bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Indoor Air Temperature Analysis of Solar Heating System With Dual Heat Storage Devices
Authors: Qihui Yu , Xueqing Hao , Xin Tan
Published: March 2019

Using solar energy for space heating is an efficient and simply way to satisfy the energy demands of buildings. In this study, a typical office building is selected as a case model to obtain indoor air temperature characteristics with dual heat storage devices. By analyzing our solar heating system, a mathematical model of the system working process is set up. Using the software matlab/simulink for simulation, the indoor air temperature characteristics in 1 day are obtained. Simulation and experimental results show good consistency. And using the mathematical model, the storage tank size is optimized to search for the minimum size for the fixed building. Based on our analysis, the optimum ratio of storage tank A volume and collector field area is 0.11 m. This research can be a good reference for the design of the solar heating system.
Influence of temperature on atomic layer epitaxial growth of indium nitride assessed with in situ grazing incidence small-angle x-ray scattering
Authors: Woodward Jeffrey M. , Rosenberg Samantha G. , Kozen Alexander C. , Nepal Neeraj , Johnson Scooter D. , Wagenbach Christa , Rowley Andrew H. , Robinson Zachary R. , Joress Howie , Ludwig Karl F. , Eddy Charles R.
Published: March 2019

The surface topological evolution during the growth of indium nitride (InN) by plasma-assisted atomic layer epitaxy (ALEp) on gallium nitride (GaN) (0001) substrates was studied using in situ real-time grazing incidence small-angle x-ray scattering (GISAXS) for 180, 250, and 320 °C growth temperatures. The GISAXS data reveal that the ALEp growth of InN on GaN in this temperature range proceeds in a Stranski–Krastanov mode, in which the 2D–3D transition occurred after 2.3 monolayers for 180 °C, 1 monolayer for 250 °C, and 1.5 monolayers for 320 °C. The corresponding initial island center-to-center distances were 7.4, 11.6, and 11.7 nm. Additionally, island coarsening was observed to increase with temperature. After 200 growth cycles, the mean island diameters were 3.9, 5.6, and 7.0 nm, and the mean island center-to-center distances were 8.6, 13.7, and 17.1 nm for 180, 250, and 320 °C growth temperatures, respectively. For the 320 °C growth, the mean island shape was observed to gradually evolve from relatively mounded to cylindrical. These results are supported by atomic force microscopy and specular x-ray reflectivity.
Endocytosis of commensal antigens by intestinal epithelial cells regulates mucosal T cell homeostasis
Authors: Ladinsky Mark S. , Araujo Leandro P. , Zhang Xiao , Veltri John , Galan-Diez Marta , Soualhi Salima , Lee Carolyn , Irie Koichiro , Pinker Elisha Y. , Narushima Seiko , Bandyopadhyay Sheila , Nagayama Manabu , Elhenawy Wael , Coombes Brian K. , Ferraris Ronaldo P. , Honda Kenya , Iliev Iliyan D. , Gao Nan , Bjorkman Pamela J. , Ivanov Ivaylo I.
Published: March 2019

Hooking into antigen transfer

Segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) are anaerobic, spore-forming, clostridia-like organisms that are important immune modulators in the mammalian gut. For some reason, SFB do not provoke inflammatory responses. Ladinsky
et al.
probed the mechanistic basis of this soothing effect in mice. SFB attach tightly to intestinal epithelial cells via a hook-like structure. Bacterial material is extruded from the hook and enters the host cell by endocytosis. An extruded SFB protein called P3340 is shuttled by the host protein cell division control protein 42 homolog (CDC42) through the endosomelysosome vesicular pathway to the basolateral side of the intestinal epithelial cell. Here, it prompts an immunomodulatory SFB-specific CD4 T helper 17 cell response, possibly via intestinal macrophages.

Science
, this issue p.
eaat4042
The residence time of Southern Ocean surface waters and the 100,000-year ice age cycle
Authors: Hasenfratz Adam P. , Jaccard Samuel L. , Martínez-García Alfredo , Sigman Daniel M. , Hodell David A. , Vance Derek , Bernasconi Stefano M. , Kleiven Helga (Kikki) F. , Haumann F. Alexander , Haug Gerald H.
Published: March 2019

Resetting the glacial timer

The periodicity of glacial cycles changed from 100,000 to 41,000 years during the middle of the Pleistocene epoch. Why? Hasenfratz
et al.
measured the oxygen isotope composition and magnesium/calcium ratio in benthic and planktonic foraminifera from the Antarctic in order to reconstruct changes in the rate of transfer of ocean water from the depths to the surface over the past 1.5 million years (see the Perspective by Menviel). The emergence of the 100,000-year cycle coincided with a reduction in deep-water supply and a freshening of the surface ocean. This slowing may have caused more prolonged ice ages by making the Antarctic less responsive to orbitally paced drivers of carbon dioxide release.

Science
, this issue p.
1080
; see also p.
1040
A molecular assembly phase transition and kinetic proofreading modulate Ras activation by SOS
Authors: Huang William Y. C. , Alvarez Steven , Kondo Yasushi , Lee Young Kwang , Chung Jean K. , Lam Hiu Yue Monatrice , Biswas Kabir H. , Kuriyan John , Groves Jay T.
Published: March 2019

Organized for action

It is becoming increasingly clear that biomolecular condensates, which are concentrations of macromolecules not surrounded by a membrane, are a key organizational structure in eukaryotic cells (see the Perspective by Martin and Mittag). Now, two papers show how such condensates function in actin assembly or in a Ras signaling pathway. In both cases, the condensates form at the plasma membrane and increase the activity of signaling proteins by increasing their membrane dwell times. Case
et al.
show that the dwell time is dependent on cluster stoichiometry, so that stoichiometry of regulatory proteins can control actin assembly. Huang
et al.
demonstrate that the longer dwell time allows kinetic proofreading in receptor-mediated activation of Ras.

Science
, this issue p.
1093
, p.
1098
; see also p.
1036
Best supporting actors
Authors: Bentzinger C. Florian
Published: March 2019

Nearby cells help boost stem cell–mediated skeletal muscle repair
Squeezing strong correlations from graphene
Authors: Feldman Benjamin E.
Published: March 2019

Pressure tunes electronic interactions and superconductivity in twisted bilayer graphene
Fats enhance stem cell emergence
Authors: Rajan Vinothkumar , Berman Jason N.
Published: March 2019

Cholesterol biosynthesis is intrinsically linked to the regulation of hematopoiesis
Crisis threatens science progress
Authors: Huete-Pérez Jorge A. , Cunto de San Blas Gioconda , McNeil Jeremy N.
Published: March 2019

Years of sociopolitical unrest in Nicaragua and Venezuela have given rise to a human rights and humanitarian crisis in Latin America. Last week, the situation in both countries took a serious turn. In Nicaragua, the government began negotiations with the opposition to end the political crisis, while continuing to repress and harass university students and independent media. In Venezuela, the escalating crisis resulted in the blocking and burning of humanitarian aid at the border—a development that was widely condemned by the rest of the world. Political instability and insecurity in both countries have had a disastrous economic impact on many sectors. The human resource base critical for meeting urgent and long-term needs in these societies is being devastated. As scientists who are members of academies that belong to the InterAmerican Network of Academies of Sciences, we are deeply troubled by these situations and call on the global scientific community to show solidarity with the academic communities in Nicaragua and Venezuela.
DSM265 at 400 Milligrams Clears Asexual Stage Parasites but Not Mature Gametocytes from the Blood of Healthy Subjects Experimentally Infected with
Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Collins Katharine A. , Rückle Thomas , Elliott Suzanne , Marquart Louise , Ballard Emma , Chalon Stephan , Griffin Paul , Möhrle Jörg J. , McCarthy James S.
Published: March 2019

DSM265 is a novel antimalarial drug in clinical development that acts as a selective inhibitor of
Plasmodium
dihydroorotate dehydrogenase. In a previous phase 1b study, a single 150-mg dose of DSM265 showed partial efficacy against experimentally induced blood-stage
Plasmodium falciparum
malaria (IBSM).
Efficacy of Aminomethyl Spectinomycins against Complex Upper Respiratory Tract Bacterial Infections
Authors: Iverson Amy , Meyer Christopher J. , Vogel Peter , Waidyarachchi Samanthi , Das Nisha , Bruhn David F. , Poole Aaron , Butler Michelle M. , Bowlin Terry L. , Lee Richard E. , Rosch Jason W.
Published: March 2019

The most frequent ailment for which antibiotics are prescribed is otitis media (ear infections), which is most commonly caused by
Haemophilus influenzae
,
Moraxella catarrhalis
, and
Streptococcus pneumoniae
. Treatment of otitis media is complicated by the fact that the bacteria in the middle ear typically form biofilms, which can be recalcitrant to antibiotic treatment.
Improved Methods for Assessing Therapeutic Potential of Antifungal Agents against Dermatophytes and Their Application in the Development of NP213, a Novel Onychomycosis Therapy Candidate
Authors: Mercer Derry K. , Stewart Colin S. , Miller Lorna , Robertson Jennifer , Duncan Vanessa M. S. , O’Neil Deborah A.
Published: March 2019

Onychomycosis is a common, difficult-to-treat nail infection that is mainly caused by dermatophytes. Current therapies are not wholly effective and are associated with manifold side effects.
Safety and Efficacy of Prolonged Use of Dalbavancin in Bone and Joint Infections
Authors: Morata L. , Cobo J. , Fernández-Sampedro M. , Guisado Vasco P. , Ruano E. , Lora-Tamayo J. , Sánchez Somolinos M. , González Ruano P. , Rico Nieto A. , Arnaiz A. , Estébanez Muñoz M. , Jiménez-Mejías M. E. , Lozano Serrano A. B. , Múñez E. , Rodriguez-Pardo D. , Argelich R. , Arroyo A. , Barbero J. M. , Cuadra F. , Del Arco A. , del Toro M. D. , Guio L. , Jimenez-Beatty D. , Lois N. , Martin O. , Martínez Alvarez R. M. , Martinez-Marcos F. J. , Porras L. , Ramírez M. , Vergas García J. , Soriano A.
Published: March 2019

Dalbavancin is a lipoglycopeptide with potent activity against Gram-positive microorganisms, a long half-life, a favorable safety profile, and a high concentration in bone, which makes it an interesting alternative for treatment of osteoarticular infections. We performed a multicentric retrospective study of all patients with an osteoarticular infection (septic arthritis, spondylodiscitis, osteomyelitis, or orthopedic implant-related infection) treated with at least one dose of dalbavancin between 2016 and 2017 in 30 institutions in Spain.
ZAP, a CCCH-Type Zinc Finger Protein, Inhibits Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Replication and Interacts with Viral Nsp9
Authors: Zhao Yongxiang , Song Zhongbao , Bai Juan , Liu Xuewei , Nauwynck Hans , Jiang Ping
Published: March 2019

PRRSV continues to adversely impact the global swine industry. It is important to understand the various antiviral factors against PRRSV infection. Here, a zinc finger protein, termed ZAP, was screened from MAVS-induced antiviral genes by transcriptome sequencing, and it was found to remarkably suppress PRRSV replication and interact with PRRSV Nsp9. The zinc finger domain of ZAP and amino acids 150 to 160 of Nsp9 are responsible for the interaction. These findings expand the antiviral spectrum of ZAP and provide a better understanding of ZAP antiviral mechanisms, as well as virus-host interactions.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Bacterial Fitness within the Host Macrophage
Authors: Huang Lu , Nazarova Evgeniya V. , Russell David G.
Published: March 2019

Mycobacterium tuberculosishas evolved to become the single greatest cause of death from an infectious agent. The pathogen spends most of its infection cycle in its human host within a phagocyte. The bacterium has evolved to block the normal maturation and acidification of its phagosome and resides in a vacuole contiguous with the early endosomal network. Cytokine-mediated activation of the host cell can overcome this blockage, and an array of antimicrobial responses can limit its survival. The survival ofM. tuberculosisin its host cell is fueled predominantly by fatty acids and cholesterol. The ability ofM. tuberculosisto degrade sterols is an unusual metabolic characteristic that was likely retained from a saprophytic ancestor. Recent results with fluorescentM. tuberculosisreporter strains demonstrate that bacterial survival differs with the host macrophage population. Tissue-resident alveolar macrophages, which are biased towards an alternatively activated, M2-like phenotype, are more permissive to bacterial growth than monocyte-derived, inflammatory, M1-like interstitial macrophages. The differential growth of the bacterium in these different phagocyte populations appears to be linked to host cell metabolism.
The Intracellular Life Cycle of
Brucella
spp
Authors: Celli Jean
Published: March 2019

Bacteria of the genus
Brucella
colonize a wide variety of mammalian hosts, in which their infectious cycle and ability to cause disease predominantly rely on an intracellular lifestyle within phagocytes. Upon entry into host cells,
Brucella
organisms undergo a complex, multistage intracellular cycle in which they sequentially traffic through, and exploit functions of, the endocytic, secretory, and autophagic compartments via type IV secretion system (T4SS)-mediated delivery of bacterial effectors. These effectors modulate an array of host functions and machineries to first promote conversion of the initial endosome-like
Brucella
-containing vacuole (eBCV) into a replication-permissive organelle derived from the host endoplasmic reticulum (rBCV) and then to an autophagy-related vacuole (aBCV) that mediates bacterial egress. Here we detail and discuss our current knowledge of cellular and molecular events of the
Brucella
intracellular cycle. We discuss the importance of the endosomal stage in determining T4SS competency, the roles of autophagy in rBCV biogenesis and aBCV formation, and T4SS-driven mechanisms of modulation of host secretory traffic in rBCV biogenesis and bacterial egress.
The Many Faces of Bacterium-Endothelium Interactions during Systemic Infections
Authors: Obino Dorian , Duménil Guillaume
Published: March 2019

A wide variety of pathogens reach the circulatory system during viral, parasitic, fungal, and bacterial infections, causing clinically diverse pathologies. Such systemic infections are usually severe and frequently life-threatening despite intensive care, in particular during the age of antibiotic resistance. Because of its position at the interface between the blood and the rest of the organism, the endothelium plays a central role during these infections. Using several examples of systemic infections, we explore the diversity of interactions between pathogens and the endothelium. These examples reveal that bacterial pathogens target specific vascular beds and affect most aspects of endothelial cell biology, ranging from cellular junction stability to endothelial cell proliferation and inflammation.
New Age Strategies To Reconstruct Mucosal Tissue Colonization and Growth in Cell Culture Systems
Authors: Fasciano Alyssa C. , Mecsas Joan , Isberg Ralph R.
Published: March 2019

Over the past few decades,
in vitro
cell culture systems have greatly expanded our understanding of host-pathogen interactions. However, studies using these models have been limited by the fact that they lack the complexity of the human body. Therefore, recent efforts that allow tissue architecture to be mimicked during
in vitro
culture have included the development of methods and technology that incorporate tissue structure, cellular composition, and efficient long-term culture. These advances have opened the door for the study of pathogens that previously could not be cultured and for the study of pathophysiological properties of infection that could not be easily elucidated using traditional culture models. Here we discuss the latest studies using organoids and engineering technology that have been developed and applied to the study of host-pathogen interactions in mucosal tissues.
How and why front-line health workers (did not) use a multifaceted mHealth intervention to support maternal and neonatal healthcare decision-making in Ghana
Authors: Amoakoh Hannah Brown , Klipstein-Grobusch Kerstin , Ansah Evelyn Korkor , Grobbee Diederick E , Yveoo Linda , Agyepong Irene
Published: March 2019

Introduction

Despite increasing use of mHealth interventions, there remains limited documentation of ‘how and why’ they are used and therefore the explanatory mechanisms behind observed effects on beneficiary health outcomes. We explored ‘how and why’ an mHealth intervention to support clinical decision-making by front-line providers of maternal and neonatal healthcare services in a low-resource setting was used. The intervention consisted of phone calls (voice calls), text messaging (short messaging service (SMS)), internet access (data) and access to emergency obstetric and neonatal protocols via an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD). It was delivered through individual-use and shared facility mobile phones with unique Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards networked in a Closed User Group.

Methods

A single case study with multiple embedded subunits of analysis within the context of a cluster randomised controlled trial of the impact of the intervention on neonatal health outcomes in the Eastern Region of Ghana was performed. We quantitatively analysed SIM card activity data for patterns of voice calls, SMS, data and USSD. We conducted key informant interviews and focus group discussions with intervention users and manually analysed the data for themes.

Results

Overall, the phones were predominantly used for voice calls (64%), followed by data (28%), SMS (5%) and USSD (2%), respectively. Over time, use of all intervention components declined. Qualitative analysis showed that individual health worker factors (demographics, personal and work-related needs, perceived timeliness of intervention, tacit knowledge), organisational factors (resource availability, information flow, availability, phone ownership), technological factors (attrition of phones, network quality) and client perception of health worker intervention usage explain the pattern of intervention use observed.

Conclusion

How and why the mHealth intervention was used (or not) went beyond the technology itself and was influenced by individual and context-specific factors. These must be taken into account in designing similar interventions to optimise effectiveness.
Developing recommendations for neonatal inpatient care service categories: reflections from the research, policy and practice interface in Kenya
Authors: Keene Claire Marriott , Aluvaala Jalemba , Murphy Georgina A V , Abuya Nancy , Gathara David , English Mike
Published: March 2019

Neonatal deaths contribute a growing proportion to childhood mortality, and increasing access to inpatient newborn care has been identified as a potential driver of improvements in child health. However, previous work by this research team identified substantial gaps in the coverage and standardisation of inpatient newborn care in Nairobi City County, Kenya. To address the issue in this particular setting, we sought to draft recommendations on the categorisation of neonatal inpatient services through a process of policy review, evidence collation and examination of guidance in other countries. This work supported discussions by a panel of local experts representing a diverse set of stakeholders, who focused on formulating pragmatic, context-relevant guidance. Experts in the discussions rapidly agreed on overarching priorities guiding their decision-making, and that three categories of inpatient neonatal care (standard, intermediate and intensive care) were appropriate. Through a modified nominal group technique, they achieved consensus on allocating 36 of the 38 proposed services to these categories and made linked recommendations on minimum healthcare worker requirements (skill mix and staff numbers). This process was embedded in the local context where the need had been identified, and required only modest resources to produce recommendations on the categorisation of newborn inpatient care that the experts agreed could be relevant in other Kenyan settings. Recommendations prioritised the strengthening of existing facilities linked to a need to develop effective referral systems. In particular, expansion of access to the standard category of inpatient neonatal care was recommended. The process and the agreed categorisations could inform discussion in other low-resource settings seeking to address unmet needs for inpatient neonatal care.
Effect of the competency-basedHelping Mothers Survive Bleeding after Birth(HMS BAB) training on maternal morbidity: a cluster-randomised trial in 20 districts in Tanzania
Authors: Alwy Al-beity Fadhlun , Pembe Andrea , Hirose Atsumi , Morris Jessica , Leshabari Sebalda , Marrone Gaetano , Hanson Claudia
Published: March 2019

Background

Training health providers is an important strategy to improve health. We conducted a cluster-randomised two-arm trial in Tanzania to assess the effect of a 1-day competency-based training ‘Helping Mothers Survive Bleeding after Birth (HMS BAB)’ followed by eight weekly drills on postpartum haemorrhage (PPH)-related morbidity and mortality.

Methods

Twenty districts in four purposefully selected regions in Tanzania included 61 facilities. The districts were randomly allocated using matched pairs to ensure similarity in terms of district health services in intervention and comparison districts. In the 10 intervention districts 331 health providers received the HMS BAB training. The other half continued with standard practices. We used the WHO’s near miss tool to collect information on severe morbidity (near misses) of all women admitted to study facilities. We performed interrupted time series analysis to estimate differences in the change of near miss per delivery rate and case fatality rates. We also assessed implementation of evidence-based preventive and basic management practices for PPH as secondary outcomes.

Results

We included 120 533 facility deliveries, 6503 near misses and 202 maternal deaths in study districts during study period (November 2014 to January 2017). A significant reduction of PPH near misses was found among women who suffered PPH in the intervention district compared with comparison districts (difference-in-differences of slopes −5.3, 95% CI −7.8 to −2.7, p<0.001) from a baseline PPH-related near miss rate of 71% (95% CI 60% to 80%). There was a significant decrease in the long-term PPH near miss case fatality (difference-in-differences of slopes −4 to 0) (95% CI −6.5 to −1.5, p<0.01) in intervention compared with the comparison districts. The intervention had a positive effect on the proportion of PPH cases treated with intravenous oxytocin (difference-in-differences of slopes 5.2, 95% CI 1.4 to 8.9) (p <0.01).

Conclusion

The positive effect of the training intervention on PPH morbidity and case fatality suggests that the training addresses important deficits in knowledge and skills.

Trial registration number

PACTR201604001582128.
Prevalence and characteristics of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) in Poland: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Słomko Joanna , Newton Julia L , Kujawski Sławomir , Tafil-Klawe Małgorzata , Klawe Jacek , Staines Donald , Marshall-Gradisnik Sonya , Zalewski Pawel
Published: March 2019

Objectives

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and describe illness characteristics in a community population in Poland. Design: cross-sectional study.

Setting

Poland.

Participants

Of the cohort of 1400 who self-presented with fatigue only 69 subsequently were confirmed as having CFS/ME using the Fukuda criteria.

Main outcome measures

Participants completed the following screening symptom assessment tools: Chalder Fatigue Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Composite Autonomic Symptom Score 31 (COMPASS 31), Quality of Life Scale (QOLS). Haemodynamic and autonomic parameters were automatically measured at rest with a Task Force Monitor.

Results

In 1308, from 1400 (93%) individuals who identified themselves as fatigued, recognised chronic conditions were identified, for example, neurological (n=280, 21.5%), neurodegenerative (n=200, 15%), psychiatric (n=654, 50%) and immunologic (n=174, 13.5%) disorders. The remaining 69 participants (mean age 38.3±8.5) met the Fukuda defintion for CFS/ME and had baseline objective assessment. The majority had experienced symptoms for over 2 years with 37% having symptoms for 2–5 years and 21.7% for more than 10 years. The COMPASS 31 indicated that 50% have symptoms consistent with orthostatic intolerance. About 43/69 (62%) had Epworth sleepiness scores ≥10, ie, consistent with excessive daytime sleepiness, 26/69 (38%) had significant anxiety and 22/69 (32%) depression measured by HADS A & D. Quality of life is significantly impaired in those with Fukuda criteria CFS (QLS score 64±11) with significant negative relationships between quality of life and fatigue (p<0.0001), anxiety (p=0.0009), depression (p<0.0001) and autonomic symptoms (p=0.04).

Conclusion

This is the first study to summarise illness characteristics of Polish CFS/ME patients. Our study has confirmed that fatigue is a common and under-recognised symptom affecting the Polish population.
Is the four quadrant approach to military medical ethics a cargo cult? A call for more unity between philosophers and practitioners
Authors: Jenkins Simon Paul
Published: March 2019

Moral theory should be practically useful, but without oversight from the philosophical community, the practical application of ethics by other institutions such as the military may drift into forms that are not theoretically robust. Ethical approaches that drift in this way run the risk of becoming ‘cargo cults’: simulations that will never properly fulfil their intended purpose. The four quadrant approach, a systematic method of ethical analysis that applies moral principles to clinical cases, has gained popularity in the last 10 years in a variety of medical contexts, especially the military. This paper considers whether the four quadrant approach is a cargo cult or whether it has theoretical value, with particular reference to the more popular four principles approach. This analysis concludes that the four quadrant approach has theoretical advantages over the four principles approach, if used in the right way (namely, with all four quadrants being used). The principal advantage is that the four quadrant approach leaves more room for clinical judgement, and thus avoids the charge of being too algorithmic, which has been levelled at the four principles approach. I suggest that it is the fourth quadrant, which invites the user to consider wider, contextual features of the case, which gives the approach this key advantage. Finally, I make a more general proposal that theoretical ethicists should work closely with those practitioners who apply ethics in the world, and I call for a symbiotic relationship between these two camps.
Realization of a Novel Logarithmic Chaotic System and Its Characteristic Analysis
Authors: Wang Xiaoyuan , Min Xiaotao , Yu Jun , Shen Yiran , Wang Guangyi , Ho Herbert Ching Iu
Published: March 2019

To further improve the complexity of the chaotic system and broaden the chaotic parameter range, a novel logarithmic chaotic system was constructed by adding a nonlinear term of logarithm. The dynamic characteristics of the chaotic system were analyzed by chaotic phase diagram, bifurcation diagram, Lyapunov exponent spectrum, Poincaré mapping and dynamical map, etc. The system was digitized by DSP simulation, and the corresponding experimental results are completely consistent with the theoretical analysis. Furthermore, the equivalent hardware circuit was designed and theoretical analysis was verified by its experimental results.
Advances in engineering geology in the UK 1950–2018
Authors: Griffiths James S.
Published: March 2019

Taking the 1950 Geological Society of America Berkey Volume on
The Application of Geology to Engineering Practice
as the baseline for the world-wide state of the art at that time, this paper examines some of the significant advances in engineering geological practice that have taken place over the intervening period in the UK. The central role of advances in site investigation for development and construction is emphasized, as this can be reasonably described as the core activity for engineering geologists. Here the changes in desk studies, remote sensing, field mapping and various facets of ground investigations are examined. However, it is also necessary to highlight how global developments in communications and computing power have had an enormous impact on engineering geological practice, notably through on-site links between field teams and head office, and the creation of data management systems that allow complex ground conditions to be analysed and modelled. There have also been important improvements in on-site health and safety, the creation of professional qualifications and the adoption of international and national standards for all facets of ground engineering. Finally, some of the challenges engineering geology and its practitioners face in the future are explored, notably the implications of Industry 4.0, the changes that climate change will bring to society, training the next generation and ensuring that engineering geology remains a vibrant and globally recognized profession.
Geochemical lessons from Carsington Dam failure of 1984 and reconstruction
Authors: Reid J. M. , Cripps J. C.
Published: March 2019

The failure in 1984 of Carsington Dam near the end of its construction led to major advances in several areas of geotechnical engineering. It also led to major advances in understanding the nature and extent of geochemical and mineralogical reactions that can occur in earthworks and how these can be allowed for in design and construction. These aspects had not been considered in the original investigations and design. This resulted in much greater degradation of the fill materials than expected during construction, pollution of surface waters and the tragic deaths of four site personnel. The lessons learned in understanding the impact of geochemistry at Carsington were fundamental in further work by the authors in developing improved test methods for sulphur compounds and protocols for assessing their impact. The relevance of these lessons for civil engineering works remains as great as ever. Seven general principles for dealing with geochemical issues are presented.
Economics of Farm Input Subsidies in Africa
Authors: Holden Stein T.
Published: March 2019

Fertilizer and other input subsidies have been prominent components of agricultural policies in many Asian and African countries since the 1960s. Their economic and political rationale is scrutinized with emphasis on the second generation of targeted input subsidy programs that were scaled up in Sub-Saharan Africa after 2005. The extent to which they fulfill the goal of being market smart is assessed after inspecting the potential for such subsidies in Sub-Saharan Africa. The new fertilizer subsidy programs do not live up to the market-smart principles and suffer from severe design and implementation failures. While a clear exit strategy was one of the key principles, this has been neglected, with the result that most current programs are more sticky than smart. They have only partially achieved the intended impacts and have resulted in a number of unintended negative impacts. Subsidy program redesign should start from a pilot stage testing basic mechanisms.
Mapping genetic modifiers of radiation-induced cardiotoxicity to rat chromosome 3
Authors: Schlaak Rachel A. , Frei Anne , Schottstaedt Aronne M. , Tsaih Shirng-Wern , Fish Brian L. , Harmann Leanne , Liu Qian , Gasperetti Tracy , Medhora Meetha , North Paula E. , Strande Jennifer L. , Sun Yunguang , Rui Hallgeir , Flister Michael J. , Bergom Carmen
Published: March 2019

Radiation therapy is used in ~50% of cancer patients to reduce the risk of recurrence and in some cases improve survival. Despite these benefits, doses can be limited by toxicity in multiple organs, including the heart. The underlying causes and biomarkers of radiation-induced cardiotoxicity are currently unknown, prompting the need for experimental models with inherent differences in sensitivity and resistance to the development of radiation-induced cardiotoxicity. We have identified the parental SS (Dahl salt-sensitive/Mcwi) rat strain to be a highly-sensitized model of radiation-induced cardiotoxicity. In comparison, substitution of rat chromosome 3 from the resistant BN (Brown Norway) rat strain onto the SS background (SS-3BN consomic) significantly attenuated radiation-induced cardiotoxicity. SS-3BN rats had less radiation-induced cardiotoxicity than SS rats, as measured by survival, pleural and pericardial effusions, echocardiogram parameters, and histological damage. Mast cells, previously shown to have predominantly protective roles in radiation-induced cardiotoxicity, were increased in the more resistant SS-3BN hearts postradiation. RNA sequencing from SS and SS-3BN hearts at 1 wk postradiation revealed 5,098 differentially expressed candidate genes across the transcriptome and 350 differentially expressed genes on rat chromosome 3, which coincided with enrichment of multiple pathways, including mitochondrial dysfunction, sirtuin signaling, and ubiquitination. Upstream regulators of enriched pathways included the oxidative stress modulating transcription factor, Nrf2, which is located on rat chromosome 3. Nrf2 target genes were also differentially expressed in the SS vs. SS-3BN consomic hearts postradiation. Collectively, these data confirm the existence of heritable modifiers in radiation-induced cardiotoxicity and provide multiple biomarkers, pathways, and candidate genes for future analyses.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This novel study reveals that heritable genetic factors have the potential to modify normal tissue sensitivity to radiation. Gene variant(s) on rat chromosome 3 can contribute to enhanced cardiotoxicity displayed in the SS rats vs. the BN and SS-3BN consomic rats. Identifying genes that lead to understanding the mechanisms of radiation-induced cardiotoxicity represents a novel method to personalize radiation treatment, as well as predict the development of radiation-induced cardiotoxicity.
Role of age-related alterations of the cerebral venous circulation in the pathogenesis of vascular cognitive impairment
Authors: Fulop Gabor A. , Tarantini Stefano , Yabluchanskiy Andriy , Molnar Andrea , Prodan Calin I. , Kiss Tamas , Csipo Tamas , Lipecz Agnes , Balasubramanian Priya , Farkas Eszter , Toth Peter , Sorond Farzaneh , Csiszar Anna , Ungvari Zoltan
Published: March 2019

There has been an increasing appreciation of the role of vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) associated with old age. Strong preclinical and translational evidence links age-related dysfunction and structural alterations of the cerebral arteries, arterioles, and capillaries to the pathogenesis of many types of dementia in the elderly, including Alzheimer’s disease. The low-pressure, low-velocity, and large-volume venous circulation of the brain also plays critical roles in the maintenance of homeostasis in the central nervous system. Despite its physiological importance, the role of age-related alterations of the brain venous circulation in the pathogenesis of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia is much less understood. This overview discusses the role of cerebral veins in the pathogenesis of VCID. Pathophysiological consequences of age-related dysregulation of the cerebral venous circulation are explored, including blood-brain barrier disruption, neuroinflammation, exacerbation of neurodegeneration, development of cerebral microhemorrhages of venous origin, altered production of cerebrospinal fluid, impaired function of the glymphatics system, dysregulation of cerebral blood flow, and ischemic neuronal dysfunction and damage. Understanding the age-related functional and phenotypic alterations of the cerebral venous circulation is critical for developing new preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches to preserve brain health in older individuals.
Effect of Platelet Transfusion on Clot Strength in Dengue Fever with Thrombocytopenia Related Bleeding: A Thromboelastography-Based Study
Authors: Sundar Varun , Bhaskar Emmanuel 
Published: March 2019

Platelet transfusions are often administered in dengue illness complicated by thrombocytopenia-related bleeding. However, whether this practice results in an improvement of clot strength is not clear. This study assessed the impact of platelet transfusion on the control of bleeding and improvement in clot strength as assessed by thromboelastography among 74 patients with dengue. The effect of either weight-based random donor platelets or 1 unit of single donor aphaeresis units was studied. Transfusion of weight-based random donor platelets resulted in a mean platelet count increase of 10,210 cells per mm3 at 24 h from pretransfusion values, which reached marginal statistical significance (p = 0.031). Patients who received single donor platelets achieved a mean platelet increment of 22,874 cells per mm3 at 24 h, and the difference observed had a high statistical significance (p < 0.001). However, no significant improvement in clot strength was observed in thromboelastography. The mean increment in maximum amplitude value at 24 h was only 2 mm in the random donor platelet group and 5 mm in the single donor group, both of which did not reach statistical significance. Furthermore, the majority of patients had ongoing bleeding despite the administration of platelets. This study observed that platelet transfusion in dengue patients with bleeding complication improved the absolute platelet count with no improvement in clot strength.
Trichoteiromania: Good Response to Treatment with N-Acetylcysteine
Authors: Salas-Callo Corina Isabel  , Pirmez Rodrigo
Published: March 2019

Lichen simplex chronicus on the scalp, also known as trichoteiromania, can be difficult to manage, as the therapeutic options are limited to topical or intralesional glucocorticoids. We describe a patient with trichoteiromania, presenting three lichenified pruriginous plaques on different regions of the scalp, associated with fracture and loss of hair shafts. Prior treatment with potent topical glucocorticoids was ineffective. However, treatment with oral N-acetylcysteine (NAC) 1,200 mg/day resulted in complete hair regrowth within 16 weeks. NAC is a safe drug with a good tolerance profile that could be a therapeutic option for patients with trichoteiromania. The potential of NAC has not been completely elucidated, thus more studies will be necessary to confirm its efficacy in the long term for some psychodermatological conditions.
Water Pipe (Hookah) Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Authors: Bhatnagar Aruni , Maziak Wasim , Eissenberg Thomas , Ward Kenneth D. , Thurston George , King Brian A. , Sutfin Erin L. , Cobb Caroline O. , Griffiths Merlyn , Goldstein Larry B. , Rezk-Hanna Mary ,   On behalf of the American Heart Association Behavioral Change for Improving Health Factors Committee of the Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health and Council on Epidemiology and Prevention; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research; and Stroke Council
Published: March 2019

Tobacco smoking with a water pipe or hookah is increasing globally. There are millions of water pipe tobacco smokers worldwide, and in the United States, water pipe use is more common among youth and young adults than among adults. The spread of water pipe tobacco smoking has been abetted by the marketing of flavored tobacco, a social media environment that promotes water pipe smoking, and misperceptions about the addictive potential and potential adverse health effects of this form of tobacco use. There is growing evidence that water pipe tobacco smoking affects heart rate, blood pressure regulation, baroreflex sensitivity, tissue oxygenation, and vascular function over the short term. Long-term water pipe use is associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease. Several harmful or potentially harmful substances present in cigarette smoke are also present in water pipe smoke, often at levels exceeding those found in cigarette smoke. Water pipe tobacco smokers have a higher risk of initiation of cigarette smoking than never smokers. Future studies that focus on the long-term adverse health effects of intermittent water pipe tobacco use are critical to strengthen the evidence base and to inform the regulation of water pipe products and use. The objectives of this statement are to describe the design and operation of water pipes and their use patterns, to identify harmful and potentially harmful constituents in water pipe smoke, to document the cardiovascular risks of water pipe use, to review current approaches to water pipe smoking cessation, and to offer guidance to healthcare providers for the identification and treatment of individuals who smoke tobacco using water pipes.
Five new species of the genus Milnesium (Tardigrada, Eutardigrada, Milnesiidae)
Authors: TUMANOV DENIS V.
Published: March 2019

An illustrated description of five new tardigrade species belonging to genus Milnesium is given. The new species differ from all known species of this genus mainly by the proportions of the claws and bucco-pharyngeal apparatus. A new key to the determination of recent species of the genus Milnesium is presented.
Robber flies of South KoreaóII. South Korean species of the Subfamily Asilinae Latreille, 1802 (Diptera, Asilidae)
Authors: YOUNG CHARLES L.
Published: March 2019

Eight genera and 13 species within the subfamily Asilinae are recorded from South Korea. New records for the area include: Aneomochtherus sinensis (Ricardo, 1919), Asilella londti Lehr, 1989, Machimus aurulentus Becker, 1925, Machimus cf. pastshenkoae (Lehr, 1976), Mercuriana ussuriensis (Lehr, 1981), Neoitamus castaneipennis Tagawa, 1981, and N. zouhari Hradskv, 1960. Drawings of diagnostic features, a checklist, keys, and descriptions are included. All mentioned species are re-described based on specimens collected for this study.
Non-biting midges of the genus Paracladopelma Harnisch (Diptera: Chironomidae) from the Russian Far East
Authors: ZORINA OKSANA V.
Published: March 2019

The Far Eastern species of the genus Paracladopelma Harnisch, 1923 are revised. Four new species of Paracladopelma are described: P. augustus, P. globosum, P. pseudocamptolabis, and P. urkanensis. Seven species P. doris (Townes), P. furudoprimum Sasa, P. laminatum (Kieffer), P. nais (Townes), P. nereis (Townes), P. nigritulum (Goetghebuer), and P. undine (Townes) are redescribed on the basis of male morphology. Six species are recorded from Russia for the first time. Paracladopelma simantodeea Sasa et al. 1998 is presented as a junior synonym of Paracladopelma furudoprimum Sasa & Arakawa. A key for males of 12 Far Eastern species of Paracladopelma is given.
New species of Nemoura (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) from China
Authors: LI WEIHAI , YANG DING
Published: March 2019

Five species of the genus Nemoura from Oriental China are described as new to science: Nemoura basispina sp. n., Nemoura floralis sp. n., Nemoura guangdongensis sp. n. Nemoura perforata sp. n., and Nemoura sichuanensis sp. n. Their relationships with related species are discussed.
Redescription and Clarification of Type Designation of Entocythere cambaria Marshall, 1903 (Ostracoda: Entocytheridae) and synonymization of Entocythere illinoisensis Hoff, 1942
Authors: WILLIAMS BRONWYN W. , WEAVER PATRICIA G.
Published: March 2019

Entocythere cambaria was described by William S. Marshall in 1903 as the first species in what would later become family Entocytheridae. Designated as the type species of Entocythere both by original designation and monotypy, E. cambaria is integral to understanding relationships within the genus. Yet, a type series for E. cambaria was not designated, and specimens used by Marshall to describe the species have since been deemed no longer extant. C.W. Hart Jr. and Dabney Hart assigned a neotype for E. cambaria in 1974, but this specimen was not catalogued into the Invertebrate Zoology Collection at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, and subsequently disappeared. A specimen, which we believe to be Hart and Hart’s intended neotype, was recently discovered, giving us the opportunity to clarify the neotype designation of E. cambaria, and provide a complete description based on modern standards for podocopid ostracods. In addition, based on careful scrutiny of numerous specimens, including the types, we synonymize Entocythere illinoisensis with E. cambaria, and describe in full for the time the adult female of the species.
Interdecadal Seesaw of Precipitation Variability between North China and the Southwest United States
Authors: Yang Qing , Ma Zhuguo , Wu Peili , Klingaman Nicholas P. , Zhang Lixia
Published: March 2019

This paper reports a consistent seesaw relationship between interdecadal precipitation variability over North China and the Southwest United States, which can be found in observations and simulations with several models. Idealized model simulations suggest the seesaw could be mainly driven by the interdecadal Pacific oscillation (IPO), through a large-scale circulation anomaly occupying the entire northern North Pacific, while the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) contributes oppositely and less. Modulation of precipitation by the IPO tends to be intensified when the AMO is in the opposite phase, but weakened when the AMO is in the same phase. The warm IPO phase is associated with an anomalous cyclone over the northern North Pacific; consequently, anomalous southwesterly winds bring more moisture and rainfall to the Southwest United States, while northwesterly wind anomalies prevail over North China with negative rainfall anomalies. The east–west seesaw of rainfall anomalies reverses sign when the circulation anomaly becomes anticyclonic during the cold IPO phase. The IPO-related tropical SST anomalies affect the meridional temperature gradient over the North Pacific and adjacent regions and the mean meridional circulation. In the northern North Pacific, the atmospheric response to IPO forcing imposes an equivalent barotropic structure throughout the troposphere. An important implication from this study is the potential predictability of drought-related water stresses over these arid and semiarid regions, with the progress of our understanding and prediction of the IPO and AMO.
Atmospheric Duct Detection Using Wind Profiler Radar and RASS
Authors: Wang Hua , Su Shipeng , Tang Haichuan , Jiao Lin , Li Yunbo
Published: March 2019

A method of detecting atmospheric ducts using a wind profiler radar (WPR) and a radio acoustic sounding system (RASS) is proposed. The method uses the RASS to measure the virtual temperature profile and calculate the Brunt–Väisälä frequency; it also uses the WPR to measure the spectral width of the atmosphere and the atmospheric refractive index structure constant. Then the profile of the atmospheric refractive index gradient and modified refractivity are calculated using virtual temperature, spectral width, and the atmospheric refractive index structure constant. Finally, the height and intensity of the atmospheric duct are calculated to achieve continuous monitoring of the atmospheric duct. To verify the height and intensity of the atmospheric duct, comparison experiments between WPR-RASS and radiosondes were carried out from June 2014 to June 2015 in Dalian, Liaoning Province, China. The results show that the profile of modified refractivity by WPR-RASS has exactly the same trend as the radiosondes, the two methods have a good consistency, and the atmospheric duct value from WPR-RASS is in good agreement with that from radiosondes.