bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Landscape-scale cropping changes in the High Plains: economic and environmental implications
Authors: Rosenzweig Steven T , Schipanski Meagan E
Published: December 2019

A global transformation in semi-arid cropping systems is occurring as dryland (non-irrigated) farmers in semi-arid regions shift from crop rotations reliant on year-long bare fallows, called summer fallow, to more intensively cropped systems. Understanding the rate of cropping system intensification at the landscape scale is critical to estimating the economic and environmental implications of this movement. Here, we use high-resolution satellite data to quantify dryland cropping patterns from 2008 to 2016 in the US High Plains. We use these estimates to scale up our previous field-level research in this region on soil carbon, herbicide use, yields, and profitability. Over the nine year study period, the High Plains witnessed a profound shift in cropping systems, as the historically dominant wheat-fallow system was replaced by more intensified rotations as the dominant systems by land area. Out of the 4 million hectares of non-irrigated cropland in the study area, this shift coincided with a 0.5 million-hectare decline in summer fallow and a concurrent increase in alternative (non-wheat) crops. We estimate that, from 2008 to 2016, these patterns resulted in a 0.53 Tg (9%) increase in annual grain production, 80 million USD (10%) increase in annual net farm operating income, substantial reductions in herbicide use, and an increase in C sequestration that corresponds to greenhouse gas reductions of 0.32 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents per year (MMTCO2e yr−1). We project each of these implications to a scenario of potential maximum 100% intensification and estimate that, relative to 2016 levels, herbicide use would be reduced by more than half, grain production would increase by 25%, net operating income would increase by 223 million USD (26%), and greenhouse gases would be reduced by an additional 0.8 MMTCO2e yr−1. The scale of cropping intensification in the High Plains and its environmental and economic impacts has important implications for other regions undergoing similar transformations, and for policy that can either support or hinder these shifts toward more sustainable cropping systems.
Shrinkage of the alkali-activated slag mortars containing alternative activator
Authors: Kucharczyková B , Bílek V , Šimonová H
Published: December 2019

The paper deals with the experimental determination of the shrinkage process of the alkali-activated slag mortars (AASM). Two mortars which differed especially in the type of used aggregate were mixed for the experiment. The slag-aggregate ratio was 1:3 for both mortars. The waste sludge, obtained from the water glass production, was used as an activator. The desired workability of the fresh mixtures was reached by addition of water. Because of the high water demand of waste sludge, the water-slag coefficient (w/s) was relatively high – 0.98 for the mortar with the natural sand and 0.73 for the mortar with the standard sand. All test specimens were removed from the moulds at the age of 24 hours and left to dry freely in the laboratory conditions with a temperature of 21 ± 2°C and relative humidity of 50 ± 10% during the whole time of measurement. The results show that AASMs which contain waste sludge exhibit rapid shrinkage with a high magnitude independent on the type of aggregate. During the first 40 hours of ageing, both mortars reached approx. 50% of the final value of shrinkage. The high shrinkage was strengthened by a high w/s coefficient needed to maintain the workability of the fresh mixtures.
Competence of local government Building Board in elimination of the consequences of arbitrary construction
Authors: Luce I , Pukite I
Published: December 2019

In accordance with the provisions of regulatory enactments of the Republic of Latvia, the law obliges the local governments to establish a Building Board within their administrative territory or, in co-operation with other local governments to develop joint Building Boards and ensure the resources required for the operation of a Building Board, thus providing for the legality of construction process in their administrative territory. Building Board is an institution of special status, established at the local government and it is one of the municipal structures that has been delegated to control the legality of the building process in the administrative territory of local government, therefore, the Building Board is an intermediate administration institution that is bound by external regulatory enactments that are binding on derivative public entity, and, therefore the administrative procedure is binding on them as well.The objective of the article is to study the competence of Building Board in the elimination of the consequences of arbitrary building by determining the principal functions of the Building Board, signs of the detection of the arbitrary building and the competence of the personnel of the Building Board and the competences of the Building Board personnel in the review of arbitrary construction cases. The article evaluates the administrative acts of the Building Board that impose the duty of the addressee of the administrative act to eliminate the consequences of arbitrary building.
Evaluation of adhesion between bitumen and aggregate with the digital image processing method
Authors: Riekstins A , Haritonovs V , Balodis A
Published: December 2019

Although adhesion in asphalt between bitumen and aggregates is one of the essential properties, it is still evaluated visually. European Standard EN 12697-11 provides 3 test methods for the preparation of samples for evaluation - rolling-bottle method, static method and boiling water stripping method. The method used in Latvia is different from EN 12697-11, but with similarities. Bitumen coverage is evaluated visually for all options. The result is the average value of two parallel operators. This principle of evaluation is much criticized as inaccurate and subjective. Today’s technologies are evolving, and in many fields, they are more reliable than a human. This study aims to determine whether a visual assessment method can be replaced by a digital image processing method. To evaluate the accuracy of the image processing method, four different mineral materials - granite, dolomite, quartz diorite, gravel, were selected. Samples obtained during the test procedure were tested visually and using an image processing method. For image evaluation, a mini photo studio was created, where pictures were taken using a professional camera and a budget smartphone. The smartphone was used to determine if it is possible to get high-quality images and results using budget smartphones in our pockets.
Axial strengthening of RC columns by steel encasement with direct fastening connections
Authors: Su R K L , Shan Z W
Published: December 2019

Reinforced concrete (RC) columns are crucial structural members that sustain vertical loads. Their strength may deteriorate due to fire, corrosion of the reinforcements or design errors. In response, a new strengthening method that uses a steel encasement to increase the axial capacity and ductility of RC columns is proposed in this paper. This method is quick and convenient because direct fastening is used to assemble the system. Four columns including one control column and three strengthened columns have been tested to examine the reliability and effectiveness of the proposed method. Although direct fastening plays a crucial role in the structural performance of the proposed method, current design guidelines have not incorporated this new connection technique. Hence, extensive connection tests have been conducted to evaluate the key factors (e.g. fastener type, fastener spacing, protuberance, etc.) that affect the strength of the connections. New design equations are subsequently proposed based on the test results for shear connections that use direct fastening.
Comparison of bond efficiency of various coating materials
Authors: Osifala K B , Akeju T A I
Published: December 2019

The paper reports an experimental research investigation carried out to compare the bond resistance and efficiency of various coating materials, including epoxy, which were sourced locally. Thirty-four full size beams of varying lengths and sectional dimensions, with lap spliced bars in constant moment region were cast and tested in a four-point bending system. Three varying high yield diameter bars 16 mm, 20 mm and 28 mm were coated with various coating materials such as epoxy, chlorinated rubber, tyrolin, vinyl chloride and zinc ethyl silicate in an attempt to find a cheaper but effective coating material than epoxy. The ultimate moment from the tests were used to determine the stress developed in the steel rods. The bond efficiency, i.e. the ratio of test bond stresses and the theoretical bond stresses was used for the comparison of the various coating materials. The bond resistance and efficiency of vinyl chloride coated bars were found to be higher than that of epoxy and other materials, in all the beams tested. Statistically, there appear not to be significant difference between the bond efficiency of epoxy and vinyl chloride.
Research and algorithmization of the process for completing clothes by materials with electric propertie
Authors: Cherunova I , Kutilina G , Milyutin E
Published: December 2019

In the article research results are presented, which aim to provide of automation algorithm of the process for completing clothes by materials with electric properties. The problem of electrostatic safety is included into the field of particular relevance. Analysis of the list of quality indexes of the special protective clothing allowed to form for automation of design works a group of protective properties of clothing to be used for positioning of the rational suit designated for the employees in the northern regions. Developed Structure of protective properties of clothing for automation of design works; Required properties of special anti-electrostatic clothing for the protection from reduced temperatures; additional quality parameters of materials and physical and mechanical properties. Designed and applied a support algorithm of the process for completing clothing by materials with electric properties. Installed normalizing parameters of materials for their automated forming into packages of details for protective clothing with up-to-date electric properties. The research was made in Don State Technical University within the framework of State Assignment of the Ministry of education and science of Russia under the project 11.9194.2017/BCh.
Expertise-based decision makers’ importance weights for solving group decision making problems under fuzzy preference relations
Authors: Herowati E
Published: December 2019

The quality of a decision is influenced by the level of expertise of the Decision Makers (DMs). In Group Decision Making, alternatives’ scores are obtained by integrating the DMs opinions and the importance weights of the DMs greatly affect the resulted value. Expertise level is defined as the ability to differentiate consistently and expressed as the CWS-Index, a ratio between the Discrimination and Inconsistency. The DMs give their evaluations in pairwise comparison of Fuzzy Preference Relations (FPR) and the additivity property of FPR generates the estimators needed to get the CWS-Indexes and the expertise-based ranking of DMs. The weights of the DMs are obtained by using Induced Ordered Weighted Averaging (IOWA) operator and Basic Unit Monotonic Increasing functions and the resulted weights are used to evaluate the available alternatives to get the best one based on Fuzzy Majority and IOWA operators. This paper proposes an expertise-based weight allocation method for DMs and a numerical example is discussed to illustrate this expertise-based model to get the best alternative and it is concluded that the higher the DMs’ expertise level, the higher his/her weight would be, and these weights affect the alternatives’ score and the rank of the alternatives.
Surface morphology analysis of oxide layers formed on 10CrMo9-10 steel used in the power industry
Authors: Gwoździk Monika , Bramowicz Mirosław , Kulesza Sławomir
Published: December 2019

The knowledge about high-temperature corrosion of steels operating at elevated temperatures is important due to the durability of power equipment. The paper demonstrated the fractal analysis of oxide layers formed on 10CrMo9-10 steel under the operating temperature of 545 °C for 200 000 h employed in the power industry. The studies were carried out on elements taken from the inner and outer surface of the tube wall on the outlet both on the fire and counter-fire side of the tube wall surface. Thorough examinations of the oxide layer comprised microscopic examinations using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The fractal geometry of oxidized surfaces was characterized by providing the fractal dimension D. Using the methods of numerical analysis of the surface, the texture anisotropy ratio Str was also determined. The corner frequency τ and grain size dg were also determined. The obtained results of performed fractal analysis showed that the studied surface on the tube wall outside was more developed as compared with the inside. In addition it was shown that directly on the flue gas inflow side (the fire side) the oxides/deposits layer was built of densely arranged spherical deposits, which formed an unfavourable barrier between the component (tube) and the atmosphere surrounding it.
The effects of Zn incorporation on electrical, photoluminescence and spectral sensitivity of SILAR deposited CdS thin films
Authors: V K Ashith , K Priya , A V Muhammed Ali , Keshav Rashmitha , Rao Gowrish K , M G Mahesha
Published: December 2019

The SILAR deposited CdS films were incorporated with various concentrations of zinc using zinc acetate and zinc chloride precursors. The presence of zinc was found to alter the crystal structure and energy bandgap of the films. The bandgap increased by nearly 44% with the increase of zinc concentration in the films. The photoluminescence spectra of the films revealed the presence of several localized defects levels within the forbidden bandgap. The peak spectral response wavelength was found to vary from 500 nm to 400 nm with the increase of zinc. The photocurrent was found to increase with the Cd:Zn ratio. The films with relatively high concentrations of zinc were found to be better suited for the photodetector applications due to their higher photocurrent to dark current ratio.
Study on the continuous phase evolution and physical properties of gas-atomized high-entropy alloy powders
Authors: Liang Jui-Ting , Cheng Kuei-Chung , Chen Shih-Hsun , Chen Jing-Han , Stadler Shane , Li Chia-Lin , Hsueh Chun-Hway
Published: December 2019

In this study, AlCoCrFeNi high entropy alloy (HEA) powders were fabricated by gas atomization process, and the effects of annealing heat treatment on phase evolution and mechanical properties were investigated. The as-atomized powders have pure BCC phase with a spherical shape and equal composition distribution, and then the FCC and sigma phase sequentially generated after annealing. The mechanical property such as hardness was evidently enhanced, which was caused by precipitation hardening effect. After the raw powders were annealed at 600 °C, the FCC (Al–Ni) phase began to precipitate, the its phase intensity raised with the annealing temperature. Then, the sigma phase (Fe–Cr) formed as the annealing temperature reached 800 °C. Both mechanical properties and lattice constant were influenced by heating effect. According to the results, the lattice became loose with the increasing temperature. In summary, the mechanical properties and phase constitutions of gas-atomized AlCoCrFeNi HEA powders can be adjusted via annealing process, resulting in precipitation hardening effect.
Adsorption characteristics of Cu (II) onto CaCl2 pretreated algerian bentonite
Authors: Ouakouak A , Rihani K , Youcef L , Hamdi N , Guergazi S
Published: December 2019

Calcium treated bentonite clay (CTBC) was prepared by CaCl2 impregnation of Algerian bentonite clay. The prepared adsorbent was characterized and successfully used to remove Cu (II) ions from aqueous solutions at different conditions (pH, stirring time and initial copper concentration). Results showed that the raw bentonite was changed completely into Ca-bentonite, which exhibits a high adsorption capacity (qt = 19.98 mg g−1) at pH = 5.0. It appeared that the sorption mechanisms are simultaneous and strongly depend on pH value. In the pH range from 3–10, the removal of copper occurs mainly by ion exchange, surface metal complexation and precipitation of Cu (OH)2. It was also found that the experimental data of kinetic adsorption are well fitted by the pseudo-first order model. Equilibrium data obeyed the Langmuir isotherm with maximum adsorption capacity of 55.48 mg g−1. The mean adsorption energy predicted by Dubinin-Radushkevich model (E = 1.55 Kj/mol) shows the physical nature of the adsorption interactions. Results of this study suggest the potential of the prepared CTBC which can be used easily for fast decontamination of wastewater containing toxic metal ions.
Optical spectroscopy studies of atom intermixing in the core versus growth temperature of the claddings in MOCVD-grown quantum cascade lasers
Authors: Kurka M , Badura M , Dyksik M , Ryczko K , Kopaczek J , Misiewicz J , Ściana B , Tłaczała M , Sankowska I , Pierściński K , Motyka M
Published: December 2019

Here we present optical spectroscopy studies to examine structural and optical properties of active region of quantum cascade lasers grown fully by MOCVD technique. The active part is InGaAs/AlInAs based multilayer structure nominally lattice matched to InP substrate. In this communication we study a set of structures with different growth temperature of the cladding layers and its influence on the properties of active core. The x-ray spectroscopy (XRD) allowed to determine the widths of constituent layers and compare obtained values with nominal ones. Fourier-transformed photoluminescence (FTPL) and photoreflectance (PR) measurements provided high signal to noise spectra, proving good optical and structural properties of investigated samples. A model of atoms interdiffusion processes was presented to explain observed small energy shifts of the transitions energies within the investigated multilayer structures.
The balance between efficiency, stability and environmental impacts in perovskite solar cells: a review
Authors: Urbina Antonio
Published: December 2019

Photovoltaic technology is progressing very fast, both in a new installed capacity, now reaching a total of more than 400 GW worldwide, and in a big research effort to develop more efficient and sustainable technologies. Organic and hybrid solar cells have been pointed out as a technological breakthrough due to their potential for low economical cost and low environmental impact; but despite impressive laboratory progress, the market is still beyond reach for these technologies, especially for perovskite-based technology. In this review, the historical evolution and relationship of efficiency and stability is addressed, including Life Cycle Assessment studies which provide a quantitative evaluation of environmental impacts in several categories, such as human health or freshwater ecotoxicity, with special focus on lead toxicity. The main conclusion is that there is no unsurmountable barrier for the massive deployment of photovoltaic systems with perovskite solar modules, if the stability is extended to lifetimes similar to technologies already in the market. The results of this review provide some recommendations mainly focused on the best options for improved stability (avoiding mainly moisture and oxygen degradation) by using metal oxides, ternary or quaternary cations, or the novel 2D/3D approach, and the encapsulation effort which should also take into account the recyclability of the materials and the low environmental impact processes for up-scaled industrial production. Research guidelines should take into account the end-of-life of the devices and cleaner routes for production avoiding toxic solvents.
Fibered varieties over curves with low slope and sharp bounds in dimension three
Authors: Hu Yong , Zhang Tong
Published: December 2019

In this paper, we first construct varieties of any dimension

n
>
2

n>2

fibered over curves with low slopes. These examples violate the conjectural slope inequality of Barja and Stoppino [Springer Proc. Math. Stat. 71 (2014), pp. 1–40].

Led by their conjecture, we focus on finding the lowest possible slope when

n
=
3

n=3

. Based on a characteristic

p
>
0

p > 0

method, we prove that the sharp lower bound of the slope of fibered

3
3

-folds over curves is

4

/

3

4/3

, and it occurs only when the general fiber is a

(
1
,
2
)

(1, 2)

-surface. Otherwise, the sharp lower bound is

2
2

. We also obtain a Cornalba-Harris-Xiao-type slope inequality for families of surfaces of general type over curves, and it is sharper than all known results with no extra assumptions.

As an application of the slope bound, we deduce a sharp Noether-Severi-type inequality that

K
X
3

≥
2
χ
(
X
,

ω
X

)

K_X^3 \ge 2\chi (X, \omega _X)

for an irregular minimal

3
3

-fold

X
X

of general type not having a

(
1
,
2
)

(1,2)

-surface Albanese fibration. It answers a question in [Canad. J. Math. 67 (2015), pp. 696–720] and thus completes the full Severi-type inequality for irregular

3
3

-folds of general type.
Erratum to “Second main theorems for meromorphic mappings and moving hyperplanes with truncated counting functions”
Authors: Duc Quang Si
Published: December 2019

This erratum concerns Lemma 3.1 in the original paper [Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 147 (2019), pp. 1657–1669]. The statement of that lemma needs to be slightly changed since the statement of Claim 3.5 must be changed. The proof of the lemma is mostly still kept as the original one with some lines modified. This change does not effect the proof of the main results.
The functional model for maximal dissipative operators (translation form): An approach in the spirit of operator knots
Authors: Brown Malcolm , Marletta Marco , Naboko Serguei , Wood Ian
Published: December 2019

In this article we develop a functional model for a general maximal dissipative operator. We construct the selfadjoint dilation of such operators. Unlike previous functional models, our model is given explicitly in terms of parameters of the original operator, making it more useful in concrete applications.

For our construction we introduce an abstract framework for working with a maximal dissipative operator and its anti-dissipative adjoint and make use of the Štraus characteristic function in our setting. Explicit formulae are given for the selfadjoint dilation, its resolvent, a core and the completely non-selfadjoint subspace; minimality of the dilation is shown. The abstract theory is illustrated by the example of a Schrödinger operator on a half-line with dissipative potential, and boundary condition and connections to existing theory are discussed.
Multiparameter perturbation theory of matrices and linear operators
Authors: Parusiński Adam , Rond Guillaume
Published: December 2019

We show that a normal matrix

A
A

with coefficients in

C

[
[
X
]
]

\mathbb {C}[[X]]

,

X
=
(

X
1

,
…
,

X
n

)

X=(X_1, \ldots , X_n)

, can be diagonalized, provided the discriminant

Δ
A

\Delta _A

of its characteristic polynomial is a monomial times a unit. The proof is an adaptation of our proof of the Abhyankar-Jung Theorem. As a corollary we obtain the singular value decomposition for an arbitrary matrix

A
A

with coefficient in

C

[
[
X
]
]

\mathbb {C}[[X]]

under a similar assumption on

Δ

A

A
∗

\Delta _{AA^*}

and

Δ

A
∗

A

\Delta _{A^*A}

.

We also show real versions of these results, i.e., for coefficients in

R

[
[
X
]
]

\mathbb {R}[[X]]

, and deduce several results on multiparameter perturbation theory for normal matrices with real analytic, quasi-analytic, or Nash coefficients.
3-dimensional combinatorial Yamabe flow in hyperbolic background geometry
Authors: Ge Huabin , Hua Bobo
Published: December 2019

We study the 3-dimensional combinatorial Yamabe flow in hyperbolic background geometry. For a triangulation of a 3-manifold, we prove that if the number of tetrahedra incident to each vertex is at least 23, then there exist real or virtual ball packings with vanishing (extended) combinatorial scalar curvature, i.e., the total (extended) solid angle at each vertex is equal to

4
π

4\pi

. In this case, if such a ball packing is real, then the (extended) combinatorial Yamabe flow converges exponentially fast to that ball packing. Moreover, we prove that there is no real or virtual ball packing with vanishing (extended) combinatorial scalar curvature if the number of tetrahedra incident to each vertex is at most 22.
Gender, Social Value Orientation, and Tax Compliance
Authors: D’Attoma John W , Volintiru Clara , Malézieux Antoine
Published: December 2019

This article brings an important empirical contribution to the academic literature by examining whether gender differences in tax compliance are due to higher prosociality among women. We conducted a large cross-national tax compliance experiment carried out in different countries—Italy, UK, USA, Sweden, and Romania. We uncover that women declare a significantly higher percentage of their income than men in all five countries. While some scholars have argued that differences in honesty between men and women are mediated by prosociality, we find that women are not more prosocial than men in all countries and we do not find a mediating effect of prosocial behaviour on tax compliance. Though tax evasion is a form of dishonesty, the tax compliance experiment is quite different from an honesty experiment, which is certainly one explanation for the different results. We conclude that although differences in prosociality between men and women seem to be context-dependent, differences in tax compliance are indeed much more consistent.
Enteroids Derived From Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Display Dysregulated Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Pathways, Leading to Differential Inflammatory Responses and Dendritic Cell Maturation
Authors: Rees William D , Stahl Martin , Jacobson Kevan , Bressler Brian , Sly Laura M , Vallance Bruce A , Steiner Theodore S
Published: December 2019

Background and Aims

Endoplasmic reticulum [ER] stress in intestinal epithelial cells [IECs] contributes to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. We hypothesized that ER stress changes innate signalling in human IECs, augmenting toll-like receptor [TLR] responses and inducing pro-inflammatory changes in underlying dendritic cells [DCs].

Methods

Caco-2 cells and primary human colon-derived enteroid monolayers were exposed to ATP [control stressor] or thapsigargin [Tg] [ER stress inducer], and were stimulated with the TLR5 agonist flagellin. Cytokine release was measured by an enzyme immunoassay. ER stress markers CHOP, GRP78 and XBP1s/u were measured via quantitative PCR and Western blot. Monocyte-derived DCs [moDCs] were cultured with the IEC supernatants and their activation state was measured. Responses from enteroids derived from IBD patients and healthy control participants were compared.

Results

ER stress enhanced flagellin-induced IL-8 release from Caco-2 cells and enteroids. Moreover, conditioned media activated DCs to become pro-inflammatory, with increased expression of CD80, CD86, MHCII, IL-6, IL-15 and IL-12p70 and decreased expression of CD103 and IL-10. Flagellin-induced IL-8 production correlated with DC activation, suggesting a common stress pathway. Moreover, there were distinct differences in cytokine expression and basal ER stress between IBD and healthy subject-derived enteroid monolayers, suggesting a dysregulated ER stress pathway in IBD-derived enteroids.

Conclusions

Cellular stress enhances TLR5 responses in IECs, leading to increased DC activation, indicating a previously unknown mechanistic link between epithelial ER stress and immune activation in IBD. Furthermore, dysregulated ER stress may be propagated from the intestinal epithelial stem cell niche in IBD patients.
Impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and dyspnoea on clinical outcomes in ticagrelor treated patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in the randomized GLOBAL LEADERS trial
Authors: Tomaniak Mariusz , Chichareon Ply , Takahashi Kuniaki , Kogame Norihiro , Modolo Rodrigo , Chang Chun Chin , Spitzer Ernest , Neumann Franz-Josef , Plante Sylvain , Hernández Antolin Rosana , Jambrik Zoltan , Gelev Valeri , Brunel Philippe , Konteva Mariana , Beygui Farzin , Morelle Jean-Francois , Filipiak Krzysztof J , van Geuns Robert-Jan , Soliman Osama , Tijssen Jan , Rademaker-Havinga Tessa , Storey Robert F , Hamm Christian , Steg Philippe Gabriel , Windecker Stephan , Onuma Yoshinobu , Valgimigli Marco , Serruys Patrick W ,   for the GLOBAL LEADERS Study Investigators
Published: December 2019

Aims

To evaluate long-term safety and efficacy of ticagrelor monotherapy in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) in relation to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at baseline and the occurrence of dyspnoea reported as adverse event (AE) that may lead to treatment non-adherence.

Methods and results

This is a non-prespecified, post hoc analysis of the randomized GLOBAL LEADERS trial (n = 15 991), comparing the experimental strategy of 23-month ticagrelor monotherapy following 1-month dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after PCI with the reference strategy of 12-month DAPT followed by 12-month aspirin monotherapy. Impact of COPD and dyspnoea AE (as a time-dependent covariate) on clinical outcomes was evaluated up to 2 years. The primary endpoint was a 2-year all-cause mortality or non-fatal, centrally adjudicated, new Q-wave myocardial infarction. The presence of COPD (n = 832) was the strongest clinical predictor of 2-year all-cause mortality after PCI [hazard ratio (HR) 2.84; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.21–3.66; P adjusted = 0.001] in this cohort (n = 15 991). No differential treatment effects on 2-year clinical outcomes were found in patients with and without COPD (primary endpoint: HR 0.88; 95% CI 0.58–1.35; P = 0.562; P int = 0.952). Overall, at 2 years dyspnoea was reported as an AE in 2101 patients, more frequently among COPD patients, irrespective of treatment allocation (27.2% in experimental arm vs. 14.5% in reference arm, P = 0.001). Its occurrence was not associated with a higher rate of the primary endpoint (P adjusted = 0.640) in the experimental vs. the reference arm.

Conclusion

In this exploratory analysis, COPD negatively impacted long-term prognosis after PCI. Despite higher incidence of dyspnoea in the experimental arm, in particular among COPD patients, the safety of the experimental treatment strategy appeared not to be affected.

Clinical trial registration unique identifier

NCT01813435.
New artificial intelligence prediction model using serial prothrombin time international normalized ratio measurements in atrial fibrillation patients on vitamin K antagonists: GARFIELD-AF
Authors: Goto Shinichi , Goto Shinya , Pieper Karen S , Bassand Jean-Pierre , Camm Alan John , Fitzmaurice David A , Goldhaber Samuel Z , Haas Sylvia , Parkhomenko Alexander , Oto Ali , Misselwitz Frank , Turpie Alexander G G , Verheugt Freek W A , Fox Keith A A , Gersh Bernard J , Kakkar Ajay K
Published: December 2019

Aims

Most clinical risk stratification models are based on measurement at a single time-point rather than serial measurements. Artificial intelligence (AI) is able to predict one-dimensional outcomes from multi-dimensional datasets. Using data from Global Anticoagulant Registry in the Field (GARFIELD)-AF registry, a new AI model was developed for predicting clinical outcomes in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients up to 1 year based on sequential measures of prothrombin time international normalized ratio (PT-INR) within 30 days of enrolment.

Methods and results

Patients with newly diagnosed AF who were treated with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) and had at least three measurements of PT-INR taken over the first 30 days after prescription were analysed. The AI model was constructed with multilayer neural network including long short-term memory and one-dimensional convolution layers. The neural network was trained using PT-INR measurements within days 0–30 after starting treatment and clinical outcomes over days 31–365 in a derivation cohort (cohorts 1–3; n = 3185). Accuracy of the AI model at predicting major bleed, stroke/systemic embolism (SE), and death was assessed in a validation cohort (cohorts 4–5; n = 1523). The model’s c-statistic for predicting major bleed, stroke/SE, and all-cause death was 0.75, 0.70, and 0.61, respectively.

Conclusions

Using serial PT-INR values collected within 1 month after starting VKA, the new AI model performed better than time in therapeutic range at predicting clinical outcomes occurring up to 12 months thereafter. Serial PT-INR values contain important information that can be analysed by computer to help predict adverse clinical outcomes.
Senescence-induced inflammation: an important player and key therapeutic target in atherosclerosis
Authors: Stojanović Stevan D , Fiedler Jan , Bauersachs Johann , Thum Thomas , Sedding Daniel G
Published: December 2019

Inflammation is a hallmark and potent driver of pathological vascular remodelling in atherosclerosis. However, current anti-inflammatory therapeutic strategies have shown mixed results. As an alternative perspective on the conundrum of chronic inflammation emerging evidence points towards a small subset of senescent cells as a critical player and central node driving atherosclerosis. Senescent cells belonging to various cell types are a dominant and chronic source of a large array of pro-inflammatory cytokines and various additional plaque destabilizing factors, being involved with various aspects of atherosclerosis pathogenesis. Antagonizing these key agitators of local chronic inflammation and plaque instability may provide a causative and multi-purpose therapeutic strategy to treat atherosclerosis. Anti-senescence treatment options with translational potential are currently in development. However, several questions and challenges remain to be addressed before these novel treatment approaches may enter the clinical setting.
Improved brain perfusion after electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation
Authors: Gardarsdottir Marianna , Sigurdsson Sigurdur , Aspelund Thor , Gardarsdottir Valdis Anna , Forsberg Lars , Gudnason Vilmundur , Arnar David O
Published: December 2019

Aims

Atrial fibrillation (AF) has been associated with reduced brain volume, cognitive impairment, and reduced cerebral blood flow. The causes of reduced cerebral blood flow in AF are unknown, but no reduction was seen in individuals without the arrhythmia in a previous study. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that brain perfusion, measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), improves after cardioversion of AF to sinus rhythm (SR).

Methods and results

All patients undergoing elective cardioversion at our institution were invited to participate. A total of 44 individuals were included. Magnetic resonance imaging studies were done before and after cardioversion with both brain perfusion and cerebral blood flow measurements. However, 17 did not complete the second MRI as they had a recurrence of AF during the observation period (recurrent AF group), leaving 17 in the SR group and 10 in the AF group to complete both measurements. Brain perfusion increased after cardioversion to SR by 4.9 mL/100 g/min in the whole brain (P < 0.001) and by 5.6 mL/100 g/min in grey matter (P < 0.001). Cerebral blood flow increased by 58.6 mL/min (P < 0.05). Both brain perfusion and cerebral blood flow remained unchanged when cardioversion was unsuccessful.

Conclusion

In this study of individuals undergoing elective cardioversion for AF, restoration, and maintenance of SR for at least 10 weeks after was associated with an improvement of brain perfusion and cerebral blood flow measured by both arterial spin labelling and phase contrast MRI. In those individuals where cardioversion was unsuccessful, there was no change in perfusion or blood flow.
Evaluating Regeneration in Heterobasidion Root Disease Infested Stands in the Lake States
Authors: Demchik Michael C , Sakalidis Monique L , Hillstrom Michael , Scanlon Kyoko , Adams Trevor A , Minnix Katherine R
Published: December 2019

Heterobasidion root disease (HRD) infection is becoming increasingly common in red pine plantations of the Lake States. Although stump treatment can reduce rates of overland transmission, infested stands continue to experience expansion of mortality pockets. Natural regeneration into HRD mortality pockets can assist with revegetation. The objective of this study was to determine what tree species naturally regenerate in red pine plantations impacted by HRD in Wisconsin and Michigan. We visited 49 pockets (in 31 stands) in Wisconsin and Michigan that had existing confirmed HRD infections during the fall of 2017. We surveyed the regeneration in the pocket and measured the species and basal area of overstory trees 10 m from the expanding edge of the pocket. Overall, pockets were regenerating with desirable species, some of which are susceptible to HRD. Additionally, woody invasive species were present in 39 percent of the pockets. We expect these pockets to generally fill with desirable species of regeneration, although long-term successful regeneration by susceptible species such as pines may be limited.
Interaction between P, S1 and S2 waves in multilayered periodic monoclinic media at low frequencies
Authors: Stovas Alexey , Roganov Yuriy , Roganov Vyacheslav
Published: December 2019

Application of the Floquet theorem and the matrix propagator method reduces the problem of the plane wave propagation in a periodically layered anisotropic media, to analysis of the properties of stationary envelopes of different wave modes propagating up- and downwards. We analyse the interchanging of stop- and pass-bands and their structure at low frequencies for a periodically layered medium with monoclinic symmetry. The analysis shows the effect of interaction between P,S1 and S2 wave multipliers for stop- and pass-band structure and gives insight into the wave propagation in vertically heterogeneous anisotropic media which is important in modelling and interpretation of seismic data.
Enigmatic rhodopsin mutation creates an exceptionally strong splice acceptor site
Authors: Riedmayr Lisa M , Böhm Sybille , Biel Martin , Becirovic Elvir
Published: December 2019

The c.620 T > G mutation in rhodopsin found in the first mapped autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP) locus is associated with severe, early-onset RP. Intriguingly, another mutation affecting the same nucleotide (c.620 T > A) is related to a mild, late-onset RP. Assuming that both mutations are missense mutations (Met207Arg and Met207Lys) hampering the ligand-binding pocket, previous work addressed how they might differentially impair rhodopsin function. Here, we investigated the impact of both mutations at the mRNA and protein level in HEK293 cells and in the mouse retina. We show that, in contrast to c.620 T > A, c.620 T > G is a splicing mutation, which generates an exceptionally strong splice acceptor site (SAS) resulting in a 90 bp in-frame deletion and protein mislocalization in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we identified the core element underlying the c.620 T > G SAS strength. Finally, we demonstrate that the c.620 T > G SAS is very flexible in branch point choice, which might explain its remarkable performance. Based on these results, we suggest that (i) point mutations should be routinely tested for mRNA splicing to avoid dispensable analysis of mutations on protein level, which do not naturally exist. (ii) Puzzling disease courses of mutations in other genes might also correlate with their effects on mRNA splicing. (iii) Flexibility in branch point choice might be another factor influencing the SAS strength. (iv) The core splice element identified in this study could be useful for biotechnological applications requiring effective SAS.
Serologic Response of 2 Versus 3 Doses and Intradermal Versus Intramuscular Administration of a Licensed Rabies Vaccine for Preexposure Prophylaxis
Authors: Endy Timothy P , Keiser Paul B , Wang Dongliang , Jarman Richard G , Cibula Don , Fang Hengsheng , Ware Lisa , Abbott Mark , Thomas Stephen J , Polhemus Mark E
Published: December 2019

Background

The World Health Organization recommends intradermal (ID) administration of rabies vaccine for preexposure prophylaxis.

Methods

In a randomized trial in adults assigned to 1 of 6 treatment groups (ID vs intramuscular [IM], 2 vs 3 doses, and controls), rabies neutralizing antibody titers were measured to 1 year postvaccination.

Results

ID vaccination produced acceptable antibody levels in all subjects (2- and 3-dose groups). At day 365, acceptable levels were 40% for IM and 50% for ID 2-dose schedule, and 70% for IM and 60% for ID 3-dose schedule.

Conclusions

ID rabies vaccination induces acceptable antibody titers at a fraction of the dose.

Clinical Trials Registration

NCT02374814.
Once-daily tigecycline for outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy: a single-centre observational study
Authors: Hughes Stephen , Chin Hui Yin , Heard Katie L , Kamranpour Pegah , Bartholomew Brent , Mughal Nabeela , Moore Luke S P
Published: December 2019

Background

Tigecycline has potential utility in the treatment of complex polymicrobial infections or those caused by MDR organisms in the ambulatory care setting owing to its breadth of antimicrobial coverage. Whilst licensed for twice-daily IV administration, its long half-life permits once-daily administration, which may facilitate successful outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT).

Methods

A retrospective case series of patients receiving once-daily tigecycline under OPAT was analysed at a single-centre NHS acute hospital (January 2016–June 2018). Patient demographics, including comorbidities, antimicrobial indication, concurrent antimicrobial therapies, treatment duration and adverse events related to treatment were recorded using medical records. Treatment outcomes were defined using the BSAC National Outcomes Registry System (NORS).

Results

A total of 25 treatment episodes (24 individual patients) were analysed. The most common indications were bone and joint infections (n = 8) and intra-abdominal infections (n = 7). MDR organisms were common, including ESBL-producing Enterobacterales (n = 13) and glycopeptide-resistant enterococci (n = 4). Median treatment duration was 18 days. Nineteen of 25 (76%) cases had complete cure of treatment, 3 patients experienced treatment-related adverse reactions necessitating cessation of therapy and 3 experienced failure due to disease progression. Eight patients experienced non-limiting adverse effects, such as nausea, vomiting and rash, and one patient had a transient rise in amylase 3 times the upper normal limit (with no evidence of pancreatitis).

Conclusions

Once-daily tigecycline can be successfully used for management of complex infections in the OPAT setting, with predominantly mild adverse effects, which can be managed with antiemetics or slow administration.
Rates of increase in gray seal (Halichoerus grypus atlantica) pupping at recolonized sites in the United States, 1988–2019
Authors: Wood Stephanie A , Murray Kimberly T , Josephson Elizabeth , Gilbert James
Published: December 2019

Gray seals were historically distributed along the northeastern coast of the United States, but bounties and lack of protection reduced numbers and they were rarely observed for most of the 20th century. Once protections were enacted, the population started to rebound. Here, we describe the recolonization and recovery of gray seals in the United States, focusing on the re-establishment of pupping sites. We fit individual generalized linear models to various time series (1988–2019) to estimate rates of increase in observed pup counts at four of the more data-rich sites. Annual rate of increase at individual sites ranged from −0.2% (95% CI: −2.3–1.9%) to 26.3% (95% CI: 21.6–31.4%). The increase in sites and number of pups born in the United States is driven by population growth and immigration from Canadian colonies and is part of a larger recovery of the Northwest Atlantic population. Wildlife protection, a healthy source population, habitat availability, and species traits that allow for dispersal and high productivity were all important factors in this recovery.
Investigation of X-ray timing and spectral properties of ESO 243-49 HLX-1 with long-term Swift monitoring
Authors: Lin Lupin Chun-Che , Hu Chin-Ping , Li Kwan-Lok , Takata Jumpei , Yen David Chien-Chang , Kwak Kyujin , Kim Young-Min , Kong Albert K H
Published: December 2019

The long-term Swift monitoring of ESO 243–49 HLX−1 provides an opportunity to investigate the detailed timing and spectral behaviour of this hyperluminous X-ray source. Swift has detected seven outbursts since 2009 mid-August. Using different dynamical timing algorithms, we confirm an increasing trend for the time intervals between outbursts, which is manifest in the delays between the latest outbursts. The X-ray spectra of HLX−1 in quiescence can be described with a single power-law model while the thermal component dominates the X-ray emission during outburst. There is only marginal evidence for photon index (or spectral hardness) changes between quiescent states with about 1σ deviation. With the updated temporal and spectral features, we re-examine different scenarios to explain the origin of the quasi-periodic modulation of HLX−1. A significantly increasing trend without obvious stochastic fluctuations on the time-scale of the detected quasi-period may not fully support an orbital period origin as might be due to mass transfer episodes from a donor star at periastron of an extremely eccentric orbit. The outburst profile seems to be consistent with the effect of tidal-induced-precession of an accretion disc or an oscillating wind scenario in the inner disc. Based on these models, we speculate that the true orbital period is much shorter than the detected quasi-periodicity.
An extended size–luminosity relation for the reverberation-mapped AGNs: the role of the accretion rate
Authors: Yu Li-Ming , Zhao Bi-Xuan , Bian Wei-Hao , Wang Chan , Ge Xue
Published: December 2019

For a compiled sample of 120 reverberation-mapped AGNs, the bivariate correlations of the broad-line region (BLR) size (RBLR) with the continuum luminosity at 5100 Å (L5100) and the dimensionless accretion rates ($\dot{\mathscr {M}}$) are investigated. Using our recently calibrated virial factor f, and the velocity tracer from the H β full width at half-maximum (FWHM(H β)) or the line dispersion (σH β) measured in the mean spectra, three kinds of supermassive black hole (SMBH) masses and $\dot{\mathscr {M}}$ are calculated. An extended RBLR(H β)–L5100 relation including $\dot{\mathscr {M}}$ is found to be stronger than the canonical RBLR(H β)–L5100 relation, showing smaller scatters. The observational parameters, RFe (the ratio of optical Fe ii to H β line flux) and the line profile parameter DH β ($D_{\rm H\,\beta } =\rm FWHM(H\,\beta)/\sigma _{\rm H\,\beta }$), have relations with three kinds of $\dot{\mathscr {M}}$. Using RFe and DH β to substitute $\dot{\mathscr {M}}$, extended empirical RBLR(Hβ)–L5100 relations are presented. RFe is a better ‘fix’ for the RBLR(H β)–L5100 offset than the H β shape DH β. The extended empirical RBLR(H β)–L5100 relation including RFe can be used to calculate RBLR, and thus the single-epoch SMBH mass MBH. Our measured accretion rate dependence is not consistent with the simple model of the accretion disc instability leading the BLR formation. The BLR may instead form from the inner edge of the torus, or from some other means in which BLR size is positively correlated with accretion rate and the SMBH mass.