GHz survey of the extended Chandra Deep Field South: the faint 9.0 GHz radio population
Authors: Huynh M T , Seymour N , Norris R P , Galvin T
Published: November 2019

We present a new image of the 9.0 GHz radio emission from the extended Chandra Deep Field South. A total of 181 h of integration with the Australia Telescope Compact Array has resulted in a 0.276 deg2 image with a median sensitivity of ∼20 µJy beam−1 rms, for a synthesized beam of 4.0 × 1.3 arcsec. We present a catalogue of the 9.0 GHz radio sources, identifying 70 source components and 55 individual radio galaxies. Source counts derived from this sample are consistent with those reported in the literature. The observed source counts are also generally consistent with the source counts from simulations of the faint radio population. Using the wealth of multiwavelength data available for this region, we classify the faint 9 GHz population and find that 91 per cent are radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGNs), 7 per cent are radio-quiet AGNs, and 2 per cent are star-forming galaxies. The 9.0 GHz radio sources were matched to 5.5 and 1.4 GHz sources in the literature and we find a significant fraction of flat or inverted spectrum sources, with 36 per cent of the 9 GHz sources having $\alpha _{5.5\,\mathrm{ GHz}}^{9.0\,\mathrm{ GHz}}$ > −0.3 (for S ∝ να). This flat or inverted population is not well reproduced by current simulations of radio source populations.
Stability of exoplanetary systems retrieved from scalar time series
Authors: Kovács T
Published: November 2019

We propose a novel method applied to extrasolar planetary dynamics to describe the system stability. The observations in this field serve the measurements mainly of radial velocity, transit time, and/or celestial position. These scalar time series are used to build up the high-dimensional phase space trajectory representing the dynamical evolution of planetary motion. The framework of nonlinear time series analysis and Poincaré recurrences allows us to transform the obtained univariate signals into complex networks whose topology carries the dynamical properties of the underlying system. The network-based analysis is able to distinguish the regular and chaotic behaviour not only for synthetic inputs but also for noisy and irregularly sampled real world observations. The proposed scheme does not require neither n-body integration nor best fitting planetary model to perform the stability investigation, therefore, the computation time can be reduced drastically compared to those of the standard numerical methods.
Time-dependence of the astrophysical stochastic gravitational wave background
Authors: Mukherjee Suvodip , Silk Joseph
Published: November 2019

The astrophysical stochastic gravitational wave background (SGWB) is mostly produced from unresolved stellar binary mergers, and the number of events at any moment of time is expected to be Poisson-distributed. The event rate is governed by several astrophysical processes. The Poisson nature leads to variation in the number of sources and this causes temporal variations in the SGWB. The intrinsic temporal fluctuations of the SGWB are a rich source of astrophysical information that can be explored via ongoing and future gravitational wave experiments to classify the sources of the SGWB signal. Along with several other methods to estimate the GW event rates from individual sources, the study of the temporal variations of the SGWB signal provides an independent method for estimating the event rates of the GW sources that contribute to the SGWB. Along with direct estimates of event rates, this approach can also distinguish between different sources contributing to the SGWB signal and will be a useful probe of its evolution over a vast cosmic volume. On averaging over observation times, the SGWB will be statistically invariant under time translation. Statistical time translation symmetry of the SGWB is expected due to the negligible evolution of the relevant cosmological and astrophysical phenomena over the observation time-scales over which the data is collected.
Radiation-induced chemistry in the C2H2–H2O system at cryogenic temperatures: a matrix isolation study
Authors: Zasimov Pavel V , Ryazantsev Sergey V , Tyurin Daniil A , Feldman Vladimir I
Published: November 2019

Investigations of the low-temperature radiation-induced transformations in the C2H2–H2O system are relevant to the chemistry occurring in interstellar and cometary ices. In this work we applied a matrix isolation technique to study the radiation-driven evolution of this system at molecular level in order to get new mechanistic insight. The 1:1 C2H2∙∙∙H2O complexes were prepared in various solid noble-gas matrices (Ar, Kr, Xe) and these icy matrices were subjected to X-ray irradiation at 5 K. Decomposition of initial complex and formation of products were monitored by FTIR spectroscopy. It was found that complexation with H2O resulted in significant enhancement of the radiolytic decay of C2H2 molecules and provided new channels for its radiation-induced transformations. Ketene (both isolated H2CCO and in the form of H2CCO–H2 pair), ketenyl radical (HCCO), carbon monoxide (CO) and methane (CH4) were observed as main products of the C2H2∙∙∙H2O radiolysis. In addition, vinyl alcohol (CH2CHOH) was detected in an Ar matrix. The mechanistic interpretation (reaction routes leading to formation of these products) is discussed on the basis of consideration of kinetic dependencies and matrix effects. Conversion of C2H2∙∙∙H2O to CH4 is a prominent example of water-mediated cleavage of the C≡C triple bond, which may occur under prolonged irradiation in rigid media. Possible astrochemical implications of the obtained results are highlighted.
Morphological signatures induced by dust back reaction in discs with an embedded planet
Authors: Yang (楊朝欽) Chao-Chin , Zhu (朱照寰) Zhaohuan
Published: November 2019

Recent observations have revealed a gallery of substructures in the dust component of nearby protoplanetary discs, including rings, gaps, spiral arms, and lopsided concentrations. One interpretation of these substructures is the existence of embedded planets. Not until recently, however, most of the modelling effort to interpret these observations ignored the dust back reaction to the gas. In this work, we conduct local-shearing-sheet simulations for an isothermal, inviscid, non-self-gravitating, razor-thin dusty disc with a planet on a fixed circular orbit. We systematically examine the parameter space spanned by planet mass (0.1Mth ≤ Mp ≤ 1Mth, where Mth is the thermal mass), dimensionless stopping time (10−3 ≤ τs ≤ 1), and solid abundance (0 < Z ≤ 1). We find that when the dust particles are tightly coupled to the gas (τs < 0.1), the spiral arms are less open and the gap driven by the planet becomes deeper with increasing Z, consistent with a reduced speed of sound in the approximation of a single dust–gas mixture. By contrast, when the dust particles are marginally coupled (0.1 ≲ τs ≲ 1), the spiral structure is insensitive to Z and the gap structure in the gas can become significantly skewed and unidentifiable. When the latter occurs, the pressure maximum radially outside of the planet is weakened or even extinguished, and hence dust filtration by a low-mass (Mp < Mth) planet could be reduced or eliminated. Finally, we find that the gap edges where the dust particles are accumulated as well as the lopsided large-scale vortices driven by a massive planet, if any, are unstable, and they are broken into numerous small-scale dust–gas vortices.
The double-edged sword of cancer mutations: exploiting neoepitopes for the fight against cancer
Authors: Alvarado-Cruz Isabel , Meas Rithy , Paluri Sesha Lakshmi Arathi , Carufe Kelly Estelle Wheeler , Khan Mohammed , Sweasy Joann Balazs
Published: November 2019

Defects in DNA repair have been linked to the accumulation of somatic mutations in tumours. These mutations can promote oncogenesis; however, recent developments have indicated that they may also lead to a targeted immune response against the tumour. This response is initiated by the development of new antigenic epitopes (neoepitopes) arising from mutations in protein-coding genes that are processed and then presented on the surface of tumour cells. These neoepitopes are unique to the tumour, thus enabling lymphocytes to launch an immune response against the cancer cells. Immunotherapies, such as checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) and tumour-derived vaccines, have been shown to enhance the immunogenic response to cancers and have led to complete remission in some cancer patients. There are tumours that are not responsive to immunotherapy or conventional tumour therapeutics; therefore, there is a push for new treatments to combat these unresponsive cancers. Recently, combinatorial treatments have been developed to further utilise the immune system in the fight against cancer. These treatments have the potential to exploit the defects in DNA repair by inducing more DNA damage and mutations. This can potentially lead to the expression of high levels of neoepitopes on the surface of tumour cells that will stimulate an immunological response. Overall, exploiting DNA repair defects in tumours may provide an edge in this long fight against cancer.
Design of a programmable biosensor-CRISPRi genetic circuits for dynamic and autonomous dual-control of metabolic flux in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Wu Yaokang , Chen Taichi , Liu Yanfeng , Tian Rongzhen , Lv Xueqin , Li Jianghua , Du Guocheng , Chen Jian , Ledesma-Amaro Rodrigo , Liu Long
Published: November 2019

Dynamic regulation is an effective strategy for fine-tuning metabolic pathways in order to maximize target product synthesis. However, achieving dynamic and autonomous up- and down-regulation of the metabolic modules of interest simultaneously, still remains a great challenge. In this work, we created an autonomous dual-control (ADC) system, by combining CRISPRi-based NOT gates with novel biosensors of a key metabolite in the pathway of interest. By sensing the levels of the intermediate glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN6P) and self-adjusting the expression levels of the target genes accordingly with the GlcN6P biosensor and ADC system enabled feedback circuits, the metabolic flux towards the production of the high value nutraceutical N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) could be balanced and optimized in Bacillus subtilis. As a result, the GlcNAc titer in a 15-l fed-batch bioreactor increased from 59.9 g/l to 97.1 g/l with acetoin production and 81.7 g/l to 131.6 g/l without acetoin production, indicating the robustness and stability of the synthetic circuits in a large bioreactor system. Remarkably, this self-regulatory methodology does not require any external level of control such as the use of inducer molecules or switching fermentation/environmental conditions. Moreover, the proposed programmable genetic circuits may be expanded to engineer other microbial cells and metabolic pathways.
High intrinsic hydrolytic activity of cyanobacterial RNA polymerase compensates for the absence of transcription proofreading factors
Authors: Riaz-Bradley Amber , James Katherine , Yuzenkova Yulia
Published: November 2019

The vast majority of organisms possess transcription elongation factors, the functionally similar bacterial Gre and eukaryotic/archaeal TFIIS/TFS. Their main cellular functions are to proofread errors of transcription and to restart elongation via stimulation of RNA hydrolysis by the active centre of RNA polymerase (RNAP). However, a number of taxons lack these factors, including one of the largest and most ubiquitous groups of bacteria, cyanobacteria. Using cyanobacterial RNAP as a model, we investigated alternative mechanisms for maintaining a high fidelity of transcription and for RNAP arrest prevention. We found that this RNAP has very high intrinsic proofreading activity, resulting in nearly as low a level of in vivo mistakes in RNA as Escherichia coli. Features of the cyanobacterial RNAP hydrolysis are reminiscent of the Gre-assisted reaction—the energetic barrier is similarly low, and the reaction involves water activation by a general base. This RNAP is resistant to ubiquitous and most regulatory pausing signals, decreasing the probability to go off-pathway and thus fall into arrest. We suggest that cyanobacterial RNAP has a specific Trigger Loop domain conformation, and isomerises easier into a hydrolytically proficient state, possibly aided by the RNA 3′-end. Cyanobacteria likely passed these features of transcription to their evolutionary descendants, chloroplasts.