bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimized metabarcoding with Pacific biosciences enables semi‐quantitative analysis of fungal communities
Authors: Castaño Carles , Berlin Anna , Brandström Durling Mikael , Ihrmark Katharina , Lindahl Björn D. , Stenlid Jan , Clemmensen Karina E. , Olson Åke
Published: June 2020

Recent studies have questioned the use of high‐throughput sequencing of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region to derive a semi‐quantitative representation of fungal community composition. However, comprehensive studies that quantify biases occurring during PCR and sequencing of ITS amplicons are still lacking.

We used artificially assembled communities consisting of 10 ITS‐like fragments of varying lengths and guanine‐cytosine (GC) contents to evaluate and quantify biases during PCR and sequencing with Illumina MiSeq, PacBio RS II and PacBio Sequel I technologies.

Fragment length variation was the main source of bias in observed community composition relative to the template, with longer fragments generally being under‐represented for all sequencing platforms. This bias was three times higher for Illumina MiSeq than for PacBio RS II and Sequel I. All 10 fragments in the artificial community were recovered when sequenced with PacBio technologies, whereas the three longest fragments (> 447 bases) were lost when sequenced with Illumina MiSeq. Fragment length bias also increased linearly with increasing number of PCR cycles but could be mitigated by optimization of the PCR setup. No significant biases related to GC content were observed.

Despite lower sequencing output, PacBio sequencing was better able to reflect the community composition of the template than Illumina MiSeq sequencing.
No evidence of homeostatic regulation of leaf temperature in Eucalyptus parramattensis trees: integration of CO2 flux and oxygen isotope methodologies
Authors: Drake John E. , Harwood Richard , Vårhammar Angelica , Barbour Margaret M. , Reich Peter B. , Barton Craig V. M. , Tjoelker Mark G.
Published: June 2020

Thermoregulation of leaf temperature (Tleaf) may foster metabolic homeostasis in plants, but the degree to which Tleaf is moderated, and under what environmental contexts, is a topic of debate. Isotopic studies inferred the temperature of photosynthetic carbon assimilation to be a constant value of c. 20°C; by contrast, leaf biophysical theory suggests a strong dependence of Tleaf on environmental drivers. Can this apparent disparity be reconciled?

We continuously measured Tleaf and whole‐crown net CO2 uptake for Eucalyptus parramattensis trees growing in field conditions in whole‐tree chambers under ambient and +3°C warming conditions, and calculated assimilation‐weighted leaf temperature (TL‐AW) across 265 d, varying in air temperature (Tair) from −1 to 45°C. We compared these data to TL‐AW derived from wood cellulose δ18O.

Tleaf exhibited substantial variation driven by Tair, light intensity, and vapor pressure deficit, and Tleaf was strongly linearly correlated with Tair with a slope of c. 1.0. TL‐AW values calculated from cellulose δ18O vs crown fluxes were remarkably consistent; both varied seasonally and in response to the warming treatment, tracking variation in Tair.

The leaves studied here were nearly poikilothermic, with no evidence of thermoregulation of Tleaf towards a homeostatic value. Importantly, this work supports the use of cellulose δ18O to infer TL‐AW, but does not support the concept of strong homeothermic regulation of Tleaf
Bromelain reduces the non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease and periodontal damages caused by ligature‐induced periodontitis
Authors: Alves Even Herlany Pereira , Carvalho André dos Santos , Silva Felipe Rodolfo Pereira , Carvalho França Luiz Felipe , Di Lenardo David , Vasconcelos Any Carolina Cardoso Guimarães , Nascimento Hélio Mateus Silva , Ribeiro Lopes Víctor Lucas , Oliveira Jefferson Soares , Vasconcelos Daniel Fernando Pereira
Published: June 2020

Objective

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of bromelain (derived from Ananas comosus) upon periodontitis in rats.

Materials and Methods

Twenty‐four rats were separated into groups: control, periodontitis, and bromelain treatment. Bromelain was administered daily by intraperitoneal injection for 20 days. Periodontitis was induced by ligature around the first molars. Oral parameters and blood biomarkers were measured. The histopathological evaluation of the hepatic tissue was performed. Bromelain treatment significantly reduced several oral inflammatory parameters, alveolar bone loss, and blood biomarkers compared to the rats on periodontitis.

Results

Treatment with bromelain improved the steatosis score. Bromelain used in ligature‐induced periodontitis in rats was able to reduce the oral inflammatory parameters Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI), tooth mobility (TM), probing pocket depth (PPD), malondialdehyde (MDA), alveolar bone height (ABH) and gingival myeloperoxidase (MPO) and blood parameters (cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase). Bromelain treatment reduced the impact of periodontitis, such as the reduction of hepatic steatosis and improvement in the dosages of MDA and GSH.

Conclusion

Bromelain acts as a potential adjunct in the non‐surgical treatment of periodontitis and, consequently, reduces the impact of periodontitis, acting as anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant.
The maize shoot ionome: Its interaction partners, predictive power, and genetic determinants
Authors: Stich Benjamin , Benke Andreas , Schmidt Maria , Urbany Claude , Shi Rongli , von Wirén Nicolaus
Published: June 2020

An improved understanding of how to manipulate the accumulation and enrichment of mineral elements in aboveground plant tissues holds promise for future resource efficient and sustainable crop production. The objectives of this study were to (a) evaluate the influence of Fe regimes on mineral element concentrations and contents in the maize shoot as well as their correlations, (b) examine the predictive ability of physiological and morphological traits of individual genotypes of the IBM population from the concentration of mineral elements, and (c) identify genetic factors influencing the mineral element composition within and across Fe regimes. We evaluated the concentration and content of 12 mineral elements in shoots of the IBM population grown in sufficient and deficient Fe regimes and found for almost all mineral elements a significant (α = 0.05) genotypic variance. Across all mineral elements, the variance of genotype*Fe regime interactions was on average even more pronounced. High prediction abilities indicated that mineral elements are powerful predictors of morphological and physiological traits. Furthermore, our results suggest that ZmHMA2/3 and ZmMOT1 are major players in the natural genetic variation of Cd and Mo concentrations and contents of maize shoots, respectively.
Polls and Elections: “The Carnivalesque in the 2016 US Presidential Campaign”
Authors: Mohammed Shaheed Nick , Trumpbour Robert C.
Published: June 2020

The 2016 U.S. general election saw the emergence of a nonpolitician celebrity, Donald Trump, who frequently challenged existing power structures and figures. Trump's electoral win combined with reports of violence at campaign rallies, calls for removal of those in power, the ridicule of opponents, and the use of invectives and name‐calling suggest parallels to Bakhtin's elucidation of the carnivalesque. The authors examined media coverage of the 2016 campaign to uncover evidence of carnivalesque references. Such references were significantly higher for Trump than for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and for the 2012 Republican campaign of Mitt Romney. The implications of presidential campaigns steeped in carnivalesque rhetoric and actions are discussed, with concerns raised regarding the future of media institutions and participatory democracy.
Molecular expression and identification of caprine estrogen receptor gene 1 for fertility status in bucks
Authors: Saraswat S , Kharche SD , Rout PK , Pawaiya R , Gangwar C , Swain DK , Kaushik R
Published: June 2020

Estrogen and its receptors are essential for sexual development and reproduction. Oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) is a nuclear receptor activated by the hormone oestrogen. In male, ERα is encoded by the gene ESR1 (oestrogen receptor1) responsible for better fertility. ESR1 is involved in the reabsorption of luminal fluid during the transit of spermatozoa from the testis to the head of the epididymis which is important for their survival and maturation during epididymal storage. The absence of ESR1 leads to reduced epididymal sperm content, reduced sperm motility and fertilizing ability. The present study was undertaken to investigate the expression and presence of ESR1 gene in fertile and low‐fertile male goat breeds. We identified ESR1 gene through various molecular tools. Genotyping was carried out by high resonance melting analysis using Roche Light Cycler 480(LC‐480) system and found three different genotypes. Genotypic frequency‐AA (blue‐0.67), BB(Red‐0.2), AB(Green‐0.08) with allele frequency A(0.71 and B (0.29). The predominance of this gene in head of epididymis in fertile bucks was confirmed by SDS‐PAGE, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. From the results, we corroborated that the present study provides a useful and effective way to predict male fertility in goat breeds, which in turn increases the percentage of fertility in flock leading to more number of offspring in a kidding season.
Efficient or Fair? Operationalizing Ethical Principles in Flood Risk Management: A Case Study on the Dutch‐German Rhine
Authors: Ciullo Alessio , Kwakkel Jan H. , De Bruijn Karin M. , Doorn Neelke , Klijn Frans
Published: June 2020

Flood risk management decisions in many countries are based on decision‐support frameworks which rely on cost‐benefit analyses. Such frameworks are seldom informative about the geographical distribution of risk, raising questions on the fairness of the proposed policies. In the present work, we propose a new decision criterion that accounts for the distribution of risk reduction and apply it to support flood risk management decisions on a transboundary stretch of the Rhine River. Three types of interventions are considered: embankment heightening, making Room for the River, and changing the discharge distribution of the river branches. The analysis involves solving a flood risk management problem according to four alternative formulations, based on different ethical principles. Formulations based on cost optimization lead to very poor performances in some areas for the sake of reducing the overall aggregated costs. Formulations that also include equity criteria have different results depending on how these are defined. When risk reduction is distributed equally, very poor economic performance is achieved. When risk is distributed equally, results are in line with formulations based on cost optimization, while a fairer risk distribution is achieved. Risk reduction measures also differ, with the cost optimization approach strongly favoring the leverage of changing the discharge distribution and the alternative formulations spending more on embankment heightening and Room for the River, to rebalance inequalities in risk levels. The proposed method advances risk‐based decision‐making by allowing to consider risk distribution aspects and their impacts on the choice of risk reduction measures.
A Resilience‐Based Approach to Risk Assessments—Building Resilient Organizations under Arctic Conditions
Authors: Taarup‐Esbensen Jacob
Published: June 2020

Reliability and higher levels of safety are thought to be achieved by using systematic approaches to managing risks. The assessment of risks has produced a range of different approaches to assessing these uncertainties, presenting models for how risks affect individuals or organizations. Contemporary risk assessment tools based on this approach have proven difficult for practitioners to use as tools for tactical and operational decision making. This article presents an alternative to these assessments by utilizing a resilience perspective, arguing that complex systems are inclined to variety and uncertainty regarding the results they produce and are therefore prone to systemic failures. A continuous improvement approach is a source of reliability when managing complex systems and is necessary to manage varieties and uncertainties. For an organization to understand how risk events occur, it is necessary to define what is believed to be the equilibrium of the system in time and space. By applying a resilience engineering (RE) perspective to risk assessment, it is possible to manage this complexity by assessing the ability to respond, monitor, learn, and anticipate risks, and in so doing to move away from the flawed frequency and consequences approach. Using a research station network in the Arctic as an example illustrates how an RE approach qualifies assessments by bridging risk assessments with value‐creation processes. The article concludes by arguing that a resilience‐based risk assessment can improve on current practice, including for organizations located outside the Arctic region.
Compassion with Justice: Harari’s Assault on Human Rights
Authors: Martin Mike W.
Published: June 2020

Yuval Noah Harari contends that human rights are an outdated myth. He calls for replacing them with a new global ethic to meet crises as varied as environmental destruction, disruptive technologies, and extreme gaps between rich and poor. Toward that end, he outlines an ethics that exalts compassion and elides justice, an ethics that animates his trilogy: Sapiens, Homo Deus, and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century. I draw together the key elements in his personal ethics, tracing them to a combination of scientism, postmodernism, and Buddhism. I then argue that he misunderstands human rights, inflates the role of science in moral matters, and fails to reconcile his moral passion with his moral skepticism.
The Intensive Other: Deleuze and Levinas on the Ethical Status of the Other
Authors: Ventura David
Published: June 2020

This paper develops a response to the ethical conception of the human Other formulated by Gilles Deleuze in his review of Michel Tournier’s 1967 novel Friday. The central contention here is that although Deleuze develops a compelling notion of intensive ethics in response to Tournier’s novel, that ethics also remains deeply problematic in refusing to ascribe a positive role to the human Other. My wager is that some of these problems can be brought to light by placing Deleuze’s philosophy in dialogue with that of Emmanuel Levinas. As I seek to show, Levinas’s philosophy of alterity not only reveals that Deleuze is mistaken in failing to ascribe a positive ethical role to the human Other, but also begins to point the way toward a more positive conception of ethics that does not oppose the Other to the intensive realm that Deleuze so much values.
The Real Crisis at the Mexico‐U.S. Border: A Humanitarian and Not an Immigration Emergency
Authors: Massey Douglas S.
Published: June 2020

Misguided U.S. policies since 1980 have created a large undocumented population within the United States. Border militarization curtailed circular undocumented migration from Mexico, and Cold War politics precluded the acceptance of refugees from Central America fleeing violence and economic turmoil unleashed by America’s intervention in the region. Although undocumented migration from Mexico has ended, resources devoted to border apprehensions and internal deportations continue to rise, pushing an ever larger number of Central Americans into an immigrant detention system that is ill‐equipped to handle them. Although the Trump administration portrays the situation as an immigration crisis, what is really unfolding along the border and within the United States is an unprecedented humanitarian cross that in so many ways is one of our own making.
Barley HISTIDINE KINASE 1 (HvHK1) coordinates transfer cell specification in the young endosperm
Authors: Hertig Christian , Melzer Michael , Rutten Twan , Erbe Stephan , Hensel Götz , Kumlehn Jochen , Weschke Winfriede , Weber Hans , Thiel Johannes
Published: June 2020

Cereal endosperm represents the most important source of the world’s food; nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms underlying cell and tissue differentiation in cereal grains remain poorly understood. Endosperm cellularization commences at the maternal–filial intersection of grains and generates endosperm transfer cells (ETCs), a cell type with a prominent anatomy optimized for efficient nutrient transport. Barley HISTIDINE KINASE1 (HvHK1) was identified as a receptor component with spatially restricted expression in the syncytial endosperm where ETCs emerge. Here, we demonstrate its function in ETC fate acquisition using RNA interference‐mediated downregulation of HvHK1. Repression of HvHK1 impairs cell specification in the central ETC region and the development of transfer cell morphology, and consecutively defects differentiation of adjacent endosperm tissues. Coinciding with reduced expression of HvHK1, disturbed cell plate formation and fusion were observed at the initiation of endosperm cellularization, revealing that HvHK1 triggers initial cytokinesis of ETCs. Cell‐type‐specific RNA sequencing confirmed loss of transfer cell identity, compromised cell wall biogenesis and reduced transport capacities in aberrant cells and elucidated two‐component signaling and hormone pathways that are mediated by HvHK1. Gene regulatory network modeling was used to specify the direct targets of HvHK1; this predicted non‐canonical auxin signaling elements as the main regulatory links governing cellularization of ETCs, potentially through interaction with type‐B response regulators. This work provides clues to previously unknown molecular mechanisms directing ETC specification, a process with fundamental impact on grain yield in cereals.
An Improved Phenotype-Genotype Mapping for Solving Selective Assembly Problem Using Evolutionary Optimization Algorithms
Authors: Rezaei Aderiani Abolfazl , Wärmefjord Kristina , Söderberg Rikard
Published: June 2020

Selective assembly is an assembly technique for producing high-quality assemblies from relatively lower quality mating parts. Developing the application of this technique to sheet metal assemblies in the automotive industry can improve the geometrical quality and reduce production costs significantly. Nevertheless, the required calculation time is the main obstacle against this development. To apply a selective assembly technique, an optimization problem of finding the optimal combination of mating parts should be solved. This problem is an MINLP optimization problem for selective assembly of sheet metals. This paper demonstrates that the phenotype-genotype mapping commonly used in most conventional selective assembly studies enlarges the search domain of the optimization. Thereafter, a new approach that makes the mapping one-to-one is proposed and applied to three selective assembly sample cases from the literature. Moreover, it is indicated that meta-heuristic methods are superior to MILP and MINLP methods in solving this problem, particularly for assemblies of more than two components and relatively large batch sizes. The results evidence that using the new method improves the convergence rate of meta-heuristics in solving the problem by reducing the number of cost function evaluations to 45% for sheet metal assemblies. This means reducing up-till 26 h of the optimization time for the presented sample cases.
Lithium-Ion Batteries’ Energy Efficiency Prediction Using Physics-Based and State-of-the-Art Artificial Neural Network-Based Models
Authors: Nazari Arash , Kavian Soheil , Nazari Ashkan
Published: June 2020

The new generation of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) possesses considerable energy density that arise the safety concern much more than before. One of the main issues associated with LIB safety is the heat generation and thermal runaway in LIBs. The importance of characterizing the heat generation in LIBs is reflected in numerous studies. The heat generation in LIBs can be related to energy efficiency as well. In this work, the heat generation in LIB is predicted using two different approaches (physics-based and machine learning-based approaches). A validated multiphysics-based and neural network-based models for commercial LIBs with lithium iron phosphate/graphite (LFP/G), lithium manganese oxide/graphite (LMO/G), and lithium cobalt oxide/graphite (LCO/G) electrodes are used to predict the heat generation toward shaping the LIB energy efficiency contours, illustrating the effect of the nominal capacity as a key parameter in the manufacturing process of the LIBs. The developed contours can provide the energy systems designers a comprehensive view over the accurate efficiency of LIBs when they need to incorporate LIBs into their devices. In addition, the effect of temperature on charge/discharge energy efficiency of LFP/graphite LIBs is obtained, and the performance of three typical LIBs in the market at a very low temperature is compared, which have a wide range of applications from consumer applications such as electric vehicles (EVs) to industrial applications such as uninterruptible power sources (UPSes).
Emissions From Oxy-Combustion of Raw and Torrefied Biomass
Authors: Meng Xiaoxiao , Rokni Emad , Zhou Wei , Qi Hongliang , Sun Rui , Levendis Yiannis A.
Published: June 2020

This work assesses the evolution of acid gases from raw and torrefied biomass (distiller’s dried grains with solubles and rice husk) combustion in conventional (air) and simulated oxy-combustion (oxygen/carbon dioxide) environments. Emphasis was placed on the latter, as oxy-combustion of renewable or waste biomass, coupled with carbon capture and utilization or sequestration, could be a benefit toward mitigating global warming. The oxy-combustion environments were set to 21%O2/79%CO2 and 30%O2/70%CO2. Results revealed that combustion of either raw or torrefied biomass generated CO2 emissions that were lower in 21%O2/79%CO2 than at 30%O2/70%CO2, whereas CO emissions exhibited the opposite trend. Emissions of CO from combustion in air were drastically lower than those in the two oxy-combustion environments and those in 21%O2/79%CO2 were the highest. Emissions of NO followed the same trend as those of CO2, while HCN emissions followed the same trend as those of CO. Emissions of NO were higher than those of HCN. The emissions of SO2 were lower in oxy-combustion than in air combustion. Moreover, combustion of torrefied biomass generated higher CO2 and NO, comparable CO and SO2, and lower HCN emissions than combustion of raw biomass. Out of the three conditions tested in this study, oxy-combustion of biomass, either in the raw and torrefied state, attained the highest combustion effectiveness and caused the lowest CO, HCN, and SO2 emissions when the gas composition was 30%O2/70%CO2.
High Temperature Solar Linear Receiver Enclosed in a Reflecting Elliptic Cavity
Authors: Grena Roberto , Lanchi Michela , Turchetti Luca , Crescenzi Tommaso
Published: June 2020

A linear receiver able to achieve temperatures up to 800 °C is presented. The high-temperature resistance is achieved by avoiding critical aspects (vacuum, glass-metal joints, surface films) that limit the temperature in usual receivers; the thermal insulation is obtained by enclosing the receiver tube in an elliptic reflecting cavity. The tube is placed near a focus of the cavity, and the primary collector concentrates the radiation on the other focus, where the cavity has a small opening: the ellipse reflects the radiation toward the tube and largely contains the reflected radiation and thermal emission, thus acting both as a secondary reflector and as a cavity receiver. Optical and thermal simulations show that temperatures up to 800 °C can be achieved, with optical efficiency above 70% and thermal efficiency in the range 45–85% for temperatures in the range 500–800 °C; the local overall efficiency ranges from about 40% to 66%, depending on the receiver tube emissivity and fluid temperature. In this way, the field of applicability of the linear collector technology can be significantly extended to include a vast amount of processes such as thermochemical cycles for hydrogen production, and solar fuel production processes, which require temperatures above 700 °C.
Downstream Computer-Aided Design, Engineering, and Manufacturing Integration Using Exchangeable Persistent Identifiers in Neutral Re-imported Computer-Aided Design Models
Authors: Jauhar Tahir Abbas , Han Soonhung , Kwon Soonjo
Published: June 2020

Computer-aided design, engineering, and manufacturing (CAx) have improved product design and development. The associativity of revised design in native files for downstream applications, assembly design, finite element analysis, and numerical control (NC) manufacturing has been supported by homogeneous CAx systems. However, heterogeneous CAx environments have issues when neutral models are revised and re-imported because the required identification information is missing. This results in a problem of the associativity of neutral models. In this study, different computer-aided design (CAD) applications have been analyzed with respect to their capabilities for import and export of neutral models with identification information. A tool has been selected to demonstrate the key findings. Moreover, future directions have been discussed to solve associativity issues in design re-import based on neutral models.
Optimal Sequence Planning for Robotic Sorting of Recyclables From Source-Segregated Municipal Solid Waste
Authors: Gundupalli Sathish Paulraj , Shukla Rishabh , Gupta Rohit , Hait Subrata , Thakur Atul
Published: June 2020

Sorting of recyclables from source-segregated municipal solid waste (MSW) stream is an essential step in the recycling chain in a material recovery facility (MRF) for waste management. Manual sorting of recyclables in an MRF is a highly hazardous operation for human health as well as time-consuming. Application of robotics for automated waste sorting can alleviate these problems to a large extent. The total sorting time depends upon the pick-and-place (PAP) sequence used in a robotic sorting system. In this context, the generation of optimal PAP sequence plan is a key challenge considering that it cannot be solved by an exhaustive search due to the combinatorial explosion of the search space. This paper reports an approach for generating optimal PAP sequence plan for robotic sorting of recyclables from source-segregated MSW stream in a system equipped with thermal-imaging technique. The PAP sequence generation is formulated as an optimization problem wherein the objective is to minimize the total sorting time. The formulated problem has been solved using a genetic algorithm (GA)-based approach. Numerical simulations as well as physical experiments using a 6 degrees-of-freedom (DOF) articulated manipulator have been performed to test and validate the developed optimal sequence generation algorithm. Results revealed an improvement of up to 4.28% speedup in total sorting time over that of randomly generated sequences. It is envisaged that the developed approach can substantially improve the sorting performance in an MRF.
MVCNN++: Computer-Aided Design Model Shape Classification and Retrieval Using Multi-View Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Angrish Atin , Bharadwaj Akshay , Starly Binil
Published: June 2020

Deep neural networks (DNNs) have been successful in classification and retrieval tasks of images and text, as well as in the graphics domain. However, these DNNs algorithms do not translate to 3D engineering models used in the product design and manufacturing. This paper studies the use of multi-view convolutional neural network (MVCNN) algorithm enhanced by the addition of engineering metadata, for classification and retrieval of 3D computer-aided design (CAD) models. The proposed algorithm (MVCNN++) builds on the MVCNN algorithm with the addition of part dimension data, improving its efficacy for manufacturing part classification and yielding an improvement in classification accuracy of 5.8% over the original version. Unlike datasets used for 3D shape classification and retrieval in the computer graphics domain, engineering level description of 3D CAD models do not yield themselves to neat, distinct classes. Techniques such as relaxed-classification and prime angled cameras for capturing feature detail were used to address training data capture issues specific to 3D CAD models, along with the use of transfer learning to reduce training time. Our study has shown that DNNs can be used to search and discover relevant 3D engineering models in large public repositories, making 3D models accessible to the community.
Experiments on the Identification of the Onset of Buoyancy-Driven Convection in High Aspect Ratio Top Open Cavities
Authors: Saxena Ashish , Srivastava Atul , Singh Suneet
Published: June 2020

Experimental analysis of the onset of buoyancy-driven convection in a top facing high aspect ratio cavity is reported. Bottom surface of the cavity is heated, with its two vertical side walls being insulated. Thermal field in the cavity has been non-intrusively mapped using a Mach–Zehnder interferometer. The cavity has been subjected to two different temperature differences, ΔT = 3 °C (Ra ≃ 300) and ΔT = 15 °C (Ra ≃ 1400). Sudden change in the heat transfer coefficient as well as the formation of thermally stratified layers at the bottom part of the cavity was not observed for the applied cavity temperature differences, which in turn, indicates that there is no such phenomenon of onset of buoyancy-driven convection in high aspect ratio cavities. Corner flow, induced due to the temperature difference between the atmosphere and the cavity, is the dominant flow inside the cavity. Almost identical profiles of flow in both the cases of the applied temperature potentially signify that the flow profile is independent of the Rayleigh number or the temperature differences. These observations have been supported by whole field temperature distribution profiles, spatial distributions of local Nusselt number, and nondimensional temperature at different position of the cavity.
Design and Error Evaluation of Planar 2DOF Remote Center of Motion Mechanisms With Cable Transmissions
Authors: Huang Long , Yin Lairong , Liu Bei , Yang Yang
Published: June 2020

In a minimally invasive surgical (MIS) robot, the remote center of motion (RCM) mechanism is usually used to realize the constrained motion of the surgical instrument. In this paper, a novel design method for planar 2DOF RCM mechanisms is proposed based on closed-loop cable transmissions. The concept is to utilize several coupled cable transmissions to constrain a serial kinematic chain. Through the analysis and determination of the transmission ratios for these cable transmissions, a class of planar 2DOF RCM mechanisms without any active or passive translational joints is obtained, which provides large workspace and low collision risk for the MIS robots. One of the resulting mechanisms is designed in detail and kinematically analyzed. To evaluate the influence of the elastic cables, a new error model for the proposed RCM mechanism is established through the static analysis and cable deformation analysis. Utilizing this model, the cable-induced error distributions of the tip and the RCM point are obtained, which show that these errors are within a relatively small range. Furthermore, the prototype of the proposed mechanism is built, and the accuracy experiments are conducted.
Conditional cash transfers to alleviate poverty also reduced deforestation in Indonesia
Authors: Ferraro Paul J. , Simorangkir Rhita
Published: June 2020

Modest, but persistent, transfers of cash to extremely poor households can provide both social and environmental benefits.
Self-assembled cGAMP-STINGΔTM signaling complex as a bioinspired platform for cGAMP delivery
Authors: He Yanpu , Hong Celestine , Yan Emily Z. , Fletcher Samantha J. , Zhu Ge , Yang Mengdi , Li Yingzhong , Sun Xin , Irvine Darrell J. , Li Jiahe , Hammond Paula T.
Published: June 2020

A bioinspired approach was developed for STING agonist delivery with STINGΔTM as a functional carrier.
Intrabasinal sediment recycling from detrital strontium isotope stratigraphy
Authors: Auchter Neal C. , Romans Brian W. , Hubbard Stephen M. , Daniels Benjamin G. , Scher Howie D. , Buckley Wayne
Published: June 2020

Temporary storage of sediment between source and sink can hinder reconstruction of climate and/or tectonic signals from stratigraphy by mixing of sediment tracers with diagnostic geochemical or geochronological signatures. Constraining the occurrence and timing of intrabasinal sediment recycling has been challenging because widely used detrital geo-thermochronology applications do not record shallow burial and subsequent reworking. Here, we apply strontium isotope stratigraphy techniques to recycled marine shell material in slope deposits of the Upper Cretaceous Tres Pasos Formation, Magallanes Basin, Chile. Detrital 87Sr/86Sr ages from 94 samples show that the majority (>85%) of the shells are >1–12 m.y. older than independently constrained depositional ages. We interpret the gap between mineralization age (87Sr/86Sr age) and depositional age of host strata to represent the intrabasinal residence time of sediment storage at the million-year time scale. We also use specimen type to infer relative position of intrabasinal source material along the depositional profile, where oysters represent shallow-water (i.e., proximal) sources and inoceramids represent deeper-water (i.e., distal) sources. The combined use of detrital strontium isotope ages and specimen types from linked depositional segments provides an opportunity to identify and quantify sediment storage and recycling in ancient source-to-sink systems.
Supplemental Material: Late Cretaceous to Eocene denudation history of the Tolimán area, southern Sierra Madre Oriental, central Mexico
Authors: Guerrero-Paz Deisy
Published: June 2020

Detailed apatite fission-track results
Invasive cervical adenocarcinoma arising from extension of recurrent vulval Paget’s disease
Authors: Hardy Liesel Elisabeth , Baxter Lachlan , Wan King , Ayres Chloe
Published: June 2020

An 83-year-old woman with a long-standing history of both invasive and vulval extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD) was referred to a tertiary gynaecological oncology service for suspicion of contiguous extension to the vagina and cervix. Vaginal biopsies confirmed EMPD; however, a loop excision of the cervix demonstrated invasive adenocarcinoma arising from Paget’s disease. The patient subsequently underwent laparoscopic radical hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and radical upper vaginectomy, confirming FIGO stage 1B1 cervical adenocarcinoma. She was recommended but declined to have adjuvant pelvic external beam radiotherapy. To our knowledge this is the second case of invasive cervical adenocarcinoma arising from vulval Paget’s disease in the literature.
Biochemistry may be misleading in metachronous MEN2A-associated phaeochromocytoma following unilateral total adrenalectomy
Authors: Nassour Anthony-Joe , Nylen Carolina , Sywak Mark , Clifton-Bligh Roderick
Published: June 2020

A 63-year-old woman with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A) presented with recurrent spells of headaches, sweats and palpitations decades after right adrenalectomy for phaeochromocytoma, and total thyroidectomy for medullary thyroid cancer. She was hypertensive and in sinus rhythm. DOTA-TATE positron-emission tomography (PET) demonstrated a 12mm enhancing left adrenal incidentaloma. 24 hours urine catecholamines, and multiple plasma metanephrine and normetanephrine measurements were all within normal reference ranges. Based on her symptoms and imaging findings, left adrenalectomy was performed and found a 40 mm phaeochromocytoma. Her symptoms have since completely resolved and plasma metanephrine is now undetectable MEN2-associated phaeochromocytomas are often bilateral and may be metachronous. Patients at high risk of phaeochromocytoma who develop symptoms of catecholamine excess should be carefully evaluated even if plasma or urinary metanephrines are within the normal reference range. Biochemical reference ranges for metanephrines need to be adjusted accordingly in patients who have had prior unilateral total adrenalectomy.
Addition of arterial spin-labelled MR perfusion to conventional brain MRI: clinical experience in a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Belani Puneet , Kihira Shingo , Pacheco Felipe , Pawha Puneet , Cruciata Giuseppe , Nael Kambiz
Published: June 2020

Objective

The usage of arterial spin labelling (ASL) perfusion has exponentially increased due to improved and faster acquisition time and ease of postprocessing. We aimed to report potential additional findings obtained by adding ASL to routine unenhanced brain MRI for patients being scanned in a hospital setting for various neurological indications.

Design

Retrospective.

Setting

Large tertiary hospital.

Participants

676 patients.

Primary outcome

Additional findings from ASL sequence compared with conventional MRI.

Results

Our patient cohorts consisted of 676 patients with 257 with acute infarcts and 419 without an infarct. Additional findings from ASL were observed in 13.9% (94/676) of patients. In the non-infarct group, additional findings from ASL were observed in 7.4% (31/419) of patients, whereas in patients with an acute infarct, supplemental information was obtained in 24.5% (63/257) of patients.

Conclusion

The addition of an ASL sequence to routine brain MRI in a hospital setting provides additional findings compared with conventional brain MRI in about 7.4% of patients with additional supplementary information in 24.5% of patients with acute infarct.
Implementation of colorectal cancer screening interventions in low-income and middle-income countries: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Schliemann Désirée , Matovu Nicholas , Ramanathan Kogila , Muñoz-Aguirre Paloma , O'Neill Ciaran , Kee Frank , Su Tin Tin , Donnelly Michael
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Colorectal cancer (CRC) imposes a significant global burden of disease. CRC survival rates are much lower in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Screening tends to lead to an improvement in cancer detection and the uptake of available treatments and, in turn, to better chances of cancer survival. Most evidence on CRC screening interventions comes from high-income countries. The objective of this scoping review is to map the available literature on the implementation of CRC screening interventions in LMICs.

Methods and analysis

We will conduct a scoping review according to the framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley (2005). We will search MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and Google Scholar using a combination of terms such as “colorectal cancer”, “screening” and “low-middle-income countries”. Studies of CRC screening interventions/programmes conducted in the general adult population in LMICs as well as policy reviews (of interventions in LMICs) and commentaries on challenges and opportunities of delivering CRC screening in LMICs, published in the English language before February 2020 will be included in this review. The title and abstract screen will be conducted by one reviewer and two reviewers will screen full-texts and extract data from included papers, independently, into a data charting template that will include criteria from an adapted template for intervention description and replication checklist and implementation considerations. The presentation of the scoping review will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews guidance.

Ethics and dissemination

There are no ethical concerns. The results will be used to inform colorectal screening interventions in LMICs. We will publish the findings in a peer-reviewed journal and present them at relevant conferences.
Under-seeding potato with nurse crops in eastern Canada: challenges and opportunities
Authors: Nyiraneza Judith , Hann Sheldon , Owen Josée , Zebarth Bernie J. , Stiles Kyra , Fillmore Sherry
Published: June 2020

Soil erosion can be a serious issue in eastern Canada during the 3–5 wk that it takes for potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) to emerge under the cool, humid climatic conditions with frequent heavy rainfall events. Seeding a fast-growing nurse crop at the same time as the potato crop can hold the soil particles in place, reduce surface crusting, and increase water infiltration. The objective of this study, conducted in Prince Edward Island and in New Brunswick in 2017, was to evaluate the effects of under-seeding potato with barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and winter rye (Secale cereale L.) on marketable potato yield, nitrate dynamics during the growing season, and soil moisture content. Nurse crop growth was terminated mechanically (hilling), with a selective herbicide, or with a nonselective herbicide. Yield increases ranging from 9% to 91% were observed when nurse crop growth was terminated using a nonselective herbicide at both sites. Inconsistent results were obtained when a mechanical method or a selective herbicide were used, with marketable yield reduced at one site and no effect on yield at another site. There was a trend toward higher soil nitrate contents under the control than under the nurse crop treatments, though it was not consistent across sampling times. Results demonstrated that there are circumstances under which nurse crops can be successfully integrated into a potato-based system and provided future hypotheses to test. Potential confounding factors that can impact the nurse crop efficiency are discussed.
Model predictions of charge particle densities and multiplicities in the forward region at 7 TeV
Authors: Khan Rashid , Ajaz Muhammad
Published: June 2020

We simulate proton–proton interactions to study densities and multiplicities of charged particles at center-of-mass energy, [Formula: see text] TeV in the forward region and compare predictions with experimental findings of LHCb detector. We use different event generators: Sibyll2.3c, EPOS (1.99 and LHC tunes), and DPMJETIII for the simulations. The kinematic region for momentum [Formula: see text], transverse momentum [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in pseudorapidity is kept same as in the LHCb experiment for forward region. Predictions of different models and experimental data are presented and compared as a function of transverse momentum and pseudorapidity.
Numerical analysis of effective refractive index bio-sensor based on graphene-embedded slot-based dual-micro-ring resonator
Authors: Zhao C. Y. , Chen P. Y. , Li P. Y. , Zhang C. M.
Published: June 2020

We propose a novel bio-sensor structure composed of slot dual-micro-ring resonators and mono-layer graphene. Based on the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT)-like phenomenon and the light-absorption characteristics of graphene, we present a theoretical analysis of transmission by using the coupled mode theory and Kubo formula. The results demonstrate the EIT-like spectrum with asymmetric line profile. The mode-field distributions of transmission spectrum are obtained from 3D simulations based on finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. Our bio-sensor exhibits theoretical sensitivity of 330 nm/RIU, a minimum detection limit of [Formula: see text] RIU, the maximum extinction ratio of 4.4 dB, the quality factor of [Formula: see text] and a compact structure of [Formula: see text]. Finally, the bio-sensor’s performance is simulated for glucose solution. Our proposed design provides a promising candidate for on-chip integration with other silicon photonic element.
A multiscale model of virus pandemic: Heterogeneous interactive entities in a globally connected world
Authors: Bellomo Nicola , Bingham Richard , Chaplain Mark A. J. , Dosi Giovanni , Forni Guido , Knopoff Damian A. , Lowengrub John , Twarock Reidun , Virgillito Maria Enrica
Published: June 2020

This paper is devoted to the multidisciplinary modelling of a pandemic initiated by an aggressive virus, specifically the so-called SARS–CoV–[Formula: see text] Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, corona virus n.[Formula: see text]. The study is developed within a multiscale framework accounting for the interaction of different spatial scales, from the small scale of the virus itself and cells, to the large scale of individuals and further up to the collective behaviour of populations. An interdisciplinary vision is developed thanks to the contributions of epidemiologists, immunologists and economists as well as those of mathematical modellers. The first part of the contents is devoted to understanding the complex features of the system and to the design of a modelling rationale. The modelling approach is treated in the second part of the paper by showing both how the virus propagates into infected individuals, successfully and not successfully recovered, and also the spatial patterns, which are subsequently studied by kinetic and lattice models. The third part reports the contribution of research in the fields of virology, epidemiology, immune competition, and economy focussed also on social behaviours. Finally, a critical analysis is proposed looking ahead to research perspectives.
Role of triaxiality parameter γ in deformed nuclei
Authors: Gupta J. B.
Published: June 2020

The well known, one-parameter Davydov–Filippov model (DFM) or its variants have been used often to study the inter band [Formula: see text]-g B(E2) ratios for the triaxially deformed nuclei. Here, its application for the axially deformed nuclei with [Formula: see text] less than [Formula: see text] is illustrated, which has not received attention so far. Instead of the usual practice of studying the gamma-ground B(E2) ratios, we focus on the absolute B(E2) values in DFM. It offers a wholly new role of the [Formula: see text]-variable in explaining the spectral features of the axially deformed nuclei. Further, it illustrates the intimate relationship of the [Formula: see text] variable and the quadrupole deformation variable [Formula: see text]. Additionally, a unified view of the various differing patterns of the variation of the [Formula: see text]-g B(E2) ratios versus [Formula: see text] is presented.