bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corruption risk in contracting markets: a network science perspective
Authors: Wachs Johannes , Fazekas Mihály , Kertész János
Published: January 2020

We use methods from network science to analyze corruption risk in a large administrative dataset of over 4 million public procurement contracts from European Union member states covering the years 2008–2016. By mapping procurement markets as bipartite networks of issuers and winners of contracts, we can visualize and describe the distribution of corruption risk. We study the structure of these networks in each member state, identify their cores, and find that highly centralized markets tend to have higher corruption risk. In all EU countries we analyze, corruption risk is significantly clustered. However, these risks are sometimes more prevalent in the core and sometimes in the periphery of the market, depending on the country. This suggests that the same level of corruption risk may have entirely different distributions. Our framework is both diagnostic and prescriptive: It roots out where corruption is likely to be prevalent in different markets and suggests that different anti-corruption policies are needed in different countries.
Games in the Philosophy of Biology
Authors: O'Connor Cailin
Published: January 2020

This is an Element surveying the most important literature using game theory and evolutionary game theory to shed light on questions in the philosophy of biology. There are two branches of literature that the book focuses on. It begins with a short introduction to game theory and evolutionary game theory. It then turns to working using signaling games to explore questions related to communication, meaning, language, and reference. The second part of the book addresses prosociality - strategic behavior that contributes to the successful functioning of social groups - using the prisoner's dilemma, stag hunt, and bargaining games.
BBF Deceleration Down‐Tail of X < −15 RE From MMS Observation
Authors: Zhang L. Q. , Baumjohann W. , Khotyaintsev Yu. V. , Burch James L. , Webster J. , Wang J. Y. , Wang C. , Dai L. , Zhang C. Y.
Published: January 2020

We report the direct observation on bursty bulk flow (BBF) deceleration down‐tail of X < −15 RE by MMS satellite. Two typical events are presented in the paper. In the first event on 05 June 2018, MMS1 is located at X ~ −16.1 RE and records four individual bursty flows (BFs). Each burst flow has distinctly lower velocity than the preceding one. Accompanying with the decelerated BFs, the Bz/Bx continuously increases/decreases. Simultaneous Vx‐decrease and Bz‐increase are in coincidence with the scenario of the local BBF deceleration and formation of the magnetic pileup region. In the second event on 03 July 2017, MMS stays in the neutral sheet of X ~ −24.5 RE, and encounters similar BBF deceleration process. For both events, the decelerated BF series exhibit prominent medium‐energy ion component (2–10 KeV). Analyses show enhanced parallel current (J//) and Kinetic Alfvénic wave (KAW) emitting during the BF intervals. The strength of the emitted KAW has a clear tendency to decay with the BBF decreasing. Power spectra density analysis confirms the substantial Joule dissipation during the BBF deceleration, both J// and J⊥. Combined analyses support BBF dissipation via Joule heating as well as KAW emitting. Finally, we propose a possible mechanism on the BBF deceleration, i.e., “collision” with the tailward flow.
Non‐hydrostatic, Non‐linear Processes in the Surf Zone
Authors: Martins Kévin , Bonneton Philippe , Mouragues Arthur , Castelle Bruno
Published: January 2020

In the surf zone, non‐hydrostatic processes are either neglected or estimated using linear wave theory. The recent development of technologies capable of directly measuring the free surface elevation, such as 2‐D lidar scanners, allow for a thorough assessment of the validity of such hypotheses. In this study, we use subsurface pressure and lidar data to study the non‐linear and non‐hydrostatic character of surf zone waves. Non‐hydrostatic effects are found important everywhere in the surf zone (from the outer to the inner surf zones). Surface elevation variance, skewness, and asymmetry estimated from the hydrostatic reconstruction are found to significantly underestimate the values obtained from the lidar data. At the wave‐by‐wave scale, this is explained by the underestimation of the wave crest maximal elevations, even in the inner surf zone, where the wave profile around the broken wave face is smoothed. The classic transfer function based on linear wave theory brings only marginal improvements in this regard, compared to the hydrostatic reconstruction. A recently developed non‐linear weakly dispersive reconstruction is found to consistently outperform the hydrostatic or classic transfer function reconstructions over the entire surf zone, with relative errors on the surface elevation variance and skewness around 5% on average. In both the outer and inner surf zones, this method correctly reproduces the steep front of breaking and broken waves and their individual wave height to within 10%. The performance of this irrotational method supports the hypothesis that the flow under broken waves is dominated by irrotational motions.
An FcεRI-IgE-based genetically encoded microfluidic cell sensor for fast Gram-negative bacterial screening in food samples
Authors: Jiang Hui , Yang Jun , Jiang Donglei , Sun Xiulan
Published: January 2020

An FcεRI-IgE-based genetically encoded microfluidic cell sensor for Gram-negative bacterial screening in food samples within 2.5 min was developed.
Twisted Schiff-base macrocycle showing excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer (ESIPT): assembly and sensing properties
Authors: Yu Qing , Zhang Xiaodong , Wu Shou-Ting , Chen Huaiyu , Zhang Qi-Long , Xu Hong , Huang Ya-Li , Zhu Bi-Xue , Ni Xin-Long
Published: January 2020

A Schiff-base macrocyclic host showing ESIPT-based AIEE and nanoparticle assembly.
Synthesis of a biocompatible nanoporous zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 in the presence of Gum Arabic inspired by the biomineralization process
Authors: Khalilian Seyedeh Fatemeh , Tohidi Maryam , Rastegari Banafsheh
Published: January 2020

Here, by inspiration from the biomineralization process, the synthesis of a zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 was done in the presence of polysaccharide (Gum Arabic, GA), which enhanced its biocompatibility for applications in drug delivery systems.
Recent advances in the selective catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of lignin-derived oxygenates to arenes
Authors: Zhang Jianghao , Sun Junming , Wang Yong
Published: January 2020

We summarize the recent advances, challenges, and perspectives in developing selective catalysts for HDO of phenolics.
Magnetic signatures of 120 K superconductivity at interfaces in La2CuO4+δ
Authors: Choi Eun-Mi , Zhu Bonan , Lu Ping , Feighan John , Sun Xing , Wang Haiyan , MacManus-Driscoll Judith L.
Published: January 2020

In self-assembled vertically aligned nanocomposite (VAN) thin films of La2CuO4+δ + LaCuO3, we find from DC magnetic susceptibility measurements, weak signatures of superconductivity at ∼120 K.
A model beyond protein corona: thermodynamics and binding stoichiometries of the interactions between ultrasmall gold nanoclusters and proteins
Authors: Yin Miao-Miao , Chen Wen-Qi , Lu Ya-Qi , Han Jing-Yu , Liu Yi , Jiang Feng-Lei
Published: January 2020

Nanoparticles (NPs) will inevitably interact with proteins and form protein coronas once they are exposed to biological fluids.
Electrochemically catalyzed conversion of cornstalk lignin to aromatic compounds: an integrated process of anodic oxidation of a Pb/PbO2electrode and hydrogenation of a nickel cathode in sodium hydroxide solution
Authors: Lan Chunxing , Fan Hongxian , Shang Yuanyuan , Shen Dayu , Li Gang
Published: January 2020

This paper presents a novel process to degrade cornstalk lignin in alkaline liquor by using an electrolytic cell, equipped with a nickel plate cathode and a Pb/PbO2anode in sodium hydroxide solution.
Effect of oxygen vacancies on electrical conductivity of La0.5Sr0.5FeO3−δ from first-principles calculations
Authors: Shin Yonghun , Doh Kyung-Yeon , Kim Seong Hun , Lee June Ho , Bae Hohan , Song Sun-Ju , Lee Donghwa
Published: January 2020

Metal to semiconductor transition by hole compensation of excess electrons from VO and localized VO state in La0.5Sr0.5FeO3−δ under low PO2.
Nickel nanograins anchored on a carbon framework for an efficient hydrogen evolution electrocatalyst and a flexible electrode
Authors: Zhang Zhiwei , Deng Linjie , Zhao Zhe , Zhao Yuting , Yang Jingyu , Jiang Jun , Huang Gaoshan , Mei Yongfeng
Published: January 2020

Ni nanograins are atomic layer deposited to decorate a Co, N-doped carbon framework for a flexible and highly efficient hydrogen evolution electrode.
A novel fluorene–indolocarbazole hybrid chromophore to assemble high efficiency deep-blue fluorescent emitters with extended device lifetime
Authors: Patil Vilas Venunath , Lee Kyung Hyung , Lee Jun Yeob
Published: January 2020

In this work, a novel rigid chromophore was synthesized by the fusion of 9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluorene with indolocarbazole (ICz) for the development of deep-blue fluorescent emitters with high efficiencies and long lifetimes.
Typical current modelling and feature extraction of high voltage circuit breaker towards condition analysis and fault diagnosis
Authors: Ji Tianyao , Ye Xiuzhen , Shi Mengjie , Li Mengshi , Wu Qinghua
Published: January 2020

This study proposes a coil current model and an energy storage motor current (ESMC) model of circuit breakers (CBs) with spring operated mechanism. To make sure the signals generated by the models are identical to the actual ones, this study proposes a stochastic optimisation algorithm to optimise the model parameters. Based on the data produced by the optimised models, two fault diagnosis methods are proposed to assess operational condition and detect faults. The first method is based on fast template matching, which adopts K‐means clustering algorithm to cluster the data and form a template library. The second one combines deep belief network and Softmax classifier, which can not only extract high level information of the characteristic signals, but also avoid the negative impact of the large dimension on classification results. In the simulation studies, the two methods are tested on various scenarios and their merits are demonstrated, respectively, where the latter one shows superior performance.
Multifactorial condition assessment for power transformers
Authors: Zhou Lintao , Hu Tao
Published: January 2020

Accurately assessing the health condition of the power transformer is critical to improving the operational reliability of power systems. Although great efforts to improve the accuracy of transformer fault diagnosis, accurate detection of multiple latent faults is still a difficult problem. Therefore, a multifactorial condition assessment method based on fuzzy sets and factor space is proposed. Different from the previous diagnosis methods that only provide a single‐valued result, the proposed method can display the influence degree of various variables on the condition assessment result, which indirectly indicates the cause and location of faults that occur in a transformer. In the proposed method, the type‐2 fuzzy set is used to describe the evaluation of various test values and the multifactorial condition assessment model based on factor space is applied to integrate the condition information. A modified analytic hierarchy process method is developed to estimate the relative importance of attributes. This method can distinctly indicate multiple probable latent faults of the transformer and help engineers quickly determine the cause and location of faults, which is helpful to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and the efficiency of transformer maintenance. The effectiveness of this method is verified with case studies.
Multi‐focus image fusion with Siamese self‐attention network
Authors: Guo Xiaopeng , Meng Lingyu , Mei Liye , Weng Yueyun , Tong Hengqing
Published: January 2020

Recently, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have achieved impressive progress in multi‐focus image fusion (MFF). However, it always fails to capture sufficient discrimination features due to the local receptive field limitations of the convolutional operator, restricting most current CNN‐based methods’ performance. To address this issue, by leveraging self‐attention (SA) mechanism, the authors propose Siamese SA network (SSAN) for MFF. Specifically, two kinds of SA modules, position SA (PSA) and channel SA (CSA) are utilised to model the long‐range dependencies across focused and defocused regions in the multi‐focus image, alleviating the local receptive field limitations of convolution operators in CNN. To search a better feature representation of the input image for MFF, the captured features obtained by PSA and CSA are further merged through a learnable 1 × 1 convolution operator. The whole pipeline is in a Siamese network fashion to reduce the complexity. After training, the authors SSAN can accomplish well the fusion task with no post‐processing. Experiments demonstrate that their approach outperforms other current state‐of‐the‐art methods, not only in subjective visual perception but also in the quantitative assessment.
Placement optimisation for station‐free bicycle‐sharing under 1D distribution assumption
Authors: Wang Shuofeng , Li Zhiheng , Gu Ruochen , Xie Na
Published: January 2020

Bicycles become popular again in the transportation system because they could serve as useful tools for convenient, economical, and environmentally friendly short‐trips. In the traditional public bicycle system, customers need to reach a fixed public bicycle station before they can rent a public bicycle. However, the current station‐free bicycle‐sharing systems can allow customers to borrow or return shared bicycles, which would be distributed almost anywhere. Such new systems bring new optimisation problems for bicycle management. The authors study a placement optimisation problem that highlights the distribution characteristics of shared bicycles, aiming to minimise the total walking distance of customers. The proposed model is a 0–1 mix‐integer non‐linear programme. To solve the model, they propose a bi‐level solving framework. The upper‐level model optimises the locations of supply stations. The lower‐level model optimises the number of bikes assigned to each demand site. A test based on the campus of Tsinghua University is employed to validate the proposed model. The optimal location suggested by their model is significantly different from the location suggested by models that ignore the distributed feature. Their model performs better in terms of reducing the total walking distance.
High sensitivity simple structured displacement sensor using corrugated substrate‐integrated waveguide (CSIW)
Authors: Soltan Abbas , Sadeghzadeh Ramazan Ali , Mohammad‐Ali‐Nezhad Sajad
Published: January 2020

In this study, a corrugated substrate‐integrated waveguide (CSIW) is used to design a passive microwave displacement sensor. Hence, one of the electric walls of the proposed structure is formed by open‐circuited quarter guided wavelength stubs and the other walls are made by metal vias and moveable copper metal is placed on the stubs. By displacing the moveable metal layer along with the stubs, the length of the stubs is changed and therefore the resonant frequency is shifted. An analytical model that relates the variation of the resonant frequency and the displacement has been formulated. The proposed sensor seems like a simple structure and it is operated at 2.4–2.9 GHz. There is a good agreement between the measured results and those obtained by simulation. The measured results indicate that the sensor provides a high dynamic range of displacement of 15 mm and high sensitivity of 25.16 MHz/mm.
Comment on ‘Analytical solution for transient, diffusing fields inside a ring conductor with rectangular cross section’ [IET Sci. Meas. Technol., 2008, Vol. 2, No. 5, pp. 367–375]
Authors: Gratkowski Stanislaw , Ziolkowski Marcin
Published: January 2020

In the study, in the title of this comment, a ring conductor with rectangular cross‐section excited by ramped potentials at one end, with the other end grounded, has been considered. Analytical series solutions have been derived to describe the diffusing field transients in a few milliseconds in the ring conductor. This comment indicates the weaknesses of the study and presents an improved and much simpler analytical approach to the problem.
LMI‐based robust fault detection and isolation in linear stochastic systems
Authors: Jafari Hamideh , Poshtan Javad , Shamaghdari Saeed
Published: January 2020

Here, a new fault detection and isolation (FDI) method based on linear optimisation is proposed for stochastic linear systems with unknown inputs. The stochastic system is discrete and its state and output equations are dependent on unknown inputs. Both stochastic/deterministic unknown inputs (external disturbances) and measurement noise are considered in the dynamic model; therefore, a simple and complete formulation of the robust FDI scheme is presented for stochastic systems. According to the proposed method, first an observable and controllable subsystem is found such that it is independent of the effect of unknown inputs. Then an innovation filter is used for the FDI task. Sufficient conditions to guarantee the stability and observability of the new subsystem are presented based on linear matrix inequalities. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness and capability of the proposed method for FDI in stochastic systems with unknown inputs.
Finite‐element analysis combined with an ensemble Gaussian process regression to predict the damper eddy current losses in a large turbo‐generator
Authors: Zhao Jingying , Guo Hai , Wang Likun , Han Min
Published: January 2020

A method combining the finite‐element method (FEM) numerical calculation with machine learning is developed and used to calculate the eddy current losses of the rotor damping slot wedge of generator with different structures and electromagnetic properties. FEM simulation data is used as the input, and the stacking method is used to build the ensemble Gaussian process regression model for eddy current loss prediction to predict and analyse the calculation results. The error is tiny. The FEM results are highly consistent with the prediction data. As demonstrated by comparison experiments, the prediction accuracy of the stacking Gaussian process regression (SGPR) model is greater than that of other models. Therefore, the SGPR model provides a new auxiliary design method for large generators that can help improve generator design efficiency.
Numerical analysis on the short‐circuit withstanding performance of busbar system in LV switchgear
Authors: Wu Yongcong , Ruan Jiangjun , Li Peng , Gong Yujia , Long Mingyang
Published: January 2020

The short‐circuit withstanding performance of busbar system is one of the most important safety indexes for low‐voltage (LV) switchgear. The resonance characteristics, short‐circuit displacement, and stress concentration of four typical busbar system arrangements are numerically analysed in this study. First, modal analysis is used to calculate the vibration modes and natural frequencies of the busbar systems. The influence of span length and phase‐to‐phase distance is discussed and thresholds for resonance prevention are given. Then, electromagnetic‐structural coupled models are built to simulate the short‐circuit mechanical response. The time‐varying displacement and stress are obtained and the dynamic stability of typical arrangements is compared. The proposed results can provide theoretical reference for the dynamic stability design of busbar system in LV switchgear.
Towards a common vocabulary for describing the accuracy of computational electromagnetics models and comparisons with measurements
Authors: Ruddle Alastair R.
Published: January 2020

Validation and verification activities are essential enablers for the practical application of computational electromagnetics (CEM) models in industrial applications, but these terms are widely confused or merged. Furthermore, concepts such as the accuracy and precision of measurement results are often poorly understood. As model accuracy is most commonly judged against measured results there is a strong case to establish a well‐defined vocabulary for describing the accuracy of CEM models that is both consistent with, and complementary to, the existing vocabulary associated with measurements. In order to help clarify the situation, this study identifies the difference between validation and verification in relation to CEM, suggests a mapping between CEM and measurement processes, collates a number of relevant definitions from existing measurement standards, and proposes new and complementary definitions that relate specifically to CEM simulation. It is considered that the proposed vocabulary could help to avoid misunderstandings between the test and modelling domains and eliminate ambiguity in standards relating to CEM validation and verification. In addition, the terminology presented here could also be readily adapted to help develop or clarify similar standards for other physics‐based simulation domains, and perhaps even for more general mathematical modelling applications.
Consideration of ferromagnetic anisotropy in electrical machines built of segmented silicon steel sheets
Authors: Müller Fabian , Bavendiek Gregor , Leuning Nora , Schauerte Benedikt , Hameyer Kay
Published: January 2020

Electrical steel shows a distinct non‐linear and anisotropic behaviour even for non‐oriented steel. The flux guidance in electrical machines is realised by ferromagnetic steel sheets, and therefore it is necessary to consider the anisotropy in the simulation to have reliable and accurate results. Due to the fact that the reduction of silicon steel waste in the production process of electrical machines is crucial, and to enhance the material utilisation the segmentation is employed in the construction of electrical machines. The segmentation further allows to enhance the magnetic behaviour of the machine by considering the easy magnetisation axis in the design process. Nowadays, consideration of ferromagnetic anisotropy in the simulation of electrical machines is not accurate. To cope with these inaccuracies, in this contribution, a vectorial anisotropy model based on two‐dimensional measurements is employed to the simulation of a segmented electrical machine, which is not state of the art in current machine computation. With the presented methodology, it is possible to simulate and design segmented electrical machines in an accurate fashion taking the ferromagnetic anisotropy into account.
Various skin impedance models based on physiological stratification
Authors: Bora Dhruba Jyoti , Dasgupta Rajdeep
Published: January 2020

Transdermal drug delivery is a non‐invasive method of drug administration. However, to achieve this, the drug has to pass through the complicated structure of the skin. The complex structure of skin can be modelled by an electrical equivalent circuit to calculate its impedance. In this work, the transfer function of three electrical models of the human skin (Montague, Tregear and Lykken Model) based on physiological stratification are analysed. Sensitivity analysis of these models is carried out to consider the extent to which changes in system parameters (different types of R and C as described by different models) affect the behaviour of the model. Techniques like normal of derivative and Hausdorff Distance is also used to study and understand the different curves. Comparison is also made with CPE based model. As Montague Model is the most widely used model, Tregear and Lykken Model are compared with it. It can be commented that out of the above observations Tregear Model at Level 3 can be used for establishing the electrical equivalent of human skin due to its simplicity. However, fractional ordered CPE models provide a good approximation. Future prospect lies in developing a model that characterize both biological properties and physiological stratification.
Unusually low density regions in the compressed slow wind: Solar wind transients of small coronal hole origin
Authors: Liu Yong C.-M. , Qi Zhaohui , Huang Jia , Wang Chi , Fu Hui , Klecker Berndt , Wang Linghua , Farrugia Charles J.
Published: January 2020

We report on two small solar wind transients embedded in the corotating interaction region, characterized by surprisingly lower proton density compared with their surrounding regions. In addition to lower density, these two small solar wind transients showed other interesting features like higher proton temperature, higher alpha-proton ratios, and lower charge states (C+6/C+5 and O+7/O+6). A synthesized picture for event One combining the observations by STEREO B, ACE, and Wind showed that this small solar transient has an independent magnetic field. Back-mapping links the origin of the small solar transient to a small coronal hole on the surface of the Sun. Considering these special features and the back-mapping, we conclude that such small solar wind transients may have originated from a small coronal hole at low latitudes.
Discovery of long-period magnetic field oscillations and motions in isolated sunspots
Authors: Griñón-Marín A. B. , Pastor Yabar A. , Socas-Navarro H. , Centeno R.
Published: January 2020

We analyse the temporal evolution of the inclination component of the magnetic field vector for the penumbral area of 25 isolated sunspots. Compared to previous works, the use of data from the HMI instrument aboard the SDO observatory facilitates the study of a very long time series (≈1 week) with a good spatial and temporal resolution. We used the wavelet technique and we found some filamentary-shaped events with large wavelet power. Their distribution of periods is broad, ranging from the lower limit for this study of 48 min up to 63 h. An interesting property of these events is that they do not appear homogeneously all around the penumbra but they seem to concentrate at particular locations. The cross-comparison of these wavelet maps with AIA data shows that the regions where these events appear are visually related to the coronal loops that connect the outer penumbra to one or more neighbouring opposite polarity flux patches.
Skymaps of observables of three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic astrosphere models
Authors: Baalmann L. R. , Scherer K. , Fichtner H. , Kleimann J. , Bomans D. J. , Weis K.
Published: January 2020

Context. Three-dimensional models of astrospheres have recently become of interest. However, comparisons between these models and observations are non-trivial because of the two-dimensional nature of observations.

Aims. By projecting selected physical values of three-dimensional models of astrospheres onto the surface of a sphere that is centred on a virtual all-sky observer, these models can be compared to observational data in different observables: the column density, bremsstrahlung flux, rotation measure, Hα flux, and synchrotron or cyclotron flux.

Methods. Projections were calculated by rotating and moving the astrosphere model to the desired position and orientation and by then computing the value of a given patch on the sphere by a modified line-of-sight integration. Contributions to the selected observable made by all model cells that are connected to the patch by the line of sight in question were taken into account.

Results. When the model produces a bow shock, a distinct parabolic structure produced by the outer astrosheath can be seen in every observable of the projection, the exact shape depending on the orientations of the line of sight and the stellar motion. Of all four examined astrosphere models, only that of λ Cephei shows fluxes that are higher than current observational thresholds. This is due to the strong stellar wind and interstellar inflow of the λ Cephei model.
Strengthening of the Formal Complementary Paddy Seeding System and Informal to Fulfill Demand of Quality Paddy Seeds and to Develop Seed Farming Business in West Java
Authors: Firdaus Dian , Natawidjaja Ronnie S. , Rachmady Meddy
Published: January 2020

The era of seed commercialization with agribusiness perspective is marked by the stipulation of Government Regulation No. 22/191. However, in general the stipulation of the government regulation has not been able to provide quality paddy seeds according to farmers’ needs and instead the paddy production tends to be stagnant. In very difficult conditions to carry out intensification and conversion of agricultural land that continues to suppress food production, the position and function of quality paddy seeds becomes very strategic in the increasing production, therefore, quality paddy seeds must be available enough for all farmers. The current problems in the supply of quality paddy seeds from the formal channel, among others: lack of cooperation between institutions and weak supervision. Under these conditions the role of informal paddy seeds is large enough to support paddy production so that West Java paddy production can be met according to the targets set. Therefore, solutions should be found in the supply of quality paddy seeds, not only through formal channels, but also through informal channels. This study uses descriptive analysis to formulate institutional strengthening of formal and informal complementary paddy seed systems to increase production and income of paddy farmers in West Java.
A Simplified Approach for Fabrication of One-Piece Hollow Interim Obturator for the Prosthodontic Treatment of Hemimaxillectomy Patient—A Clinical Report
Authors: Kaur Jaswinder
Published: January 2020

Most common problems faced by a patient with resected maxilla are reduced retention, support, and stability. A successful prosthesis should meet the physiological, psychological, and aesthetic needs of the patient. This article describes the procedure for the rehabilitation of hemimaxillectomy patient with one-piece hollow obturator using simple technique, reducing laboratory time.
Intraflagellar transport protein RABL5/IFT22 recruits the BBSome to the basal body through the GTPase ARL6/BBS3
Authors: Xue Bin , Liu Yan-Xia , Dong Bin , Wingfield Jenna L. , Wu Mingfu , Sun Jun , Lechtreck Karl F. , Fan Zhen-Chuan
Published: January 2020

Significance

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare human ciliopathy associated with blindness, obesity, and kidney anomalies. It is caused by defects in the assembly or transport of the BBSome, a conserved octamer of BBS proteins, which assists intraflagellar transport (IFT) with the removal of signaling proteins from cilia. Here, we show that the GTPase component of IFT-B1, IFT22, autonomous of IFT-B1 association, binds and stabilizes BBS3 in the cell body. When both are in their GTP-bound state, IFT22 and BBS3 recruit the BBSome to the basal body for loading onto the IFT machinery for ciliary entry. IFT22 recruits the BBSome to the basal body through BBS3 in a nucleotide-dependent manner providing a regulatory mechanism for BBSome entry into the cilium.
Constructing a yeast to express the largest cellulosome complex on the cell surface
Authors: Anandharaj Marimuthu , Lin Yu-Ju , Rani Rizwana Parveen , Nadendla Eswar Kumar , Ho Meng-Chiao , Huang Chieh-Chen , Cheng Jan-Fang , Chang Jui-Jen , Li Wen-Hsiung
Published: January 2020

Significance

Sustainable utilization of cellulosic biomasses to produce valuable compounds is an ideal approach but hydrolysis of recalcitrant cellulose is complex and time-consuming. Several cellulolytic bacteria produced multienzyme complexes called “cellulosomes” that efficiently degrade the cellulose. Hence, we engineered the yeast
Kluyveromyces marxianus
to express the “largest cellulolytic complex,” which can accommodate up to 63 enzymes, on its cell surface. Due to the synergistic effects of cellulase in cellulosomes, our engineered yeast exhibited greater degradation efficiency and released significantly higher quantities of reducing sugars and ethanol from cellulosic substrates than any previous constructs. In future, this superb cellulosome complex may also be used for the synthesis of various biopharmaceutical products (e.g., astaxanthin and morphine) which involve multiple enzymatic conversion steps.
Structure of a rabies virus polymerase complex from electron cryo-microscopy
Authors: Horwitz Joshua A. , Jenni Simon , Harrison Stephen C. , Whelan Sean P. J.
Published: January 2020

Nonsegmented negative-stranded (NNS) RNA viruses, among them the virus that causes rabies (RABV), include many deadly human pathogens. The large polymerase (L) proteins of NNS RNA viruses carry all of the enzymatic functions required for viral messenger RNA (mRNA) transcription and replication: RNA polymerization, mRNA capping, and cap methylation. We describe here a complete structure of RABV L bound with its phosphoprotein cofactor (P), determined by electron cryo-microscopy at 3.3 Å resolution. The complex closely resembles the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) L-P, the one other known full-length NNS-RNA L-protein structure, with key local differences (e.g., in L-P interactions). Like the VSV L-P structure, the RABV complex analyzed here represents a preinitiation conformation. Comparison with the likely elongation state, seen in two structures of pneumovirus L-P complexes, suggests differences between priming/initiation and elongation complexes. Analysis of internal cavities within RABV L suggests distinct template and product entry and exit pathways during transcription and replication.
What does and doesn’t affect L2 overt pronoun production
Authors: Nagano Marisa
Published: January 2020

This study examined corpus data from learners of Japanese whose L1s are English, Korean, and Mandarin (as well as
native-speaker Japanese controls), in order to investigate the effect of two separate (but sometimes conflated) potential
influences on overt pronoun production in the L2: (i) whether or not the L1 is a topic-drop language (like Japanese), and (ii) the
properties of overt pronouns in the L1 compared to those of Japanese. In order to investigate (i), the rate of overt pronoun use
in topic/argument position for all three learner groups was tabulated and compared to that of native speakers. In order to
investigate (ii), total rate of overt pronoun use in all positions was tabulated, as well as the type of case-/discourse-marking
particles that accompanied overt pronouns in each learner group, compared to native speakers. Results show no influence of L1
topic-drop status, but some influence of L1 overt pronoun properties, in the form of (a) interactions between the morphosyntax of
pronouns and broader DP/NP structure in the L1 and L2, and (b) shared discourse properties of the overt pronoun in the L1 and
L2.
Non-pharmacological interventions for fatigue in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ho Lily Y W , Ng Shamay S M
Published: January 2020

Background

Non-pharmacological interventions are widely used to treat fatigue in clients with specific diseases but the findings may not be applicable to older adults experiencing fatigue, which also relates to the physiological changes of ageing. Non-pharmacological interventions for fatigue alleviation in older adults have not been reviewed and meta-analysed.

Objective

To evaluate the immediate and long-term effects of non-pharmacological interventions on fatigue in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods

Randomised controlled trials published from 2008 to May 2018 were searched in CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, PubMed and Web of Science databases. The reference lists of the publications, forward citation and clinical trial registries were also reviewed. Relevant data were extracted and meta-analysis was conducted using Cochrane Review Manager 5.3.

Results

Eight studies, with a total of 1093 participants, were identified. Non-pharmacological interventions included mindfulness meditation, a behavioural lifestyle programme, muscle relaxation, pet insect-assisted therapy, yoga, Tai Chi and cognitive behavioural therapy. Non-pharmacological interventions elicited significant immediate positive effects on fatigue (SMD: −0.40, 95% CI −0.62 to −0.18), although there was no lasting effect. Both physical and cognitive/mental interventions effectively alleviated fatigue.

Conclusion

Non-pharmacological interventions appear to be effective in alleviating fatigue at immediate post-intervention in community-dwelling older adults. More studies with robust designs and adequate sample sizes are needed in the future.
Water Dependence of Birds in a Temperate Oak Woodland
Authors: Williams Pamela L. , Koenig Walter D.
Published: January 2020

Observations from June to September 1977 at a spring in central coastal California showed that 24 of 45 species of birds found within a 1.6-km diameter area used the spring as a source of free water. Color-banded individuals of several species drank more than once a day. A significant seasonal variation in the number of drinking visits per hour was found for all species combined. Only the Brown Towhee showed a conspicuous diurnal drinking pattern, however. Temperature on a particular day was not correlated with number of species visiting the spring, the total number of visits by all birds to the spring, or the number of visits by five of the six species considered to be water dependent.

Granivory was significantly, positively correlated with water dependence. Permanent residents were more regular drinkers than summer residents, but this was a secondary effect resulting from the high proportion of granivory among permanent residents. The habitat surrounding the water hole, species abundance, and human disturbance at the spring all showed possible influence on our measures of water dependence. These findings suggest that surface water may be an important determinant of species distribution and community organization in mesic as well as desert environments.
Male harassment leads to fitness costs for females by disrupting oviposition site preferences
Authors: Bacon Elisabeth , Barbosa Flavia
Published: January 2020

In many species, a difference in the optimal number of copulations for males and females leads to sexual conflict. This is well documented in the bean beetle Callosobruchus maculatus, where both sexes mate multiply and females incur fitness costs from injuries caused by the male genitalia. Here, we demonstrate that sexual conflict also decreases female fitness due to male harassment. We hypothesized that harassment costs would come as 1) decreased clutch size, egg size, or both and by 2) disruption of female preference for higher-quality oviposition substrate. Mated females were housed with two bean types—cowpeas, their preferred natal hosts, and toxic pinto beans. They were then submitted to either no, moderate, or high male harassment in the oviposition site. Females under harassment produced smaller clutch sizes but not smaller eggs, resulting in the absence of an egg-size/clutch-size trade-off. Additionally, females did not exhibit a preference for their natal cowpeas hosts over toxic pinto beans when males were present at the oviposition site, although they do so when harassing males are not present. Harassment disrupted female responses to variation in oviposition substrate quality, resulting in considerable fitness consequences in the form of lower offspring production and survival.
Morbigenous brain region and gene detection with a genetically evolved random neural network cluster approach in late mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Bi Xia-an , Liu Yingchao , Xie Yiming , Hu Xi , Jiang Qinghua
Published: January 2020

Motivation

The multimodal data fusion analysis becomes another important field for brain disease detection and increasing researches concentrate on using neural network algorithms to solve a range of problems. However, most current neural network optimizing strategies focus on internal nodes or hidden layer numbers, while ignoring the advantages of external optimization. Additionally, in the multimodal data fusion analysis of brain science, the problems of small sample size and high-dimensional data are often encountered due to the difficulty of data collection and the specialization of brain science data, which may result in the lower generalization performance of neural network.

Results

We propose a genetically evolved random neural network cluster (GERNNC) model. Specifically, the fusion characteristics are first constructed to be taken as the input and the best type of neural network is selected as the base classifier to form the initial random neural network cluster. Second, the cluster is adaptively genetically evolved. Based on the GERNNC model, we further construct a multi-tasking framework for the classification of patients with brain disease and the extraction of significant characteristics. In a study of genetic data and functional magnetic resonance imaging data from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, the framework exhibits great classification performance and strong morbigenous factor detection ability. This work demonstrates that how to effectively detect pathogenic components of the brain disease on the high-dimensional medical data and small samples.

Availability and implementation

The Matlab code is available at https://github.com/lizi1234560/GERNNC.git.
The identity of two meta-analytic likelihoods and the ignorability of double-zero studies
Authors: Böhning Dankmar , Sangnawakij Patarawan
Published: January 2020

In meta-analysis, the conventional two-stage approach computes an effect estimate for each study in the first stage and proceeds with the analysis of effect estimates in the second stage. For counts of events as outcome, the risk ratio is often the effect measure of choice. However, if the meta-analysis includes many studies with no events the conventional method breaks down. As an alternative one-stage approach, a Poisson regression model and a conditional binomial model can be considered where no event studies do not cause problems. The conditional binomial model excludes double-zero studies, whereas this is seemingly not the case for the Poisson regression approach. However, we show here that both models lead to the same likelihood inference and double-zero studies (in contrast to single-zero studies) do not contribute in either case to the likelihood.
Soluble TREM2 is elevated in Parkinson’s disease subgroups with increased CSF tau
Authors: Wilson Edward N , Swarovski Michelle S , Linortner Patricia , Shahid Marian , Zuckerman Abigail J , Wang Qian , Channappa Divya , Minhas Paras S , Mhatre Siddhita D , Plowey Edward D , Quinn Joseph F , Zabetian Cyrus P , Tian Lu , Longo Frank M , Cholerton Brenna , Montine Thomas J , Poston Kathleen L , Andreasson Katrin I
Published: January 2020

Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease and affects 1% of the population above 60 years old. Although Parkinson’s disease commonly manifests with motor symptoms, a majority of patients with Parkinson’s disease subsequently develop cognitive impairment, which often progresses to dementia, a major cause of morbidity and disability. Parkinson’s disease is characterized by α-synuclein accumulation that frequently associates with amyloid-β and tau fibrils, the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease neuropathological changes; this co-occurrence suggests that onset of cognitive decline in Parkinson’s disease may be associated with appearance of pathological amyloid-β and/or tau. Recent studies have highlighted the appearance of the soluble form of the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2) receptor in CSF during development of Alzheimer’s disease. Given the known association of microglial activation with advancing Parkinson’s disease, we investigated whether CSF and/or plasma sTREM2 differed between CSF biomarker-defined Parkinson’s disease participant subgroups. In this cross-sectional study, we examined 165 participants consisting of 17 cognitively normal elderly subjects, 45 patients with Parkinson’s disease with no cognitive impairment, 86 with mild cognitive impairment, and 17 with dementia. Stratification of subjects by CSF amyloid-β and tau levels revealed that CSF sTREM2 concentrations were elevated in Parkinson’s disease subgroups with a positive tau CSF biomarker signature, but not in Parkinson’s disease subgroups with a positive CSF amyloid-β biomarker signature. These findings indicate that CSF sTREM2 could serve as a surrogate immune biomarker of neuronal injury in Parkinson’s disease.
More Screening or More Disease? Gonorrhea Testing and Positivity Patterns Among Men in 3 Large Clinical Practices in Massachusetts, 2010–2017
Authors: Willis Sarah J , Elder Heather , Cocoros Noelle , Young Jessica , Marcus Julia L , Eberhardt Karen , Callahan Myfanwy , Herrick Brian , Weiss Michelle , Hafer Ellen , Erani Diana , Josephson Mark , Llata Eloisa , Flagg Elaine W , Hsu Katherine K , Klompas Michael
Published: January 2020

Background

Gonorrhea diagnosis rates in the United States increased by 75% during 2009–2017, predominantly in men. It is unclear whether the increase among men is being driven by more screening, an increase in the prevalence of disease, or both. We sought to evaluate changes in gonorrhea testing patterns and positivity among men in Massachusetts.

Methods

The analysis included men (aged ≥15 years) who received care during 2010–2017 in 3 clinical practice groups. We calculated annual percentages of men with ≥1 gonorrhea test and men with ≥1 positive result, among men tested. Log-binomial regression models were used to examine trends in these outcomes. We adjusted for clinical and demographic characteristics that may influence the predilection to test and probability of gonorrhea disease.

Results

On average, 306 348 men had clinical encounters each year. There was a significant increase in men with ≥1 gonorrhea test from 2010 (3.1%) to 2017 (6.4%; adjusted annual risk ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.12–1.13). There was a significant, albeit lesser, increase in the percentage of tested men with ≥1 positive result (1.0% in 2010 to 1.5% in 2017; adjusted annual risk ratio, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.09).

Conclusions

We estimated significant increases in the annual percentages of men with ≥1 gonorrhea test and men with ≥1 positive gonorrhea test result between 2010 and 2017. These results suggest that observed increases in gonorrhea rates could be explained by both increases in screening and the prevalence of gonorrhea.
Direct Measurement of Iodine Production by Sonic Extracts of Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes
Authors: DeChatelet Lawrence R , McCall Charles E , Cooper M Robert
Published: January 2020

We describe an enzymatic reaction between iodide ion, H2O2, and neutrophil sonicates, in which free iodine is formed. Some characteristics of the reaction are: (a) it is catalyzed by sonic extracts of human neutrophils, by purified horseradish peroxidase, or purified human myeloperoxidase, but not by sonic extracts of rabbit alveolar macrophages or beef liver catalase; (b) iodine is the product, as shown by its absorption spectrum and the absorption spectrum of the starch adduct; (c) the reaction is proportional to the amount of neutrophil sonicate added, and has a pH optimum near 4.0. Reaction is not linear with respect to time, owing to denaturation of the enzyme. Kinetic data indicate that the enzyme may be allosteric with respect to iodide and is inhibited by high concentrations of H2O2. These represent possible sources of control of the reaction.