bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carbon Tariffs’ Impacts on China’s Economy and Carbon Emission: A Study Based on META-Regression Analysis
Authors: ZHANG Ying , KANG Wenmei , WANG Mou , ZHUANG Li
Published: February 2020

During the implementation of the measures for reducing carbon emissions, to protect the international competitiveness of their carbon-intensive products, some developed countries in the name of preventing carbon leakage have deliberately avoided the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR)” prescribed in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and worked actively to propose the collection of carbon tariffs to make developing countries share the responsibilities of reducing global emissions. The existing studies tend to confirm that carbon tariffs, once put into practice, will directly affect the export trade of developing countries represented by China, and particularly exert a significant negative impact on the export trade of those countries’ carbon-intensive industries. This paper used META-regression analysis to summarize and quantitatively analyze the results of an empirical research that uses computable general equilibrium (CGE) models to research on the impacts brought by carbon tariff policy to China’s economy and carbon emissions, finding that the sample characteristics, model specification and the assumption about carbon tariff rates in the research exert direct impacts on the final conclusions of empirical stimulation. Although carbon tariffs are still in the proposal stage, due to the vaccum of international governace in this area, the developed countries have a room to carry out the policies related to carbon tariffs or invisible carbon tariffs. Studies show that carbon tariff policy will deal a blow to China’s export trade and further undermine China’s overall economic output and welfare level, while producing very limited effects on carbon emissions reduction. Therefore, the Chinese Government should stick to its basic position as resolving carbon tariffs-related issues under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, actively promote relevant international governance mechanisms, formulate targeted countermeasures, improve the export structure of industrial products, optimize industrial structure and also stay alert to some developed countries’ attempt to avoid the disputes over carbon tariffs and use some invisible carbon tariffs to set up new trade barriers.
Delayed Akt suppression in the lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury promotes resolution that is associated with enhanced effector regulatory T cells
Authors: Artham Sandeep , Verma Arti , Alwhaibi Abdulrahman , Adil Mir S. , Manicassamy Santhakumar , Munn David H. , Somanath Payaningal R.
Published: February 2020

The adaptive immune response could play a major role in the resolution of lung injury. Although regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been implicated in promoting the resolution of lung injury, therapeutic strategies to enhance Treg quantity and activity at the site of injury need further exploration. In the current study, Akt inhibition using triciribine (TCBN), given 48 h after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration, increased Tregs-promoted resolution of acute lung injury (ALI). TCBN treatment enhanced the resolution of LPS-induced ALI on day 7 by reducing pulmonary edema and neutrophil activity associated with an increased number of CD4+/FoxP3+/CD103+ and CTLA4+ effector Tregs, specifically in the injured lungs and not in the spleen. Treatment of EL-4 T-lymphocytes with two Akt inhibitors (TCBN and MK-2206) for 72 h resulted in increased FoxP3 expression in vitro. On the other end, Treg-specific PTEN knockout (PTENTreg KO) mice that have a higher Akt activity in its Tregs exhibited a significant impairment in ALI resolution, increased edema, and neutrophil activity associated with a reduced number of CD4+/FoxP3+/CD103+ and CTLA4+ effector Tregs as compared with the control group. In conclusion, our study identifies a potential target for the treatment of late-stage ALI by promoting resolution through effector Treg-mediated suppression of inflammation.
Combined l-citrulline and tetrahydrobiopterin therapy improves NO signaling and ameliorates chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in newborn pigs
Authors: Dikalova Anna , Aschner Judy L. , Kaplowitz Mark R. , Cunningham Gary , Summar Marshall , Fike Candice D.
Published: February 2020

Newborn pigs with chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) have evidence of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) uncoupling. In this model, we showed that therapies that promote eNOS coupling, either tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), a NOS cofactor, or l-citrulline, a NO-l-arginine precursor, inhibit PH. We wanted to determine whether cotreatment with l-citrulline and a BH4 compound, sapropterin dihydrochloride, improves NO signaling and chronic hypoxia-induced PH more markedly than either alone. Normoxic (control) and hypoxic piglets were studied. Some hypoxic piglets received sole treatment with l-citrulline or BH4, or were cotreated with l-citrulline and BH4, from day 3 through day 10 of hypoxia. Catheters were placed for hemodynamic measurements, and pulmonary arteries were dissected to assess eNOS dimer-to-monomer ratios and NO production. In untreated hypoxic piglets, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was higher and NO production and eNOS dimer-to-monomer ratios were lower than in normoxic piglets. Compared with the untreated hypoxic group, PVR was lower in hypoxic piglets cotreated with l-citrulline and BH4 and in those treated with l-citrulline alone but not for those treated solely with BH4. NO production and eNOS dimer-to-monomer ratios were greater for all three treated hypoxic groups compared with the untreated group. Notably, greater improvements in PVR, eNOS dimer-to-monomer ratios, and NO production were found in hypoxic piglets cotreated with l-citrulline and BH4 than in piglets treated with either alone. Cotreatment with l-citrulline and BH4 more effectively improves NO signaling and inhibits chronic hypoxia-induced PH than either treatment alone. Combination therapies may offer enhanced therapeutic capacity for challenging clinical conditions, such as chronic neonatal PH.
Altered corticomotor latencies but normal motor neuroplasticity in concussed athletes
Authors: Stokes William , Runnalls Keith , Choynowki Jake , St. Pierre Maria , Anaya Manuel , Statton Matthew A. , Celnik Pablo A. , Cantarero Gabriela
Published: February 2020

We are the first to assess corticomotor latencies and motor neuroplasticity in a common group of collegiate athletes across different phases of injury and recovery. We found that the number of concussions an individual sustains negatively impacts corticomotor latencies with a higher number of prior concussions correlating positively with longer latencies. Our findings indicate that concussions may lead to permanent changes in the corticospinal tract that are exacerbated by repeated injury.
Bone Formation in Grafts with Bio-Oss and Autogenous Bone at Different Proportions in Rabbit Calvaria
Authors: Kim Yeon Jung , Saiki Carlos Eduardo Takeshi , Silva Karoline , Massuda Carlos Kiyoshi Moreira , de Souza Faloni Ana Paula , Braz-Silva Paulo Henrique , Pallos Debora , Sendyk Wilson Roberto
Published: February 2020

Background. The aim of this study was to assess the volumetric stability and bone formation in grafts with Bio-Oss and autogenous bone at different proportions in rabbit calvaria. Material and Methods. Ten rabbits received four titanium cylinders in their calvaria and randomly divided into the following groups: Group I: Bio-Oss (100%), Group II: Bio-Oss (75%) + autogenous bone (25%), Group III: Bio-Oss (50%) + autogenous bone (50%), and Group IV: autogenous bone (100%). After twelve weeks, the animals were euthanized, and samples were collected for clinical and histological analysis. Results. Clinical analysis showed that Groups I (90.43 ± 8.99) and II (90.87 ± 7.43) had greater dimensional stability compared to Group IV (P=0.0005). Histologically, Groups I, II, and III showed areas of bone formation with particles of biomaterial remaining in close contact with the newly formed bone. However, there were no significant differences between the groups regarding the newly formed bone area. Conclusion. It was concluded that the use of Bio-Oss either alone or associated with the autogenous bone at a proportion of 25% showed superior dimensional stability compared to the use of autogenous bone in the proposed experimental model.
Reinforcement Learning-Based Backstepping Control for Container Cranes
Authors: Sun Xiao , Xie Zhihang
Published: February 2020

A novel backstepping control scheme based on reinforcement fuzzy Q-learning is proposed for the control of container cranes. In this control scheme, the modified backstepping controller can handle the underactuated system of a container crane. Moreover, the gain of the modified backstepping controller is tuned by the reinforcement fuzzy Q-learning mechanism that can automatically search the optimal fuzzy rules to achieve a decrease in the value of the Lyapunov function. The effectiveness of the applied control scheme was verified by a simulation in Matlab, and the performance was also compared with the conventional sliding mode controller aimed at container cranes. The simulation results indicated that the used control scheme could achieve satisfactory performance for step-signal tracking with an uncertain lope length.
False Memory in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: El Haj Mohamad , Colombel Fabienne , Kapogiannis Dimitrios , Gallouj Karim
Published: February 2020

Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) not only are suffering from amnesia but also are prone to memory distortions, such as experiencing detailed and vivid recollections of episodic events that have never been encountered (i.e., false memories). To describe and explain these distortions, we offer a review to synthesize current knowledge on false memory in AD into a framework allowing for better understanding of the taxonomy and phenomenology of false memories and of the cognitive mechanisms that may underlie false memory formation in AD. According to this review, certain phenomenological characteristics of memories (e.g., high emotional load, high vividness, or high familiarity) result in misattributions in AD. More specifically, this review proposes that generalized decline in cognitive control and inhibition in AD may result in difficulties in suppressing irrelevant information during memory monitoring, especially when irrelevant (i.e., false) information is characterized by high emotion, vividness, or familiarity. This review also proposes that binding deficits in AD decrease the ability to retrieve relevant contextual details, leading to source monitoring errors and false memories. In short, this review depicts how phenomenological characteristics of memories and failures of monitoring during retrieval contribute to the occurrence of false memory in AD.
Effects of Visual Attention on Tactile P300 BCI
Authors: Chen Zongmei , Jin Jing , Daly Ian , Zuo Cili , Wang Xingyu , Cichocki Andrzej
Published: February 2020

Objective. Tactile P300 brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) can be manipulated by users who only need to focus their attention on a single-target stimulus within a stream of tactile stimuli. To date, a multitude of tactile P300 BCIs have been proposed. In this study, our main purpose is to explore and investigate the effects of visual attention on a tactile P300 BCI. Approach. We designed a conventional tactile P300 BCI where vibration stimuli were provided by five stimulators and two of them were fixed on target locations on the participant’s left and right wrists. Two conditions (one condition with visual attention and the other condition without visual attention) were tested by eleven healthy participants. Main Results. Our results showed that, when participants visually attended to the location of target stimulus, significantly higher classification accuracies and information transfer rates were obtained (both for p<0.05). Furthermore, participants reported that visually attending to the stimulus made it easier to identify the target stimulus in random sequences of vibration stimuli. Significance. These findings suggest that visual attention has positive effects on both tactile P300 BCI performance and user-evaluation.
Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Promote Immunosuppression by Inducing ROS-Generating Monocytic MDSCs in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Xiang Handan , Ramil Carlo P. , Hai Josephine , Zhang Chunsheng , Wang Huijun , Watkins Amanda A. , Afshar Roshi , Georgiev Peter , Sze Marc A. , Song Xuelei S. , Curran Patrick J. , Cheng Mangeng , Miller J. Richard , Sun Dongyu , Loboda Andrey , Jia Yanlin , Moy Lily Y. , Chi An , Brandish Philip E.
Published: February 2020

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) represent a functionally heterogeneous population of activated fibroblasts that constitutes a major component of tumor stroma. Although CAFs have been shown to promote tumor growth and mediate resistance to chemotherapy, the mechanisms by which they may contribute to immune suppression within the tumor microenvironment (TME) in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) remain largely unexplored. Here, we identified a positive correlation between CAF and monocytic myeloid cell abundances in 501 primary LSCCs by mining The Cancer Genome Atlas data sets. We further validated this finding in an independent cohort using imaging mass cytometry and found a significant spatial interaction between CAFs and monocytic myeloid cells in the TME. To delineate the interplay between CAFs and monocytic myeloid cells, we used chemotaxis assays to show that LSCC patient–derived CAFs promoted recruitment of CCR2+ monocytes via CCL2, which could be reversed by CCR2 inhibition. Using a three-dimensional culture system, we found that CAFs polarized monocytes to adopt a myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) phenotype, characterized by robust suppression of autologous CD8+ T-cell proliferation and IFNγ production. We further demonstrated that inhibiting IDO1 and NADPH oxidases, NOX2 and NOX4, restored CD8+ T-cell proliferation by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in CAF-induced MDSCs. Taken together, our study highlights a pivotal role of CAFs in regulating monocyte recruitment and differentiation and demonstrated that CCR2 inhibition and ROS scavenging abrogate the CAF–MDSC axis, illuminating a potential therapeutic path to reversing the CAF-mediated immunosuppressive microenvironment.
Omission, Created Ambiguity, and Chronology in the Book of Jubilees
Authors: Halpern Amaru Betsy
Published: February 2020

Omission is a common strategy in ancient texts that rework biblical narratives and the author of the Book of Jubilees frequently employs the strategy. Particularly striking is the omission of chronological material, for the dating of events is a primary feature of Jubilees. This essay examines two cases in which Jubilees omits biblical chronological data. One involves the age of Noah; the other the ten years that Abram is living in the land. In each instance ambiguity within the Jubilees-created chronology accompanies the omission. In the matter of the age of Noah the created ambiguity responds to incongruities in the biblical text and supports a reworked chronology. By contrast, in the matter of the ten years the created ambiguity responds to postbiblical interpretation of the biblical text.
New species of Nectria and Thyronectria from Xinjiang, China

Authors: MA RONG , LI SHENG-NAN , ZHAO YING , WANG MIN , MICHAILIDES THEMIS J. , TIAN CHENG-MING
Published: February 2020

Nectria berberidis sp. nov. and Thyronectria berberidicola sp. nov. isolated from Berberis heteropoda in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, are described and illustrated. Nectria berberidis is characterized by clavate asci (50–87 × 8–12 μm) with ellipsoidal to fusiform, 1-septate ascospores. Thyronectria berberidicola is characterized by clavate asci (117–25.9 × 63.7–117.9 μm) with ellipsoidal to fusiform ascospores that have 5–8 transverse septa and 1(–2) longitudinal septum. Ascospores bud to produce hyaline, bacillar ascoconidia. Phylogenetic analyses based on alpha-actin (ACT), the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the large nuclear ribosomal RNA subunit (LSU), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1) and the β-tubulin (TUB) sequence data revealed that isolates of N. berberidis and T. berberidicola form a distinct clade within Nectria and Thyronectria, respectively. In addition, Nectria nigrescens is reported for the first time in China.
Validation of a fern hybrid from Korea, Asplenium × bimixtum (Aspleniaceae)

Authors: HA YOUNG-HO , SON DONG CHAN , KIM DONG-KAP
Published: February 2020

The name Asplenium ⨉ montanum C. S. Lee & K. Lee (2015: 364) was published as a multiple hybridization species of three species, a name that applies to an endemic fern occurring in shadowy forest of the Korean Peninsula (Chung et al. 2017). In the latest revision, however, its name was should be treated as illegitimate name since it is a later homonym of Asplenium montanum Willdenow (1810: 342) (Art. 53.1 of ICN, Turland et al.2018).
Recognition of Heterogeneous Edges in Multiwavelength Transmission Images Based on the Weighted Constraint Decision Method
Authors: Liu Fulong , Li Gang , Yang Shuqiang , Yan Wenjuan , He Guoquan , Lin Ling
Published: February 2020

Multiwavelength light transmission imaging provides a possibility for early detection of breast cancer. However, due to strong scattering during the transmission process of breast tissue analysis, the transmitted image signal is weak and the image is blurred and this makes heterogeneous edge detection difficult. This paper proposes a method based on the weighted constraint decision (WCD) method to eliminate the erosion and checkerboard effects in image histogram equalization (HE) enhancement and to improve the recognition of heterogeneous edge. Multiwavelength transmission images of phantom are acquired on the designed experimental system and the mask image with high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is obtained by frame accumulation and an Otsu thresholding model. Then, during image enhancement the image is divided into low-gray-level (LGL) and high-gray-level (HGL) regions according to the distribution of light intensity in image. And the probability density distribution of gray level in the LGL and HGL regions are redefined respectively according to the WCD method. Finally, the reconstructed image is obtained based on the modified HE. The experimental results show that compared with traditional image enhancement methods, the WCD method proposed in this paper can greatly improve the contrast between heterogeneous region and normal region. Moreover, the correlation between the original image data is maintained to the greatest extent, so that the edge of the heterogeneity can be detected more accurately. In conclusion, the WCD method not only accurately identifies the edge of heterogeneity in multiwavelength transmission images, but it also could improve the clinical application of multiwavelength transmission images in the early detection of breast cancer.
A Normalized Difference Spectral Recognition Index for Azurite Pigment
Authors: Wu Taixia , Yuan Bo , Wang Shudong , Li Guanghua , Lei Yong
Published: February 2020

Hyperspectral technology is a nondestructive, fast, and reliable method for the detection and restoration of relics. Most of the band characteristics of mineral pigment are concentrated between 2200 and 2400 nm, and these data are expensive to obtain (the required imaging sensor is expensive). We are pursuing a hyperspectral index mean that can effectively distinguish pigments in shorter band ranges to achieve high application value that is much less expensive. In this study, based on the spectral features of azurite at 400–1500 nm, we created an azurite normalized difference spectral index (ANDSI) through feature band selection, derivation of characteristic formulae, and discrimination analysis. Reflectivity bands at 458, 806, and 1373 nm were selected to build the ANDSI. Azurite was compared with 25 other common pigments and it was found that the discrimination values between azurite and the other pigments exceeded 0.88 (where values >0.5 indicate discriminable pigments), demonstrating that the ANDSI is suitable for detecting azurite.
Domestic adoption in Romania: Behavioral adjustment in a sample of adolescents
Authors: Casonato Marta , Muntean Ana , Molina Paola
Published: February 2020

A considerable body of research has analyzed the development of children internationally adopted from Romania. However, domestic adoption remains largely uninvestigated. Our study examined the behavioral adjustment of 52 Romanian adolescents domestically adopted. Adoptive mothers and their children completed Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) – School Age forms. While overall our sample did not differ from the normative population, the rate of subjects obtaining clinical scores was higher. Behavioral problems did not appear to be linked to the considered pre-adoption risk factors. The overall positive adjustment of this rare sample of domestic adoptees encourages a deeper understanding of the mechanisms involved in the success of this child welfare policy.
The Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on Symptoms and Inflammation in Patients With Allergic Rhinitis
Authors: Jung Joo Hyun , Kang Tae Kyu , Oh Jae Hwan , Jeong Jin Uk , Ko Kwang Pil , Kim Seon Tae
Published: February 2020

Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been traditionally used in Korea for health improvement. However, the clinical effect of KRG intake on the symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis remains unknown. Our study was performed to identify the clinical effects of KRG on patients with allergic rhinitis and to examine the effect of KRG on allergic inflammatory reaction. We evaluated 60 patients with allergic rhinitis. All the patients were treated for 4 weeks. The patients were divided into 3 groups, according to the medication. Twenty patients were treated with KRG, 20 patients with the placebo, and 20 patients with the antihistamine. The patients recorded their symptoms in a daily symptom diary card. The patients checked the peak nasal inspiratory flow rate 2 times a day. Total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and serum-specific IgE were measured by ImmunoCap method before and after 4-week medication. The Th2 cytokines interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, and IL-10 were checked in the serum before and after the 4-week treatment. The eosinophil counts in the nasal smears were checked. Korean red ginseng group has shown the significant improvement in rhinorrhea, nasal itching, and eye itching. Both the antihistamine and KRG groups showed a significant decrease in total IgE level at the end of treatment. The serum IL-4 level and eosinophil counts in the nasal smears were significantly decreased both in the antihistamine and in the KRG groups. In conclusion, KRG might be a useful treatment modality for patients with allergic rhinitis.
The influence of blood flow velocity changes to postoperative cognitive dysfunction development in patients undergoing heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass
Authors: Bukauskienė Rasa , Širvinskas Edmundas , Lenkutis Tadas , Benetis Rimantas , Steponavičiūtė Rasa
Published: February 2020

Background:

The aim of this study was to compare blood flow velocity changes in the middle cerebral artery before, during and after heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass for patients with and without postoperative cognitive dysfunction.

Materials and methods:

A total of 100 patients, undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting or/and valve surgery enrolled in the study. A neurocognitive test evaluation included Adenbrooke, Mini-Mental State Examination and Trial Making test before and 7-10 days after surgery. Middle cerebral artery mean blood flow velocity was evaluated 1 day before the surgery, after anaesthesia induction, before cardiopulmonary bypass, at the beginning, ending and after cardiopulmonary bypass, and post surgery in intensive care unit. Blood samples for glial fibrillary acidic protein were measured after anaesthesia induction, 24 hours and 48 hours after surgery. According to neurocognitive tests results patients were divided in to two groups: patients with and without postoperative cognitive dysfunction.

Results:

Of the 100, 86 patients completed investigation. After induction, blood flow velocity of the middle cerebral artery was lower in postoperative cognitive dysfunction group (41.2; min 27.91, max 49.47) than in the H group (41.2, min 21.9, max 84.3) p = 0.034, and during cardiopulmonary bypass, blood flow velocity of the middle cerebral artery was lower in the postoperative cognitive dysfunction group (37.35, min 26.6, max 44.02) than the H group (42.3, min 20.1, max 86.5), p = 0.001. After the surgery, blood flow velocity of the middle cerebral artery was lower in the postoperative cognitive dysfunction group (40.7, min 29.7, max 50.4) than in the H group (45.3, min 34.12, max 59.88), p = 0.05. Results of cognitive tests had weak correlation (rho, 0.391) with middle cerebral artery’s blood flow velocity after anaesthesia induction (p = 0.001) and during bypass (p = 0.018). The receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the blood flow velocity of the middle cerebral artery during bypass (area under the curve = 0.735) was a fair predictor for postoperative cognitive dysfunction (p = 0.001). No significant correlations were found among glial fibrillary acidic protein, middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity, and cognitive tests results.

Conclusion:

Middle cerebral artery’s blood flow velocity was decreased after anaesthesia induction and during cardiopulmonary bypass for patients with postoperative cognitive dysfunction comparing with their blood flow velocity preoperatively. Blood flow velocity during bypass has diagnostic value for postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Brain biomarker glial fibrillary acidic protein is not helpful in diagnosing postoperative cognitive dysfunction.
Explicit Text Structure Instruction Supports Expository Text Comprehension for Adolescents With Learning Disabilities: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hall-Mills Shannon S. , Marante Leesa M.
Published: February 2020

This systematic review article summarizes the effects of explicit text structure instruction on expository text comprehension for adolescents with learning disabilities or at risk for reading failure. A thorough literature search with four databases and backward citation search identified nine studies published in the past 22 years for inclusion in the review. The findings revealed medium to large effect sizes on expository reading comprehension outcome measures, providing moderately strong evidence in support of text structure intervention for adolescents with a diagnosis or risk of reading disabilities. Text structure instruction was more effective than standard instruction or business as usual conditions on students’ comprehension of a variety of expository text types and content area texts. Directions for further research, limitations, and educational implications are discussed.
Construction and demolition waste applications and maximum daily output in Spanish recycling plants
Authors: Rodríguez G , Sáez del Bosque IF , Asensio E , Sánchez de Rojas MI , Medina C
Published: February 2020

The pursuit of construction sustainability has driven the use of partially or wholly waste-based eco-materials. New applications are being sought for recycled aggregate (RA) to further the use of this material and ensure the survival of the construction and demolition waste (C&DW) industry. RA, currently used in the construction of pavements, fills and embankments and only incipiently to manufacture structural or non-structural concrete, is a mere 8.99% of the total aggregate extracted in EU countries where RA is produced. Against this backdrop, the utility of this study lies in the overview afforded of RA typology, the application of the product in bound or unbound materials, the pursuit of new applications, structural or otherwise, and the assessment of daily maximum output by C&DW recycling facilities in Spain. The findings show that irrespective of its origin, RA most commonly adopts the form of wet mix macadam, gravel or sand used primarily in unbound applications with only dubious quality standards. Plant managers contend that RA from clean waste can feasibly be used in bound applications that require higher-performance materials. Maximum daily output varies widely, with capacity under 200 t d-1 in 30% of the plants. One of the conclusions drawn is that the current business model is in need of revision, with an emphasis on aggregate quality control (certification) and the adoption of technology for separating out impurities, pollutants and undesirable materials to improve the quality of RA.
Flame retardancy and thermal properties of rigid polyurethane foam conjugated with a phosphorus–nitrogen halogen-free intumescent flame retardant
Authors: Lin Zhaojun , Zhao Qianqiong , Fan Ruilan , Yuan Xiaoxue , Tian Fuli
Published: February 2020

In this work, a halogen-free intumescent combining phosphorus and nitrogen, flame-retardant 2-((2-hydroxyphenyl)(phenylamino)methyl5,5-dimethyl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphinane 2-oxide (HAPO) was successfully synthesized. It had been synthesized by reaction of 5,5-dimethyl-1,3, 2-dioxphosphinane 2-oxide with Schiff base. Its chemical structure was characterized in detail by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H NMR, and 31P NMR spectrum. The flame-retardant polyurethanes were prepared with different loadings of HAPO. The thermal properties, flame retardancy and combustion behavior of the pure polyurethane foam thermosets were investigated by a series of measurements involving thermogravimetric analysis, limited oxygen index measurement, UL-94 vertical burning test, and cone calorimeter test. The results of the aforementioned tests indicated that HAPO can significantly improve the flame retardancy as well as smoke inhibition performance of polyurethane foam. Compared with the PU-Neat, the limited oxygen index of flame-retardant polyurethanes (15%) thermoset was increased from 19.5% to 23.8% and its UL-94 reached V-0 rating. In addition, the cone test results showed that the heat release rate, total heat release, rate of smoke release, and total smoke production of flame-retardant polyurethanes (10%) were decreased obvious sly. The apparent morphology of carbon residue was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, and results revealed that the modified polyurethane foam can form dense carbon layer after combustion. Thermogravimetric analysis results also indicated that the char amount of flame-retardant polyurethanes was obviously increased compared with PU-Neat. Based on the above analysis, we can draw the conclusions which in the condensed phase, phosphorus-based acids from the degradation of HAPO, this could promote the formation of continuous and dense phosphorus-rich carbon layer. In the gas phase, the flame-retardant mechanism was ascribed to the quenching effect of phosphorus-based radicals and diluting effect by non-flammable gases.
Rental Housing Spot Markets: How Online Information Exchanges Can Supplement Transacted-Rents Data
Authors: Boeing Geoff , Wegmann Jake , Jiao Junfeng
Published: February 2020

Traditional U.S. rental housing data sources such as the American Community Survey and the American Housing Survey report on the transacted market—what existing renters pay each month. They do not explicitly tell us about the spot market—that is, the asking rents that current homeseekers must pay to acquire housing—though they are routinely used as a proxy. This study compares governmental data to millions of contemporaneous rental listings and finds that asking rents diverge substantially from these most recent estimates. Conventional housing data understate current market conditions and affordability challenges, especially in cities with tight and expensive rental markets.
Free vibration of piezoelectric boron nitride nanotube-based composite cylindrical micropanel embedded in an elastic medium subjected to electric potential via modified strain gradient theory
Authors: Ghasemi Ghalebahman Ahmad , Bigdeli-Yeganeh Meysam , Cheloeian Elham , Khademi-Kouhi Morteza
Published: February 2020

This paper deals with the free vibration analysis of a smart polymeric composite sandwich micropanel made of polyvinylidene fluoride reinforced by single-walled boron nitride nanotubes resting on an elastic substrate under an electric field. The analysis procedure is based on the first-order shear deformation theory and modified strain gradient theory to investigate the size-dependent effect. The nanotubes are assumed to be uniformly distributed within the polymeric matrix. The elastomeric substrate is modeled using Winkler springs and a Pasternak shear layer. First, the constitutive equations of the nanocomposite are derived for a unit cell using a micro-electromechanics modeling technique, and the stress–strain relations are subsequently obtained with regard to mechanical and electrical terms. The equations of motion of the micropanel are obtained based on the Hamilton principle. Finally, the natural frequencies of the micropanel are obtained by extracting the mass and stiffness matrices through the method of variational calculus. A parametric study is further performed to investigate the effect of various parameters such as the stiffness of the elastic medium, the effect of electric field, different modes of vibration, aspect ratio, and so on. It is observed that the panel’s stiffness and, consequently, the natural frequency decrease as the aspect ratio increases and the nanotube volume fraction reduces. A comparison is also conducted with the classical continuum theory and modified coupled stress theory.
A Specificity Principle of Memory: Evidence From Aging and Associative Memory
Authors: Greene Nathaniel R. , Naveh-Benjamin Moshe
Published: February 2020

The ability to remember associations among components of an event, which is central to episodic memory, declines with normal aging. In accord with the specificity principle of memory, these declines may occur because associative memory requires retrieval of specific information. Guided by this principle, we endeavored to determine whether ubiquitous age-related deficits in associative memory are restricted to specific representations or extend to the gist of associations. Young and older adults (30 each in Experiment 1, 40 each in Experiment 2) studied face–scene pairs and then performed associative-recognition tests following variable delays. Whereas both young and older adults could retrieve the gist of associations, older adults were impaired in their ability to retrieve more specific representations. Our results also show that associations can be retrieved from multiple levels of specificity, suggesting that episodic memory might be accessed on a continuum of specificity.
Tissue sodium content in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: association with disease activity and markers of inflammation
Authors: Carranza-León D A , Oeser A , Marton A , Wang P , Gore J C , Titze J , Stein C M , Chung C P , Ormseth M J
Published: February 2020

Objectives

Sodium (Na+) is stored in the skin and muscle and plays an important role in immune regulation. In animal models, increased tissue Na+ is associated with activation of the immune system, and high salt intake exacerbates autoimmune disease and worsens hypertension. However, there is no information about tissue Na+ and human autoimmune disease. We hypothesized that muscle and skin Na+ content is (a) higher in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) than in control subjects, and (b) associated with blood pressure, disease activity, and inflammation markers (interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 and IL-17 A) in SLE.

Methods

Lower-leg skin and muscle Na+ content was measured in 23 patients with SLE and in 28 control subjects using 23Na+ magnetic resonance imaging. Demographic and clinical information was collected from interviews and chart review, and blood pressure was measured. Disease activity was assessed using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Plasma inflammation markers were measured by multiplex immunoassay.

Results

Muscle Na+ content was higher in patients with SLE (18.8 (16.7–18.3) mmol/L) than in control subjects (15.8 (14.7–18.3) mmol/L; p < 0.001). Skin Na+ content was also higher in SLE patients than in controls, but this difference was not statistically significant. Among patients with SLE, muscle Na+ was associated with SLEDAI and higher concentrations of IL-10 after adjusting for age, race, and sex. Skin Na+ was significantly associated with systolic blood pressure, but this was attenuated after covariate adjustment.

Conclusion

Patients with SLE had higher muscle Na+ content than control subjects. In patients with SLE, higher muscle Na+ content was associated with higher disease activity and IL-10 concentrations.
Precision medicine: Subgroup identification in longitudinal trajectories
Authors: Wei Yishu , Liu Lei , Su Xiaogang , Zhao Lihui , Jiang Hongmei
Published: February 2020

In clinical studies, the treatment effect may be heterogeneous among patients. It is of interest to identify subpopulations which benefit most from the treatment, regardless of the treatment’s overall performance. In this study, we are interested in subgroup identification in longitudinal studies when nonlinear trajectory patterns are present. Under such a situation, evaluation of the treatment effect entails comparing longitudinal trajectories while subgroup identification requires a further evaluation of differential treatment effects among subgroups induced by moderators. To this end, we propose a tree-structured subgroup identification method, termed “interaction tree for longitudinal trajectories”, which combines mixed effects models with regression splines to model the nonlinear progression patterns among repeated measures. Extensive simulation studies are conducted to evaluate its performance and an application to an alcohol addiction pharmacogenetic trial is presented.
Synthetic livestock vaccines as risky interference with nature? Lay and expert arguments and understandings of “naturalness”
Authors: Ditlevsen Kia , Glerup Cecilie , Sandøe Peter , Lassen Jesper
Published: February 2020

The article describes how the idea of “naturalness” was used by three different groups in arguments over the risk of livestock vaccines developed in synthetic biology. Based on interviews with two groups of scientific experts and focus groups with lay people in five European countries, and using Toulmin’s argument analysis as the analytical tool, the article maps and compares the different ways in which “naturalness” was used as a warrant. Several notions of “naturalness” are involved in lay people’s reasoning and several lay people’s understandings of risk relied on their perceptions of the “unnaturalness” of the synthetic vaccines. The notion of “naturalness” was used less by synthetic biology experts and not at all by vaccine experts. Lay people see the vaccine as less natural than other vaccines and therefore as a greater risk. In contrast, synthetic biology experts understand synthetic biology as natural, and relate naturalness, unpredictability and risk.
The Sexualization–Objectification Link: Sexualization Affects the Way People See and Feel Toward Others
Authors: Bernard Philippe , Cogoni Carlotta , Carnaghi Andrea
Published: February 2020

Recent research has examined the sexualization–objectification link (i.e., whether sexualized individuals are appraised as if they were objects rather than persons). This research has found that sexualized individuals are more likely to be processed and categorized as if they were objects and are also perceived as possessing fewer humanlike traits than nonsexualized individuals. In addition, sexualization prompts negative behaviors such as social exclusion. Altogether, these findings shed light on mechanisms that might underlie violence toward sexualized individuals.
Supply Chain Performance and Profitability in Indian Automobile Industry: Evidence of Segmental Difference
Authors: Tripathi Saswati , Talukder Bijoy
Published: February 2020

The automobile industry is broadly categorized into three segments—commercial vehicles, passenger vehicles and two/three-wheelers. The automobile supply chain is complex, as this includes raw material suppliers, component manufacturers, sub assemblers, final assemblers, different distribution channels, networks and end consumers. This demands a robust supply chain that can integrate all these links for cost efficiency and profitability. The objectives of this article are to find segmental differences in the supply chain performance of the Indian automobile industry and to quantify the impact of supply chain performance on the overall profitability of the firms across the segments.

This article measures the performance of the supply chain of Indian automobile industry segments integrating supply chain financial metrics and supply chain operations reference key performance indicators (SCOR KPIs) through a 10-year timeline. The results are compared across segments to identify unique performance features, if any, using ANOVA. A panel data fixed effect model (least square dummy variable [LSDV]) is constructed to establish the relationship between supply chain performance and profitability and to understand whether the identified supply chain performance variables have any significant impact on profitability across the segments.

This article has evidenced that though the supply chain of two/three-wheelers segment is performing better in fixed asset and inventory turnover it is more impacted by distribution inefficiency. The supply chain of the commercial-vehicles segment is impacted more by excess fixed assets, distribution inefficiency and poor inventory turnover. Although inventory turnover of passenger-vehicles segment is better than that of the commercial vehicles, the supply chain fixed assets remain a concern for this segment. Across the industry segments, the profitability of the segment is more impacted by poor distribution efficiency compared to fixed assets and inventory turnover.

This article contributes towards finding key segmental supply chain performance features of the Indian automobile industry and building a panel data fixed effect model by integrating supply chain performance indicators with the profitability of the firms across the segments. This model can contribute towards effective decision-making in the automobile supply chain.
Equipment Maintenance in Primary and Secondary Healthcare, Punjab
Authors: Jalil Muhammad Naiman , Sohail Rania , Javaid Areeb , Khan Ali Jan
Published: February 2020

Healthcare systems and, more specifically, public sector healthcare systems are complex hierarchical entities. Delivering quality healthcare services is a challenging task facing several key hurdles. Equipment maintenance and availability is one of the key issues since the non-functionality of medical equipment degrades service provision in public sector hospitals. In this case, we discuss the situation of primary and secondary healthcare services in Punjab, Pakistan, focusing on the current condition of equipment functionality and maintenance across thirty-six districts of Punjab. The healthcare sector in Punjab is organized in a tiered manner, with primary health care facilities providing basic medical services to the masses and secondary healthcare facilities providing referral and specialized services to the patients. Providing medical services requires an efficient network of medical professionals, adequate medical equipment, physical infrastructure and sufficient supply of medicines at all levels of the healthcare system. This case identifies and discusses the issue of non-functionality and maintenance of medical equipment in Punjab. Demand for medical equipment is generated on a central and district level, followed by a combination of central- and facility-level procurement. Maintenance of equipment is done by the facility without any standard operating procedures. The purpose of this case is to observe the current maintenance options in practice and to assess the impact of a decentralized maintenance system on the functionality status of biomedical equipment across districts. The objective is also to highlight the need for an efficient maintenance regime in accordance with the nature of the equipment to ensure cost and downtime minimization.
Design and experiments of a quasi–zero-stiffness isolator with a noncircular cam-based negative-stiffness mechanism
Authors: Li Ming , Cheng Wei , Xie Ruili
Published: February 2020

This article presents a quasi–zero-stiffness isolator with a cam-based negative-stiffness mechanism, where the cam has a user-defined noncircular profile to generate negative stiffness to counterbalance the positive stiffness of the vertical spring and yield the quasi–zero-stiffness characteristic around the equilibrium position. Unlike previous studies, the proposed quasi–zero-stiffness isolator has the preferable feature that the desired cubic restoring force can be directly obtained through the well-designed profile of the cam in the negative-stiffness mechanism with the friction considered during the model design, rather than through the Taylor expansion and friction-ignoring assumption, which can avoid the approximation error between the theoretical design and the specific realization. The pure-cubic nonlinear differential equation of motion of the quasi–zero-stiffness isolator is derived and solved with the harmonic balance method, followed by the discussion of the relevant dynamic characteristics. Experimental studies are carried out based on the physical prototype of the quasi–zero-stiffness isolator. The results show that the quasi–zero-stiffness isolator can greatly extend the isolation frequency bandwidth and has a much lower resonance peak. In the low-frequency band, the quasi–zero-stiffness isolator greatly outperforms the corresponding linear system but is equivalent or even inferior in the high-frequency range with the increase of excitation force.
On stability and damage behavior of asymmetric sandwich panels under uniaxial compression
Authors: Deng Jian , Peng Ang , Chen Wei , Zhou Guangming , Wang Xinwei
Published: February 2020

In practical applications, asymmetric sandwich panels with tapered and junction regions are frequently used. Under uniaxial compressions, asymmetric sandwich panels are collapsed with complex failure mechanism, and its mechanical behaviour is affected by tapered regions. For structure safety consideration, it is necessary to systematically investigate the stability and damage behavior of full-scaled asymmetric sandwich panels under uniaxial compression experimentally and numerically. For comparison, symmetric sandwich panels were also studied. Quasi-static compression tests and numerical modeling were conducted. Experimental data were sufficiently recorded and carefully analyzed. Meanwhile a nonlinear finite element model was advanced for evaluating stability and predicting failure behaviours and load-bearing capacity of test specimen. Comparisons between numerical predictions and experimental measurements showed that a good agreement was achieved. The tapered region had significant influence on stability behavior and load-bearing capacity. It intensified the asymmetry and introduced additional bending moments into asymmetric sandwich panels and thus caused early local buckling. Thicker core thickness enhanced the structural stiffness and load-bearing capacity. Large amounts of matrix cracking, fibre push-out and core-skin delamination were captured in asymmetric sandwich panels. Overall, buckling occurred in symmetric sandwich panels instead of local buckling in asymmetric sandwich panels, and brittle fibre breakage dominated the failure.