bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of coronal splits on the structural stability of bi-condylar tibial plateau fractures: a biomechanical investigation
Authors: Samsami Shabnam , Pätzold Robert , Winkler Martin , Herrmann Sven , Augat Peter
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Surgical treatment of bi-condylar tibial plateau fractures is still challenging due to the complexity of the fracture and the difficult surgical approach. Coronal fracture lines are associated with a high risk of fixation failure. However, previous biomechanical studies and fracture classifications have disregarded coronal fracture lines.

Materials and methods

This study aimed to develop a clinically relevant fracture model (Fracture C) and compare its mechanical behavior with the traditional Horwitz model (Fracture H). Twelve samples of fourth-generation tibia Sawbones were utilized to realize two fracture models with (Fracture C) or without (Fracture H) a coronal fracture line and both fixed with lateral locking plates. Loading of the tibial plateau was introduced through artificial femur condyles to cyclically load the fracture constructs until failure. Stiffness, fracture gap movements, failure loads as well as relative displacements and rotations of fracture fragments were measured.

Results

The presence of a coronal fracture line reduced fracture construct stiffness by 43% (p = 0.013) and decreased the failure load by 38% from 593 ± 159 to 368 ± 63 N (p = 0.016). Largest displacements were observed at the medial aspect between the tibial plateau and the tibial shaft in the longitudinal direction. Again, the presence of the coronal fracture line reduced the stability of the fragments and created increased joint incongruities.

Conclusions

Coronal articular fracture lines substantially affect the mechanical response of tibia implant structures specifically on the medial side. With this in mind, utilizing a clinically relevant fracture model for biomechanical evaluations regarding bi-condylar tibial plateau fractures is strongly recommended.
Correction to: Cognitive profiles discriminate between genetic variants of behavioral frontotemporal dementia
Authors: Poos J. M. , Jiskoot L. C. , Leijdesdorff S. M. J. , Seelaar H. , Panman J. L. , van der Ende E. L. , Mol M. O. , Meeter L. H. H. , Pijnenburg Y. A. L. , Donker Kaat L. , de Jong F. J. , van Swieten J. C. , Papma J. M. , van den Berg E.
Published: March 2020

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake.
A Family of New Borel Subalgebras of Quantum Groups
Authors: Lentner Simon , Vocke Karolina
Published: March 2020

We construct a family of right coideal subalgebras of quantum groups, which have the property that all irreducible representations are one-dimensional, and which are maximal with this property. The obvious examples for this are the standard Borel subalgebras expected from Lie theory, but in a quantum group there are many more. Constructing and classifying them is interesting for structural reasons, and because they lead to unfamiliar induced (Verma-)modules for the quantum group. The explicit family we construct in this article consists of quantum Weyl algebras combined with parts of a standard Borel subalgebra, and they have a triangular decomposition. Our main result is proving their Borel subalgebra property. Conversely we prove under some restrictions a classification result, which characterizes our family. Moreover we list forUq(4) all possible triangular Borel subalgebras, using our underlying results and additional by-hand arguments. This gives a good working example and puts our results into context.
International mobility and education inequality among Brazilian undergraduate students
Authors: Dias Lopes Alice
Published: March 2020

This paper aims to understand the effect of international mobility in higher education on Brazilian education inequality by examining the Science Without Borders programme for undergraduate students. The SWB aimed to award 101,000 scholarships for Brazilian undergraduate students to conduct part of their studies in a foreign university between 2011 and 2015. This paper draws on research on education inequalities and international mobility to investigate the patterns of inequality among undergraduate students participating in the SWB, considering the period of higher education expansion in Brazil. Using the ENEM datasets, inequality of access and inequality within the programme were analysed. The results show that students with parents with higher levels of education and higher income were more likely to participate in the SWB programme. Moreover, students with higher parental education and family income tended to study at a prestigious university during the programme.
Methodology to analyze gene expression patterns of early mammary development in pig models
Authors: Moss Matthew A. , Williams Breanne , Ferdous Farzana , Scott Tom , Dunn Heather W.
Published: March 2020

In mammary gland development, normal stem cell activity occurs in the embryonic stage and postnatally. Research supports that certain breast cancers contain a small sub-population of cells that mimic stem-like activity. It is believed stem cell activation in the mutated mature human mammary tissue is what drives quiescent epithelial cells to convert to mesenchymal states initiating migration, invasion, and metastasis in breast cancer. The goal of the work reported herein was to investigate early mammary development gene expression in the postnatal pig using fine needle biopsy methods in order to establish a reliable model for human breast cancer detection. Tissue samples were collected from pig mammary glands beginning at Day 11 of age through Day 39 in order to capture early postnatal-growth gene expression. Based on the initial clustering analysis, two distinct clusters of gene expression profiles occurred before and after Day 25 of mammary development. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) ontology indicated the cellular processes that changed after Day 25, and many of these processes were implicated in epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) signaling events. Gene expression in the postnatal pig was compared with the Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition gene database (dbEMT) confirming the presence of EMT activity in this early developmental program. Information from this study will provide insight into early postnatal mammary gland development. In addition, mechanisms exploited by mutated mammary epithelial cells leading to cancer initiation and growth may be detected considering that mutated mammary epithelial cells can reactivate early developmental signals.
Empirically Based Classification of Peer Violence in a Nationally Representative Sample of Adolescents: a Latent Class Analysis
Authors: Várnai Dóra E. , Horváth Zsolt , Jármi Éva , Urbán Róbert , Demetrovics Zsolt , Németh Ágnes , Kökönyei Gyöngyi
Published: March 2020

The aim of the study was to investigate the pattern of traditional- and cyberbullying, and fighting involvement and identify its most important correlates in a nationally representative sample. We analyzed the data of Hungarian 11–18-year-old adolescents in the framework of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study. A latent class analysis was performed first and afterwards a multinomial logistic regression analysis to examine factors explaining class membership. Four latent classes were identified: “high probability involvement in all forms of violence”; “low involvement in any forms of violence”; “predominantly involved in traditional bullying and fighting”; “high engagement in online victimization”. As no clear victim or perpetrator group was identified, a high overlap between these violence involvement statuses is reinforced.
The Dangers of Fiscal Decentralization and Public Service Delivery: a Review of Arguments
Authors: Arends Helge
Published: March 2020

The prevailing belief is that local governments, which are closer to their citizens, can deliver public goods much more efficiently than a central government can. Yet skeptics argue that fiscal decentralization can be dangerous. The underlying motivation of this article is to review the basic rationale behind decentralizing public services from the perspective of three main controversies emerging from the literature on decentralization: (in)efficient, (un)equal, and (un)accountable service provision at the local level. For illustrative purposes, this review focuses on two complex and socially important sectors, health and education. The overall conclusion is that the dangers of decentralization are highly relevant to local public service provision, although there is evidence supporting both the decentralization-enthusiastic and the decentralization-skeptical views. When decentralizing public services, reformers should know the specificities of the public service, the local context, and the effects of the design of fiscal relations like the backs of their hands. If things go wrong, recentralization should be an option.
Outcome of Fetuses with Cavum Velum Interpositi Cyst—Experience of a Tertiary Centre
Authors: Desai Purvi , Chauhan Keshvi , Deshpande Shalmali , Chauhan Binodini , Jhawar Manisha
Published: March 2020

Cavum velum interpositi is the space between the layers of the tela choroidea of the third ventricle. This space occasionally appears as an anechoic lesion in routine mid-trimester targeted scans because of the presence of fluid inside. This is then called a cavum velum interpositi (CVI) cyst. CVI cyst is a rare finding with varied outcomes. Councellings management are consequently confusing. This study was aimed at assessing the outcome of CVI cysts to guide the treating clinician and address apprehensions of the expecting couple. Genetic evaluation and MRI to prove the inncocuous nature of CVI cysts is expensive and needs to be offered in an appropriate perspective. A fetal Neurosonogram was conducted in all the targeted scans and the brain was visualized in coronal, axial, sagittal and oblique saggital planes. The fetuses with a CVI cyst were followed antenatally and up to 6 months post delivery. The study concluded that CVI cysts appear to be an innocuous finding as neurological outcome of all four cases who continued pregnancy was normal. One patient terminated the pregnancy for an extra Central Nervous System anomaly.
Extension of B-spline Material Point Method for unstructured triangular grids using Powell–Sabin splines
Authors: de Koster Pascal , Tielen Roel , Wobbes Elizaveta , Möller Matthias
Published: March 2020

The Material Point Method (MPM) is a numerical technique that combines a fixed Eulerian background grid and Lagrangian point masses to simulate materials which undergo large deformations. Within the original MPM, discontinuous gradients of the piecewise-linear basis functions lead to the so-called grid-crossing errors when particles cross element boundaries. Previous research has shown that B-spline MPM (BSMPM) is a viable alternative not only to MPM, but also to more advanced versions of the method that are designed to reduce the grid-crossing errors. In contrast to many other MPM-related methods, BSMPM has been used exclusively on structured rectangular domains, considerably limiting its range of applicability. In this paper, we present an extension of BSMPM to unstructured triangulations. The proposed approach combines MPM with $$C^1$$

C
1

-continuous high-order Powell–Sabin spline basis functions. Numerical results demonstrate the potential of these basis functions within MPM in terms of grid-crossing-error elimination and higher-order convergence.
Corporate governance and banks’ productivity: evidence from the banking industry in Bangladesh
Authors: Rashid Md. Harun Ur , Zobair Shah Asadullah Mohd. , Chowdhury Md. Asad Iqbal , Islam Azharul
Published: March 2020

Though remarkable literature exploring productivity and efficiency has emerged since the last half of the previous century, but dearth studies have been found in showing the impact of corporate governance on banks’ productivity. The study aims to investigate the banks’ productivity and its relationship with corporate governance. For this purpose, the study examines the productivity of 30 listed banks of Bangladesh deploying a Malmquist Productivity Index (an extension of Data Envelopment Analysis) with a panel data covering the period of five years from 2013 to 2017. The empirical results show that the average productivity of the banks is 1.03%. Finally, the ordinary least square (OLS), fixed effect (FE), and random effect (RE) regression were run separately. The research outcomes show that the productivity of the Bangladeshi banks is significantly influenced by financial performance, ownership structure, and board characteristics. The study provides the researchers, academicians, management of the banks, and regulatory body a new insight of how corporate governance influences the banks’ productivity so that they can formulate a better policy to generate more productivity.
On the Effect of Pre-formed Scales in Mitigating Corrosion of Steels in CO2 Environments
Authors: Zekos Iasonas , McMeekin Kristofer , Stack Margaret M.
Published: March 2020

Chromium (Cr) containing steels were tested to analyse corrosion behaviour in carbon dioxide saturated water of varying salinities with extended exposure time. Both potentiodynamic and mass loss data were collected to gain a better understanding of the corrosion mechanisms. It was found that both the high Cr steels displayed degradation in the form of pitting with increasing salinities. However, the low alloy steel reference material showed uniform iron carbonate (FeCO3) precipitation. The use of high salinity precipitated layers to aid corrosion protection in lower salinity seawater environments was then established as an interesting area for greater examination. Subsequently, samples of the low alloy steel previously corroded in solutions of 7, 14 and 28% sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration were then tested in seawater salinities of 3.5% NaCl. It was found that both the 7 and 14% NaCl pre-corroded samples resulted in a significant reduction in the corrosion rate when compared with non-pre-corroded samples. The 7% NaCl pre-corroded sample showed the greatest reduction in corrosion rate, and through SEM analysis of the layer both on the surface and cross-section it was found to display an iron carbonate layer more densely packed and defect free. This indicated the potential benefits of high salinity pre-corrosion techniques to aid protection in seawater environments.
Performing Settler-Colonialism
Authors: Balestrini Nassim Winnie
Published: March 2020

This essay brings together conceptualizations of populism in political science with those in literary and cultural studies. Theater historian Elizabeth Maddock Dillon’s theory of a »performative commons« (from 1649 through 1849) are applied to three US-American nineteenth-century plays. The first two examples confirm Dillon’s points regarding strategies of erasing Native Americans from evolving definitions of ›the American people‹. In the third play, which was popular between the 1860s and early 1900s, Native Americans are completely absent, and the populist nostalgia related to the central character and star actor privileges white male entitlement to personal freedoms at the expense of women’s rights within the newly minted New World republic.
The four biggest malware threats to UK businesses
Authors: Reynolds Roy
Published: March 2020

It's official – cyber criminals are steadily switching their focus from consumers to organisations, with global business malware detection rates up 13% during 2019, and no sign this trend will slow during 2020.

Cyber criminals are switching their focus from consumers to organisations, with business malware detection rates up 13% during 2019 and no sign this trend will slow down.

Attackers are increasingly bold about the ways they monetise the information they steal. And the UK retains the unenviable honour of being the cybercrime epicentre of Europe, with the UK service sector the most-targeted industry, followed by education, retail and manufacturing. Roy Reynolds of Vodat examines the four biggest malware threats for UK businesses, how they can infect your digital networks and the steps necessary to remain malware-free.
A Retrospective Analysis of Mortality From 2015 Gorkha Earthquakes of Nepal: Evidence and Future Recommendations
Authors: Adhikari Bipin , Bhandari Parash Mani , Neupane Dipika , Mishra Shiva Raj
Published: March 2020

Objective:

The aim of this study was to explore the mortality pattern due to Gorkha earthquakes in 2015 and review the response and recovery efforts immediately following the earthquakes.

Methods:

Data from published reports of the Nepal Police showed over 8000 deaths. These death counts were categorized by gender, ethnicity, and age groups (interval of 5 years). The mortality rate was calculated (per 100 000 population), using the projected population as the denominator as of April 2015.

Results:

Children < 10 years and older adults > 55 years showed a higher rate of deaths, with similar trends for the most affected districts. Almost 8 more females’ deaths were reported per 100 000 population compared with their male counterparts. There was a higher death rate from Province 3 with a notable gender difference: Nearly 20 more females’ deaths were reported per 100 000 population compared with their male counterparts. There was a higher death rate in mountains (542.4 per 100 000) compared with hills (55.0 per 100 000) and the southern Terai region (0.96 per 100 000) of Nepal.

Conclusions:

Young and older adults, female, and residents of remote, mountainous regions of Nepal were vulnerable to the earthquakes. Future earthquake preparedness should focus on the vulnerable population by age and gender and the geographical accessibility.
Corporate Profitability and Economic Policy During Argentina’s Great Depression, 1929–1934
Authors: FRANCIS JOSEPH A. , NEWLAND CARLOS
Published: March 2020

An analysis of corporate profitability leads to a reevaluation of economic policy during Argentina’s Great Depression. While the overall profit rate collapsed, some sectors were more affected than others: Commerce, insurance, and agriculture were worst hit, followed by transportation, industry, and finally banking, which was a beneficiary of economic policy, especially the decision not to default on or renegotiate the external public debt. Had a different economic policy been pursued, it is likely that the international crisis would not have affected Argentina so severely. Most importantly, it would have been possible to further devalue the peso, which would have benefitted both agriculture and industry. Moreover, interest rates would have been lower, and continued government borrowing would not have crowded out investment in the private sector. An analysis of corporate profitability thus leads to a less positive view of economic policy during Argentina’s Great Depression than is often found in the existing literature.
Association between GLP-1 receptor gene polymorphisms with reward learning, anhedonia and depression diagnosis
Authors: Yapici-Eser Hale , Appadurai Vivek , Eren Candan Yasemin , Yazici Dilek , Chen Chia-Yen , Öngür Dost , Pizzagalli Diego A. , Werge Thomas , Hall Mei-Hua
Published: March 2020

Background:

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors (GLP-1Rs) are widely expressed in the brain. Evidence suggests that they may play a role in reward responses and neuroprotection. However, the association of GLP-1R with anhedonia and depression diagnosis has not been studied. Here, we examined the association of GLP-1R polymorphisms with objective and subjective measures of anhedonia, as well as depression diagnosis.

Methods:

Objective [response bias assessed by the probabilistic reward task (PRT)] and subjective [Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS)] measures of anhedonia, clinical variables and DNA samples were collected from 100 controls and 164 patients at McLean Hospital. An independent sample genotyped as part of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) was used to study the effect of putative GLP-1R polymorphisms linked to response bias in PRT on depression diagnosis.

Results:

The C allele in rs1042044 was significantly associated with increased PRT response bias, when controlling for age, sex, case-control status and PRT discriminability. AA genotype of rs1042044 showed higher anhedonia phenotype based on SHAPS scores. However, analysis of PGC major depressive disorder data showed no association between rs1042044 and depression diagnosis.

Conclusion:

Findings suggest a possible association of rs1042044 with anhedonia but no association with depression diagnosis.
A Canon? Yes, But What are We Going to Do with It?
Authors: Baetens Jan , D’haen Theo
Published: March 2020

This article deals with the age-old problem of the literary canon, from a perspective that tries to supersede the still dominating questions of nation building or mainstream versus minorities culture. Taking stock from the observation that recent debates have moved the question to the field of the creative industries as well as that of cultural policy, it asks instead questions on the actual use and use-value of the canon, which is here reframed from the point of view of both writers and policy makers.
Der Einsatz von Assistenzkräften und akademisch ausgebildeten Pflegekräften im Maßregelvollzug
Authors: Dimmek Bernd
Published: March 2020

Zusammenfassung. Seit 2015 werden zunehmend Pflegefachkräfte mit akademischem Abschluss (Bachelor) sowie Assistenzkräfte im Pflegedienst (Hilfskräfte ohne spezifische fachliche Ausbildung) in den sechs Maßregelvollzugskliniken des Landschaftsverbandes Westfalen Lippe (LWL) eingesetzt. Während die Beschäftigung der akademisch qualifizierten Fachkräfte vornehmlich dazu dient, spezifische pflegewissenschaftliche Fachkenntnisse für eine evidenzbasierte forensisch-psychiatrische Pflege nutzbar zu machen, entlasten die Assistenzkräfte die examinierten Kräfte von eher „pflegefremden“ Aufgaben. Der Aufsatz beschreibt die Vorgehensweise der Evaluation und stellt die wichtigsten Ergebnisse hinsichtlich der Aufgabenprofile der beiden neuen Beschäftigtengruppen, ihre Auswirkungen auf die Pflegepraxis sowie die Qualität der Patientenversorgung vor.
The Effects of Heat Exposure on Human Mortality Throughout the United States
Authors: Shindell Drew , Zhang Yuqiang , Scott Melissa , Ru Muye , Stark Krista , Ebi Kristie L.
Published: March 2020

Exposure to high ambient temperatures is an important cause of avoidable, premature death that may become more prevalent under climate change. Though extensive epidemiological data are available in the United States, they are largely limited to select large cities, and hence, most projections estimate the potential impact of future warming on a subset of the U.S. population. Here we utilize evaluations of the relative risk of premature death associated with temperature in 10 U.S. cities spanning a wide range of climate conditions to develop a generalized risk function. We first evaluate the performance of this generalized function, which introduces substantial biases at the individual city level but performs well at the large scale. We then apply this function to estimate the impacts of projected climate change on heat‐related nationwide U.S. deaths under a range of scenarios. During the current decade, there are 12,000 (95% confidence interval 7,400–16,500) premature deaths annually in the contiguous United States, much larger than most estimates based on totals for select individual cities. These values increase by 97,000 (60,000–134,000) under the high‐warming Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario and by 36,000 (22,000–50,000) under the moderate RCP4.5 scenario by 2100, whereas they roughly double under the aggressive mitigation scenario RCP2.6. These results include estimates of adaptation that reduce impacts by ~40–45% as well as population increases that roughly offset adaptation. The results suggest that the degree of climate change mitigation will have important health impacts on Americans.
Satellite Sea Surface Salinity Observations Impact on El Niño/Southern Oscillation Predictions: Case Studies From the NASA GEOS Seasonal Forecast System
Authors: Hackert Eric , Kovach Robin M. , Molod A. , Vernieres G. , Borovikov A. , Marshak J. , Chang Y.
Published: March 2020

El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has far reaching global climatic impacts and so extending useful ENSO forecasts would have great societal benefit. However, one key variable that has yet to be fully exploited within coupled forecast systems is accurate estimation of near‐surface ocean salinity. Satellite sea surface salinity (SSS), combined with temperature, help to improve the estimates of ocean density changes and associated near‐surface mixing. For the first time, we assess the impact of satellite SSS observations for improving near‐surface dynamics within ocean reanalyses and how these initializations impact dynamical ENSO forecasts using NASA's coupled forecast system (GEOS‐S2S‐2). For all initialization experiments, all available sea level and in situ temperature and salinity observations are assimilated. Separate observing system experiments additionally assimilate Aquarius, SMAP, SMOS, and these data sets combined. We highlight the impact of satellite SSS on ocean reanalyses by comparing experiments with and without the application of SSS assimilation. Next, we compare case studies of coupled forecasts for the big 2015 El Niño, the 2017 La Niña, and the weak El Niño in 2018 that are initialized from GEOS‐S2S‐2 spring reanalyses that assimilate and withhold along‐track SSS. For each of these ENSO‐event case studies, assimilation of satellite SSS improves the forecast validation with respect to observed NINO3.4 anomalies (or at least reduces the forecast uncertainty). Satellite SSS assimilation improved characterization of the mixed layer depth leading to more accurate coupled air/sea interaction and better forecasts. These results further underline the value of satellite SSS assimilation into operational forecast systems.
Chandra Observations of Jupiter's X‐ray Auroral Emission During Juno Apojove 2017
Authors: Weigt D. M. , Jackman C. M. , Dunn W. R. , Gladstone G. R. , Vogt M. F. , Wibisono A. D. , Branduardi‐Raymont G. , Altamirano D. , Allegrini F. , Ebert R. W. , Valek P. W. , Thomsen M. F. , Clark G. , Kraft R. P.
Published: March 2020

Jupiter's auroral X‐rays have been observed for 40 years with an unknown driver producing quasiperiodic emission, concentrated into auroral hot spots. In this study we analyze an
 10‐hr Chandra observation from 18:56 on 18 June 2017. We use a new Python pipeline to analyze the auroral morphology, perform timing analysis by incorporating Rayleigh testing, and use in situ Juno observations to infer the magnetosphere that was compressed during the Chandra interval. During this time Juno was near its apojove position of
112 
, on the dawn flank of the magnetosphere near the nominal magnetopause position. We present new dynamical polar plots showing an extended X‐ray hot spot in the northern auroral region traversing across the Jovian disk. From this morphology, we propose setting a numerical threshold of
7 photons per 5° System III longitude
5° latitude to define a photon concentration of the northern hot spot region. Our timing analysis finds two significant quasiperiodic oscillations (QPOs) of
37 and
26 min within the extended northern hot spot. No statistically significant QPOs were found in the southern X‐ray auroral emission. The Rayleigh test is combined with Monte Carlo simulation to find the statistical significance of any QPOs found. We use a flux equivalence mapping model to trace the possible origin of the QPOs, and thus the driver, to the dayside magnetopause boundary.
Progression-free survival as a surrogate for overall survival in oncology trials: a methodological systematic review
Authors: Belin Lisa , Tan Aidan , De Rycke Yann , Dechartres Agnès
Published: March 2020

Background

Progression-free survival (PFS) is a surrogate endpoint widely used for overall survival (OS) in oncology. Validation of PFS as a surrogate must be done for each indication and each intervention. We aimed to identify all studies evaluating the validity of PFS as a surrogate for OS in oncology, and to describe their methodological characteristics.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review by searching MEDLINE via PubMed and the Cochrane Library with no limitation on time, selected relevant studies and extracted data in duplicate on how surrogacy was evaluated (meta-analytic approach, assessment of correlation and level of evaluation).

Results

We identified 91 studies evaluating the validity of PFS as a surrogate for OS in 24 cancer localisations. Although a meta-analytic approach was used in 83 (91%) studies, the methods used to validate PFS as a surrogate of OS were heterogeneous across studies. Of the 47 studies concluding that PFS is a good surrogate for OS, for 15 (32%), there was no quantitative argument for surrogacy.

Conclusions

Although most studies used a meta-analytic approach as recommended, our methodological review highlights heterogeneity in methods and reporting, which stresses the importance of developing and applying clear recommendations in this area.
PRISMS-PF: A general framework for phase-field modeling with a matrix-free finite element method
Authors: DeWitt Stephen , Rudraraju Shiva , Montiel David , Andrews W. Beck , Thornton Katsuyo
Published: March 2020

A new phase-field modeling framework with an emphasis on performance, flexibility, and ease of use is presented. Foremost among the strategies employed to fulfill these objectives are the use of a matrix-free finite element method and a modular, application-centric code structure. This approach is implemented in the new open-source PRISMS-PF framework. Its performance is enabled by the combination of a matrix-free variant of the finite element method with adaptive mesh refinement, explicit time integration, and multilevel parallelism. Benchmark testing with a particle growth problem shows PRISMS-PF with adaptive mesh refinement and higher-order elements to be up to 12 times faster than a finite difference code employing a second-order-accurate spatial discretization and first-order-accurate explicit time integration. Furthermore, for a two-dimensional solidification benchmark problem, the performance of PRISMS-PF meets or exceeds that of phase-field frameworks that focus on implicit/semi-implicit time stepping, even though the benchmark problem’s small computational size reduces the scalability advantage of explicit time-integration schemes. PRISMS-PF supports an arbitrary number of coupled governing equations. The code structure simplifies the modification of these governing equations by separating their definition from the implementation of the numerical methods used to solve them. As part of its modular design, the framework includes functionality for nucleation and polycrystalline systems available in any application to further broaden the phenomena that can be used to study. The versatility of this approach is demonstrated with examples from several common types of phase-field simulations, including coarsening subsequent to spinodal decomposition, solidification, precipitation, grain growth, and corrosion.
Three-dimensional entanglement on a silicon chip
Authors: Lu Liangliang , Xia Lijun , Chen Zhiyu , Chen Leizhen , Yu Tonghua , Tao Tao , Ma Wenchao , Pan Ying , Cai Xinlun , Lu Yanqing , Zhu Shining , Ma Xiao-Song
Published: March 2020

Entanglement is a counterintuitive feature of quantum physics that is at the heart of quantum technology. High-dimensional quantum states offer unique advantages in various quantum information tasks. Integrated photonic chips have recently emerged as a leading platform for the generation, manipulation and detection of entangled photons. Here, we report a silicon photonic chip that uses interferometric resonance-enhanced photon-pair sources, spectral demultiplexers and high-dimensional reconfigurable circuitries to generate, manipulate and analyse path-entangled three-dimensional qutrit states. By minimizing on-chip electrical and thermal cross-talk, we obtain high-quality quantum interference with visibilities above 96.5% and a maximally entangled-qutrit state with a fidelity of 95.5%. We further explore the fundamental properties of entangled qutrits to test quantum nonlocality and contextuality, and to implement quantum simulations of graphs and high-precision optical phase measurements. Our work paves the path for the development of multiphoton high-dimensional quantum technologies.
HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DQA1, and -DQB1 allele and haplotype frequencies defined by next generation sequencing in a population of East Croatia blood donors
Authors: Tokić Stana , Žižkova Veronika , Štefanić Mario , Glavaš-Obrovac Ljubica , Marczi Saška , Samardžija Marina , Sikorova Katerina , Petrek Martin
Published: March 2020

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is increasingly used in transplantation settings, but also as a method of choice for in-depth analysis of population-specific HLA genetic architecture and its linkage to various diseases. With respect to complex ethnic admixture characteristic for East Croatian population, we aimed to investigate class-I (HLA-A, -B, -C) and class-II (HLA-DRB1, -DQA1, -DQB1) HLA diversity at the highest, 4-field resolution level in 120 healthy, unrelated, blood donor volunteers. Genomic DNA was extracted and HLA genotypes of class I and DQA1 genes were defined in full-length, -DQB1 from intron 1 to 3′ UTR, and -DRB1 from intron 1 to intron 4 (Illumina MiSeq platform, Omixon Twin algorithms, IMGT/HLA release 3.30.0_5). Linkage disequilibrium statistics, Hardy-Weinberg departures, and haplotype frequencies were inferred by exact tests and iterative Expectation-Maximization algorithm using PyPop 0.7.0 and Arlequin v3.5.2.2 software. Our data provide first description of 4-field allele and haplotype frequencies in Croatian population, revealing 192 class-I and class-II alleles and extended haplotypic combinations not apparent from the existing 2-field HLA reports from Croatia. This established reference database complements current knowledge of HLA diversity and should prove useful in future population studies, transplantation settings, and disease-associated HLA screening.
Continuous Sub-Irrigation with Treated Municipal Wastewater for Protein-Rich Rice Production with Reduced Emissions of CH4 and N2O
Authors: Phung Luc Duc , Pham Dung Viet , Sasaki Yuka , Masuda Shuhei , Takakai Fumiaki , Kaku Nobuo , Watanabe Toru
Published: March 2020

Herein, we introduce continuous sub-irrigation with treated municipal wastewater (TWW) as a novel cultivation system to promote resource recycling and cost-effective forage rice production in Japan. However, both TWW irrigation and forage rice cultivation were previously considered to intensify CH4 and N2O emissions. In the present study, therefore, we evaluate the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and yielding capacity of forage rice between conventional cultivation and continuous sub-irrigation systems employing different water supply rates. Results indicated that continuous sub-irrigation with TWW resulted in high rice yields (10.4–11 t ha−1) with superior protein content (11.3–12.8%) compared with conventional cultivation (8.6 t ha−1 and 9.2%, respectively). All TWW irrigation systems considerably reduced CH4 emissions, while higher continuous supply rates significantly increased N2O emissions compared with the conventional cultivation. Only the continuous irrigation regime employing suitable supply rates at appropriate timings to meet the N demand of rice plants decreased both CH4 and N2O emissions by 84% and 28%, respectively. Overall, continuous sub-irrigation with TWW provides high yields of protein-rich forage rice without the need for synthetic fertilisers and effectively mitigated GHG emissions from paddy fields.
Density of coral larvae can influence settlement, post-settlement colony abundance and coral cover in larval restoration
Authors: Cameron Kerry A. , Harrison Peter L.
Published: March 2020

Successful recruitment of new individuals is essential for recovery of degraded coral reefs. Enhancing supply of coral larvae increases initial settlement, however post-settlement survival can be influenced by density-dependent processes. We investigated the influence of larval density on settlement, colony abundance and growth to 24 months for Acropora tenuis in the north-western Philippines, to determine whether larval supply can be optimised to maximise successful recruitment. Thirty different densities of coral larvae were enclosed for five days around settlement tiles and highest total settlement occurred on tiles with highest larval densities. After 12 months, however, colony abundance and coral cover was lower on high density tiles (supplied with ~2,500–5,000 larvae) than tiles supplied with ~1,000–2,000 larvae. Coral cover at 24 months remained highest on tiles supplied with ~1,000–2,500 larvae. Larval density influenced larval substratum selection, with proportionally fewer larvae settling in typically preferred locations as density increased. We conclude that larval density can influence post-settlement colony abundance and coral cover to 12 months, with coral cover trends persisting to 24 months. We show that optimising larval densities can maximise coral recruitment and growth, however oversupply of larvae at very high densities can have negative outcomes for larval restoration.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine learning based prediction of resistant and susceptible mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Jamal Salma , Khubaib Mohd. , Gangwar Rishabh , Grover Sonam , Grover Abhinav , Hasnain Seyed E.
Published: March 2020

Tuberculosis (TB), an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb), causes highest number of deaths globally for any bacterial disease necessitating novel diagnosis and treatment strategies. High-throughput sequencing methods generate a large amount of data which could be exploited in determining multi-drug resistant (MDR-TB) associated mutations. The present work is a computational framework that uses artificial intelligence (AI) based machine learning (ML) approaches for predicting resistance in the genes rpoB, inhA, katG, pncA, gyrA and gyrB for the drugs rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and fluoroquinolones. The single nucleotide variations were represented by several sequence and structural features that indicate the influence of mutations on the target protein coded by each gene. We used ML algorithms - naïve bayes, k nearest neighbor, support vector machine, and artificial neural network, to build the prediction models. The classification models had an average accuracy of 85% across all examined genes and were evaluated on an external unseen dataset to demonstrate their application. Further, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were performed for wild type and predicted resistance causing mutant protein and anti-TB drug complexes to study their impact on the conformation of proteins to confirm the observed phenotype.
Quantum speed limit based on the bound of Bures angle
Authors: Wu Shao-xiong , Yu Chang-shui
Published: March 2020

In this paper, we investigate the unified bound of quantum speed limit time in open systems based on the modified Bures angle. This bound is applied to the damped Jaynes-Cummings model and the dephasing model, and the analytical quantum speed limit time is obtained for both models. As an example, the maximum coherent qubit state with white noise is chosen as the initial states for the damped Jaynes-Cummings model. It is found that the quantum speed limit time in both the non-Markovian and the Markovian regimes can be decreased by the white noise compared with the pure state. In addition, for the dephasing model, we find that the quantum speed limit time is not only related to the coherence of initial state and non-Markovianity, but also dependent on the population of initial excited state.
Modeling Differential Effects of Maternal Dietary Patterns across Severity Levels of Preterm Birth Using a Partial Proportional Odds Model
Authors: Mitku Aweke A. , Zewotir Temesgen , North Delia , Jeena Prakash , Naidoo Rajen N.
Published: March 2020

Preterm birth is a common cause of death worldwide of children under the age of five years. This condition is linked with short and long term neonatal morbidity and mortality. Maternal nutrition during pregnancy has a profound effect on fetal growth and development and subsequently also on the incidence of preterm birth. The aim of this study was to assess the differential effect of dietary patterns of pregnant women across ordered levels of preterm birth. Dietary assessments were performed using a food frequency questionnaire, presented to 687 pregnant women, in the “Mother and Child in the Environment” birth cohort during the period of 2013 to 2017. Each pregnancy resulted in a live birth. Eight dietary patterns were extracted, using exploratory factor analysis. The partial proportional odds model was employed to model severity levels of preterm birth. The partial proportional odds model has been recognized to be a flexible approach since it allows the effect of predictor variables to vary across categories of the ordinal response variable of interest. Women with increased consumption of vegetable-rich foods showed a reduced risk of very to moderately preterm birth incidence (AOR = 0.73, 95% CI = (0.531, 0.981), p = 0.036). Lower odds of very/moderately preterm birth compared to late preterm or term birth were observed for women following “nuts and rice foods” dietary pattern (AOR = 0.25, 95% CI = (0.099, 0.621), p = 0.003). High dietary consumption of starch foods dietary pattern (AOR = 2.09, 95% CI = (1.158, 3.769), p = 0.014) was associated with the most severe level of preterm birth outcome incidence, i.e. very/moderately preterm birth. The partial proportional odds modeling allowed the description of the effect of maternal dietary patterns across the different severity levels of preterm birth.
Cardiac muscle regulatory units are predicted to interact stronger than neighboring cross-bridges
Authors: Kalda Mari , Vendelin Marko
Published: March 2020

Strong interactions between cross-bridges (XB) and regulatory units (RU) lead to a steep response of cardiac muscle to an increase in intracellular calcium. We developed a model to quantitatively assess the influence of different types of interactions within the sarcomere on the properties of cardiac muscle. In the model, the ensembles consisting of cross-bridge groups connected by elastic tropomyosin are introduced, and their dynamics is described by a set of partial differential equations. Through large scans in the free energy landscape, we demonstrate the different influence of RU-RU, XB-XB, and XB-RU interactions on the cooperativity coefficient of calcium binding, developed maximal force, and calcium sensitivity. The model solution was fitted to reproduce experimental data on force development during isometric contraction, shortening in physiological contraction, and ATP consumption by acto-myosin. On the basis of the fits, we quantified the free energy change introduced through RU-RU and XB-XB interactions and showed that RU-RU interaction leads to ~ 5 times larger change in the free energy profile of the reaction than XB-XB interaction. Due to the deterministic description of muscle contraction and its thermodynamic consistency, we envision that the developed model can be used to study heart muscle biophysics on tissue and organ levels.
Dual-energy CT perfusion imaging for differentiating WHO subtypes of thymic epithelial tumors
Authors: Yu Chunhai , Li Ting , Zhang Ruiping , Yang Xiaotang , Yang Zhao , Xin Lei , Zhao Zhikai
Published: March 2020

To evaluate the role of conventional contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) imaging and dual-energy spectral CT (DECT) perfusion imaging in differentiating the WHO histological subtypes of thymic epithelial tumours (TETs). Eighty-eight patients with TETs who underwent DECT perfusion scans (n = 51) and conventional CT enhancement scans (n = 37) using a GE Discovery CT750 HD scanner were enrolled in this study. The mean maximal contrast-enhanced range (mean CEmax) and the perfusion and spectral parameters of the lesions were analysed. Among the six WHO subtypes (Type A, AB, B1, B2, and B3 thymoma and thymic carcinoma), the mean CEmax values and most of the perfusion and spectral parameter values of Type A and Type AB were significantly higher than those of the other subtypes (all P < 0.05), and there was no difference among Type B1, B2 and B3 (all P > 0.05). The mean CEmax value was not different between Type B (including Type B1, B2, and B3) and thymic carcinoma (P = 1.000). The PS, IC, NIC and λHU values in the optimal venous phase of thymic carcinoma were higher than those of Type B (all P < 0.05). The parameters of conventional CECT imaging and DECT perfusion imaging can help identify the subtype of TETs, especially those of DECT perfusion imaging in type B thymomas and thymic carcinomas.
A new approach to comprehensively evaluate the morphological properties of the human femoral head: example of application to osteoarthritic joint
Authors: Ryan M. , Barnett L. , Rochester J. , Wilkinson J. M. , Dall’Ara E.
Published: March 2020

Osteoarthritis affects the morphological properties of the femoral head. The goal of this study was to develop a method to elucidate whether these changes are localised to discrete regions, or if the reported trends in microstructural changes may be identified throughout the subchondral bone of the human femoral head. Whole femoral heads extracted from osteoarthritic (n = 5) and healthy controls (n = 5) underwent microCT imaging 39 μm voxel size. The subchondral bone plate was virtually isolated to evaluate the plate thickness and plate porosity. The trabecular bone region was divided into 37 volumes of interest spatially distributed in the femoral head, and bone morphometric properties were determined in each region. The study showed how the developed approach can be used to study the heterogeneous properties of the human femoral head affected by a disease such as osteoarthritis. As example, in the superior femoral head osteoarthritic specimens exhibited a more heterogeneous micro-architecture, with trends towards thicker cortical bone plate, higher trabecular connectivity density, higher trabecular bone density and thicker structures, something that could only be observed with the newly developed approach. Bone cysts were mostly confined to the postero-lateral quadrants extending from the subchondral region into the mid trabecular region. Nevertheless, in order to generalise these findings, a larger sample size should be analysed in the future. This novel method allowed a comprehensive evaluation of the heterogeneous micro-architectural properties of the human femoral head, highlighting effects of OA in the superior subchondral cortical and trabecular bone. Further investigations on different stages of OA would be needed to identify early changes in the bone.