bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Merleau-Ponty on Race, Gender, and Anti-Semitism
Authors: Low Douglas ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: June 2019

It is frequently remarked that Merleau-Ponty did not write about race, gender, or anti-Semitism. Overall, this is true, but the relatively recent re-publication of his Sorbonne lectures, along with some new materials, shows that his lectures did address the issues of racism, sexism, and anti-Semitism. In addition, Emily Lee’s framing of Merleau-Ponty’s theory of the human body provides a useful way to understand its relationship to race and gender. While humans are fundamentally the same biologically, “secondary biological characteristics” such as skin color (and gender), situated in various social contexts, have a significant impact on the formation of one’s personal and social identity. What I seek to do here is find in Merleau-Ponty’s work the philosophical roots of Lee’s claim. I also seek to find the moral recognition of the other in Merleau-Ponty’s treatment of time and how his treatment of time relates to the two-dimensionality of the human body. It is this treatment that allows us to recognize the sameness of the other but that also allows us to recognize and respect differences.
Análise e projeto de estrutura de contenção em ruptura de talude por erosão: estudo de caso
Authors: Silva Laylla Ribeiro da , Miranda Talita Caroline
Published: June 2019

Os processos erosivos fundamentam-se essencialmente na desagregação, transporte e deposição do solo, com a ação dos agentes erosivos água, ventos e ou gelo. Sabe-se que o solo tem uma capacidade de suportar esforços, porém, se suas características forem alteradas, a capacidade de carga sofrerá alterações, podendo torna-se um solo frágil, um fator com a característica de diminuir a resistência do solo é a erosão. Diante do exposto o artigo propõe analisar e dimensionar uma estrutura de gabião para conter o processo erosivo do solo situado no município de Porto Nacional, nas proximidades do ribeirão São João, na Av. Padre Luso. Destaca-se que esta ruptura está à menos de de um metro de distância de uma edificação e caso persista irá atingir mais cinco edificações circunvizinhas. Neste estudo foram realizado ensaios de caracterização do solo. Na análise de estabilidade da estrutura de gabião proposta para contenção do talude, foram verificados os critérios de deslizamento, tombamento e capacidade de carga conforme a NBR 11682/1991. Além disso, também foi feita a análise global do sistema talude/muro. Verificou-se que a estrutura proposta atende os requisitos técnicos de segurança.
CONNECTING THREADS: DUCHAMP’S READYMADES AND LARGE GLASS PROJECT IN CONTEXT, 1913—14
Authors: Henderson Linda Dalrymple
Published: June 2019

In 1963 Duchamp described his vertical installation of three Readymades at the Pasadena Art Museum as “readymade talk of what goes on in the Large Glass.” Elsewhere, he spoke of the Readymades as “vehicles for unloading ideas,” and during the years 1912-15 his mind was filled with ideas as he invented the “playful physics” for his techno-scientific allegory of quest, The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even [The Large Glass] (1915-23). This essay argues that the “ideas” being unloaded in the Readymades were rooted in his extensive study of contemporary science and technology as well as the biographical experience of his stay at Herne Bay on the English seacoast during August 1913. Readymades addressed include the Bicycle Wheel, With Hidden Noise, Paris Air, and Fresh Widow. Central themes include string or thread, traced from his preoccupation with tennis during his holiday, and the impact of the electrical spectacle of the illuminated Pier Pavilion at Herne Bay.
THE PROPERTY OF KNOWLEDGE
Authors: Joselit David
Published: June 2019

We can note three phases in the tradition of the readymade and appropriation since Duchamp’s Bicycle Wheel of 1913. First, they include early enactments in which the readymade posed an onto- logical challenge to artworks through the equation of commodity and art object. Second, practices in which readymades were de- ployed semantically as lexical elements within a sculpture, paint- ing, installation or projection. In a third phase, which most directly encompasses the global, the appropriation of objects, images, and other forms of content challenges sovereignty over the cultural and economic value linked to things that emerge from particular cultural properties ranging from Aboriginal painting in Australia to the ap- propriation of Mao’s cult of personality in 1990s China. This essay considers the most recent phase of the readymade in terms of its century-long history.
THE STORY OF FOUNTAIN: HARD FACTS AND SOFT SPECULATION
Authors: De Duve Thierry
Published: June 2019

Thierry de Duve’s essay is anchored to the one and perhaps only hard fact that we possess regarding the story of Fountain: its photo in The Blind Man No. 2, triply captioned “Fountain by R. Mutt,” “Photograph by Alfred Stieglitz,” and “THE EXHIBIT REFUSED BY THE INDEPENDENTS,” and the editorial on the facing page, titled “The Richard Mutt Case.” He examines what kind of agency is involved in that triple “by,” and revisits Duchamp’s intentions and motivations when he created the fictitious R. Mutt, manipulated Stieglitz, and set a trap to the Independents. De Duve concludes with an invitation to art historians to abandon the “by” questions (attribution, etc.) and to focus on the “from” questions that arise when Fountain is not seen as a work of art so much as the bearer of the news that the art world has radically changed.
Level of Heavy Metals in Selected Vegetables Collected from Ijagun Dumpsite in Ogun State, Nigeria
Authors: Omoboyowa Damilola Alex , Akinnubi Clement Olomola , Ajueyisi Taiwo Christiana
Published: June 2019

Wastes from dumpsites constitute a major challenge for plants, human and environmental health. This study investigated the levels of heavy metals in stems and leaves of three (3) Vegetables and soil samples obtained from Ijagun dumpsite, located in Ijebu Ode, Ogun state. The samples were digested with mixed acids and aliquots of the extracts were analyzed for Zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), Cobalt (Co) and Copper (Cu) using the Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (Perkin Elmer A Analyst 700 model). The results obtained showed that there was an increase in the level of selected heavy metals observed in the topsoil compared with the underground soil collected from the dumpsite. The level of the metals present in the topsoil was in the order Zn > Pb >Cu > Co. The stem of Celosia argentea and Cochorus olitorius accumulate more heavy metals compared with the leaf. The level of these selected heavy metals were observed to be far above the WHO/FAO and NAFDAC permissible values in plant except Co in the stem and leaf of Celosia argentea and Talinum triangulae, indicating that the leaf and stem of vegetables from Ijagun dumpsite pose serious health threat to human. However, C. olitorius and C. argentea with high absorption ability for Zn, Pb and Cu could serve as a phytoremediator for soils contaminated with these metals.
A flexible air separation process: 1. Design and steady‐state optimizations
Authors: Caspari Adrian , Offermanns Christoph , Schäfer Pascal , Mhamdi Adel , Mitsos Alexander
Published: June 2019

The flexible operation of energy‐intensive processes, such as cryogenic air separation, has economic potential due to increasing fluctuations of the electricity markets. Multiproduct air separation processes with high ratios of liquid product are very promising for flexible operation due to storable products. We present a process design with an integrated liquefication cycle and liquid assist operation, that facilitates a high liquid product ratio and a flexible process operation. We use a mechanistic dynamic process model in steady‐state process optimizations covering the wide operational range of the proposed process. The optimization results show that the power demand can be varied in a range from 3.5 to 28 MW without violating operational constraints by changing the nitrogen and oxygen production rates. Thus, the proposed process is a promising air separation candidate for flexible operation with respect to fluctuating electricity markets.
Quantification of process flexibility via space projection
Authors: Zhao Fei , Zheng Chenglin , Zhang Shuhui , Zhu Lingyu , Chen Xi
Published: June 2019

Flexibility index is an effective indicator for characterizing the operational flexibility of a process design model. In this work, the concept of δ‐space projection is proposed and defined from the view of solution space, and the flexibility index can be quantified without solving any optimization problems. First, the flexibility index problem is reformulated as an existential quantifier model. Then, the projection operator in the cylindrical algebraic decomposition (CAD) method is introduced to project the solution space onto the one‐dimensional feasible space of the flexibility index. Subsequently, all the candidate values of the flexibility index, which may refer to the locations of the critical points, that is, vertexes and tangency points, are extracted. Last, two δ‐checking rules based on the traditional and improved CAD methods are proposed for finding the flexibility index. The case studies show that the proposed method can exactly find the flexibility index, regardless of convex or nonconvex systems.
Height prediction in elite Italian rugby players: A prospective study
Authors: Toselli Stefania , Merni Franco , Campa Francesco
Published: June 2019

Objectives

We investigated the validity of the Mirwald equation as an estimate of height in a cohort of rugby players.

Methods

This was a prospective study with agreement analysis of height assessments conducted in 39 male youth rugby players (mean age 15.1 ± 0.9 years). During the 2007/2008 season, 151 young athletes were selected by rugby coaches using subjective decisions based on current performance and future potential. The rugby players were measured by physician experts and their height was estimated using the Mirwald formula (MF). Only 39 athletes were finally selected because they reached an elite level, allowing actual adult height to be collected from the official team websites in June 2018. Method agreement was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient, regression, and plotted by Bland and Altman analysis.

Results

Twenty athletes played in the Italian National team and 19 in the First Italian Division (Eccellenza). Overall, they presented an early maturation and the MF was able to accurately estimate height. The MF underestimated height (187.4–189.1 cm) and showed a high association with actual adult players' height (r = 0.925, P < .001).

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that the MF, whose estimation of stature is based on height, sitting height, body mass, and leg length is able to predict stature in rugby players.
Characterization of filter media prepared from aligned nanofibers for fine dust screen
Authors: Feng Jia Ping , Wang Jie , Hwang Won Tae , Jo Young Min
Published: June 2019

Nanofibers for fine dust filters of four structures (random, aligned, orthogonal, and nanofiber net) were prepared by electrospinning method using polymers such as PAN and PA6. While conventional electret filters experienced deterioration problems in fine dust(PM1.0) capture as its surface charge decayed, the electrospun nanofibers prepared contributed to the removal capacity. The filters from aligned fibers showed high quality factors (
q
F: filter performance indicator) and filtration efficiency from 22 to 50% depending on particle size than simple electret media at a face velocity of 15.92 cm/s. The fiber structure of nanofiber net (NFN) presented almost absolute collection efficiency, particularly on dust particles smaller than 300 nm. Furthermore, the composite filters which are composed both of a commercial electret mask filters and nanofiber nets effectively enhanced the overall filtration efficiency by 59.46%, resulting in more than 99% for PM1.0. Consequently, electrospun polymer nanofibers offer a promising plausible mask filter material with air permeability. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 48166.
Photostable methylene blue‐loaded silica particles used as label for immunosorbent assay of Salmonella Typhimurium
Authors: Cheeveewattanagul Nopchulee , Tien Tran Thanh , Rijiravanich Patsamon , Surareungchai Werasak , Somasundrum Mithran
Published: June 2019

Salmonella Typhimurium is a major cause of food poisoning. To solve the limitations of the routine enzyme linked immunosorbent assay such as laborious assay procedure, lack of long‐term enzyme stability, and insufficient sensitivity, we provided a non‐enzymatic colorimetric immunosorbent assay platform to overcome these problems. The highly photostable redox dye particles was constructed by silica particles (diameter = 598 ± 14.4 nm) loaded with methylene blue (Si‐MB) and applied to be a label for immunoassay of S. Typhimurium. The sandwich assay format involved incubation of an analyte in a microplate wells modified with monoclonal anti‐Salmonella, followed by exposure to a polyclonal anti‐Salmonella/Si‐MB bioconjugate and then measurement of absorbance at 598 nm. The platform had an assay time of 20 min, could detect heat‐killed Salmonella with a limit of detection of 48 CFU mL−1, and gave good recoveries in milk. The labels could be stored at 4 °C for 70 days without any deterioration.
Allogeneic murine pregnancy models for assessing the developmental effects of immune‐stimulating antibodies: Challenges in reproducibility
Authors: Thompson Kary E. , Danberry Tracy L. , Bunch Roderick T. , Graziano Michael J. , McNerney Mary E.
Published: June 2019

Literature suggests that murine allogeneic pregnancy models are an alternative approach for evaluating the developmental toxicity of immune‐stimulating agents. In this study, multiple syngeneic and allogeneic murine pregnancy models were used to assess the potential embryo‐fetal effects of four different murine antibodies (IgG1 or IgG2) that activate the immune system by binding to T‐cell receptors (PD‐L1, LAG‐3, and GITR). The pregnancy models were generated by within and between matings of five different inbred strains of mice (CBA/CaJ, DBA/2J, BALB/c, C57BL/6, and CBA/J). The antibodies were administered every 2–3 days by intraperitoneal injection (n = 12–29/group) during gestation days 6 to 14. There were no differences in embryo‐fetal endpoints between the allogeneic and syngeneic pregnancies. Additionally, treatment with the antibodies had no effect on mean postimplantation loss in either the syngeneic or allogeneic pregnancies despite confirmation of pharmacologically‐relevant systemic exposures. These results suggest that allogeneic murine pregnancy models need further validation and testing before they can be reliably used as an alternative approach for assessing the developmental effects of agents that stimulate the immune system.
Microbial enrichment and multiplexed microfiltration for accelerated detection of Salmonella in spinach
Authors: Ku Seockmo , Ximenes Eduardo , Kreke Thomas , Foster Kirk , Couetil Justin L. , Zuponcic Jessica , Zhao Xiaojun , Hoagland Lori , Deering Amanda J. , Ladisch Michael R.
Published: June 2019

To attain Salmonella detection thresholds in spinach suspensions using enrichment media requires at least 24 hr. Separation and concentration of selected microorganisms via microfiltration and microfugation reduce time for sample preparation, especially when working with large volumes of vegetable suspensions. This facilitates accelerated detection of Salmonella in spinach suspensions, and may contribute to effectively monitoring this pathogen before it reaches the consumer. We report a microfiltration‐based protocol for accelerated sample preparation to concentrate and recover ≤1 colony forming unit (CFU) Salmonella/g pathogen‐free spinach. Store‐bought samples of spinach and a spinach plant subjected to two environmental conditions (temperature and light exposure) during its production were tested. The overall procedure involves extraction with buffer, a short enrichment step, prefiltration using a nylon filter, crossflow hollow fiber microfiltration, and retentate centrifugation to bring microbial cells to detection levels. Based on 1 CFU Salmonella/g frozen spinach, and a Poisson distribution statistical analyses with 99% probability, we calculated that 3 hr of incubation, when followed by microfiltration, is sufficient to reach the 2 log concentration required for Salmonella detection within 7 hr. Longer enrichment times (5 hr or more) is needed for concentrations lower than 1 CFU Salmonella/g of ready to eat spinach. The recovered microbial cells were identified and confirmed as Salmonella using both polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and plating methods. Different environmental conditions tested during production did not affect Salmonella viability; this demonstrated the broad adaptability of Salmonella and emphasized the need for methods that enable efficient monitoring of production for the presence of this pathogen.
lncRNA HCG11 regulates cell progression by targeting miR‐543 and regulating AKT/mTOR pathway in prostate cancer
Authors: Wang Yan‐Chao , He Wen‐Yan , Dong Chun‐Hui , Pei Long , Ma Yong‐Liang
Published: June 2019

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common cancer worldwide, which mostly occurs in males over the age of 50. Accumulating evidence have determined that long non‐coding RNA/microRNA (lncRNA/miRNA) axis plays a critical role in cell progression of cancers, including PCa. However, the pathogenesis of PCa has not been fully indicated. In this study, quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of HCG11 and miR‐543. Western blot was applied to measure the protein expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, cleavage‐caspase 3 (cle‐caspase 3), N‐cadherin, E‐cadherin, GAPDH, P‐AKT, AKT, p‐mTOR, and mTOR. 3‐(4,5‐Dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), transwell invasion, and transwell migration assay were used to detect cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, respectively. The function and mechanism of lncRNA HCG11 were confirmed in PCa cell and xenograft mice models. Luciferase assay indicated that miR‐543 was a target miRNA of HCG11. Further investigation revealed that overexpression of HCG11 inhibited cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, whereas induced cell apoptosis by regulating miR‐543 expression in vitro and in vivo. More than that, lncRNA HCG11 inhibited phosphoinositide‐3 kinase/protein kinaseB (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway to suppress PCa progression. Our data showed the overexpression of HGC11‐inhibited PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by downregulating miR‐543 expression, resulting in the suppression of cell growth in PCa. This finding proved a new regulatory network in PCa and provided a novel therapeutic target of PCa.
Metapopulations revisited: the area‐dependence of dispersal matters
Authors: Wang Shaopeng , Altermatt Florian
Published: June 2019

The metapopulation concept initiated a paradigm shift in ecology and conservation biology, recognizing the eminent role of dispersal and colonization as fundamental processes contributing to species’ long‐term persistence. Early models made ad hoc assumptions about a positive area dependency of dispersal (i.e., total number of emigrants), which persisted in the theoretical literature; however, numerous empirical examples of negative area dependencies of dispersal have been reported. Here, we first give a qualitative overview for different area dependencies of dispersal in empirical systems. Then, using a spatially realistic Levins model, we show that extending assumptions on the area dependence of dispersal (ADD) to include all empirically supported parameter space, specifically also negative ADD, alters predictions on several conservation‐relevant patterns. Importantly, we find that small patches could be of similar importance as large ones if dispersal decreases inversely with patch area, a result contrasting with previous findings based on a positive ADD. This leads to context‐dependent strategies to preserve metapopulations. If dispersal is positively correlated with patch area, efforts should be devoted to preserving large patches and the total habitat area. If dispersal is negatively correlated with patch area, the most efficient strategy is to preserve a high number of patches, including small ones. Our results have direct implications for management decisions in the context of destruction, deterioration, and protection of habitat patches.
Integrated Nanostructural Electrodes Based on Layered Double Hydroxides
Authors: Xie Wenfu , Song Yuke , Li Shijin , Shao Mingfei , Wei Min
Published: June 2019

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs), as a class of typical two‐dimensional materials, have sparked increasing interest in the field of energy storage and conversion. In the last few years, the research about LDHs as electrode active materials has seen much progress in terms of structure designing, material synthesis, properties tailoring, and applications. In this review, we focus on the integrated nanostructural electrodes (INEs) construction using LDH materials, including pristine LDH‐INEs, hybrid LDH‐INEs, and LDH derivative‐INEs, as well as the performance advantages and applications of LDH‐INEs. Moreover, in the final section, the insights about challenges and prospective in this promising research field were concluded, especially in regulation of intrinsic activity and uncovering of structure–activity relationship, which would push forward the development of this fast‐growing field.
An implicit high‐order preconditioned flux reconstruction method for low‐Mach‐number flow simulation with dynamic meshes
Authors: Wang Lai , Yu Meilin
Published: June 2019

A fully implicit high‐order preconditioned flux reconstruction/correction procedure via reconstruction (FR/CPR) method is developed to solve the compressible Navier‐Stokes equations at low Mach numbers. A dual‐time stepping approach with the second‐order backward differentiation formula (BDF2) is employed to ensure temporal accuracy for unsteady flow simulation. When dynamic meshes are used to handle moving/deforming domains, the geometric conservation law is implicitly enforced to eliminate errors due to the resolution discrepancy between BDF2 and the spatial FR/CPR discretization. The large linear system resulted from the spatial and temporal discretizations is tackled with the restarted generalized minimal residual solver in the PETSc (portable, extensible toolkit for scientific computation) library. Through several benchmark steady and unsteady numerical tests, the preconditioned FR/CPR methods have demonstrated good convergence and accuracy for simulating flows at low Mach numbers. The new flow solver is then used to study the effects of Mach number on unsteady force generation over a plunging airfoil when operating in low‐Mach‐number flows. It is observed that weak compressibility has a significant impact on thrust generation but has a negligible effect on lift generation of an oscillating airfoil.
Chemically modified electrospun nanofiber for high adsorption and effective photocatalytic decontamination of organophosphorus compounds
Authors: Lakshmi Krishnasamy , Kadirvelu Krishna , Mohan Palathurai Subramanian
Published: June 2019

BACKGROUND

Organophosphorus (OP) pesticides are widely used to prevent the destruction of crops by various pests, including insects and rodents, which can affect the yield. On the other hand, the use of OP pesticides is linked to various disorders in animals and humans who are exposed to pesticides directly or indirectly. The current study deals with the use of lanthanum (La)‐doped zinc oxide (ZnO) crystals grown on electrospun nanofibers for photocatalytic degradation of methyl parathion (MP), an important OP pesticide.

RESULTS

The electrospinning process was optimized using various parameters. Similarly, the crystal growth conditions such as La concentration, pH, temperature and time were optimized for further studies. Complete degradation was achieved at 150 min from the start and was supported by a reduction in photoluminescence of the reaction mixture. The total organic carbon content was used to decide the mineralization of the toxin. The degradation followed first‐order kinetics with rate constant 0.018 min−1. Hence MP was successfully degraded using La‐ZnO/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers, and the degraded by‐product was confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis.

CONCLUSION

Chemically modified La‐ZnO/PAN nanofibers were an efficient material to decontaminate the pesticide MP, achieving 100% efficiency. The process may be ecofriendly for upscaling photocatalytic degradation processes. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
A comparison of Bayesian synthesis approaches for studies comparing two means: A tutorial
Authors: Du Han , Bradbury Thomas N. , Lavner Justin A. , Meltzer Andrea L. , McNulty James K. , Neff Lisa A. , Karney Benjamin R.
Published: June 2019

Researchers often seek to synthesize results of multiple studies on the same topic to draw statistical or substantive conclusions and to estimate effect sizes that will inform power analyses for future research. The most popular synthesis approach is meta‐analysis. There have been few discussions and applications of other synthesis approaches. This tutorial illustrates and compares multiple Bayesian synthesis approaches (i.e., integrative data analyses, meta‐analyses, data fusion using augmented data‐dependent priors, and data fusion using aggregated data‐dependent priors) and discusses when and how to use these Bayesian synthesis approaches to combine studies that compare two independent group means or two matched group means. For each approach, fixed‐, random‐, and mixed‐effects models with other variants are illustrated with real data. R code is provided to facilitate the implementation of each method and each model. On the basis of these analyses, we summarize the strengths and limitations of each approach and provide recommendations to guide future synthesis efforts.
Fully automatic liver attenuation estimation combing CNN segmentation and morphological operations
Authors: Huo Yuankai , Terry James G. , Wang Jiachen , Nair Sangeeta , Lasko Thomas A. , Freedman Barry I. , Carr J. Jeffery , Landman Bennett A.
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Manually tracing regions of interest (ROIs) within the liver is the de facto standard method for measuring liver attenuation on computed tomography (CT) in diagnosing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, manual tracing is resource intensive. To address these limitations and to expand the availability of a quantitative CT measure of hepatic steatosis, we propose the automatic liver attenuation ROI‐based measurement (ALARM) method for automated liver attenuation estimation.

Methods

The ALARM method consists of two major stages: (a) deep convolutional neural network (DCNN)‐based liver segmentation and (b) automated ROI extraction. First, liver segmentation was achieved using our previously developed SS‐Net. Then, a single central ROI (center‐ROI) and three circles ROI (periphery‐ROI) were computed based on liver segmentation and morphological operations. The ALARM method is available as an open source Docker container (https://github.com/MASILab/ALARM).

Results

Two hundred and forty‐six subjects with 738 abdomen CT scans from the African American‐Diabetes Heart Study (AA‐DHS) were used for external validation (testing), independent from the training and validation cohort (100 clinically acquired CT abdominal scans). From the correlation analyses, the proposed ALARM method achieved Pearson correlations = 0.94 with manual estimation on liver attenuation estimations. When evaluating the ALARM method for detection of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using the traditional cut point of < 40 HU, the center‐ROI achieved substantial agreements (Kappa = 0.79) with manual estimation, while the periphery‐ROI method achieved “excellent” agreement (Kappa = 0.88) with manual estimation. The automated ALARM method had reduced variability compared to manual measurements as indicated by a smaller standard deviation.

Conclusions

We propose a fully automated liver attenuation estimation method termed ALARM by combining DCNN and morphological operations, which achieved “excellent” agreement with manual estimation for fatty liver detection. The entire pipeline is implemented as a Docker container which enables users to achieve liver attenuation estimation in five minutes per CT exam.
Bilateral nerve conduction studies in the evaluation of distal symmetric polyneuropathy
Authors: Dupuis Janae E. , Li Jay , Callaghan Brian C. , Reynolds Evan L. , London Zachary N.
Published: June 2019

Introduction

Nerve conduction studies are used to aid in the diagnosis of distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSP). It is unclear whether bilateral lower extremity nerve conduction studies (NCS) are needed when evaluating for suspected DSP.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed NCS from patients who presented to the University of Michigan electromyography laboratory between July 1, 2016 and December 31, 2017 with symptoms of DSP to assess agreement and correlation between left and right lower extremity NCS parameters.

Results

We found significant agreement between abnormalities in individual nerve parameters of the left and right lower extremities of 105 patients, most notably in the sural nerve. In the 53 patients with bilateral sural, peroneal, and tibial studies, there was also significant agreement between whether the left and right met electrodiagnostic criteria for DSP (κ = 0.77).

Discussion

Bilateral lower extremity NCS may have limited utility in the evaluation of suspected DSP. Muscle Nerve, 2019
Stokes equations under nonlinear slip boundary conditions coupled with the heat equation: A priori error analysis
Authors: Djoko Jules K. , Konlack Virginie S. , Mbehou Mohamed
Published: June 2019

In this work, we consider the heat equation coupled with Stokes equations under threshold type boundary condition. The conditions for existence and uniqueness of the weak solution are made clear. Next we formulate the finite element problem, recall the conditions of its solvability, and study its convergence by making use of Babuska–Brezzi's conditions for mixed problems. Third we formulate an Uzawa's type iterative algorithm that separates the fluid from heat conduction, study its feasibility, and convergence. Finally the theoretical findings are validated by numerical simulations.
The effects of somatic mutations on EGFR interaction with anti‐EGFR monoclonal antibodies: Implication for acquired resistance
Authors: Tabasinezhad Maryam , Omidinia Eskanadr , Talebkhan Yeganeh , Omrani Mir Davood , Mahboudi Fereidoun , Ghaedi Hamid , Wenzel Wolfgang
Published: June 2019

A number of mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been identified that imparts resistance to anti‐EGFR monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in clinical and preclinical samples. Primary or acquired resistance to targeted therapy will eventually limit the clinical benefit of anticancer mAbs. The aim of the current study was to perform computational analysis to investigate the structural implications of the EGFR somatic mutations on its complexes with the four anti‐EGFR mAbs (Cetuximab, Panitumumab, Necitumumab, and Matuzumab). Docking analysis and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to understand the plausible structural and dynamical implications caused by somatic mutations available in the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer database on the EGFR and anti‐EGFR mAbs. We found that EGFRS492R and EGFRV441I in complex with Cetuximab, EGFRR377S and EGFRS447Y in complex with Panitumumab, and EGFRV441I in complex with Necitumumab have a weakest binding affinity in comparison to EGFRWT in complex with the relevant mAb. Taken together with the results obtained from docking analysis and MD simulations, the present findings may suggest that, the S492R and V441I mutations confer resistance to Cetuximab, R377S and S447Y mutations mediate resistance to Panitumumab and finally, V441I mutation also confers resistance to Necitumumab.
Successful Penile Replantation and the Role of Postreplantation Sildenafil Therapy: Report of 2 Cases and Literature Review
Authors: Fu Shibo , Zheng Dachao , Xie Minkai , Yao Haijun , Wang Zhong
Published: June 2019

Penile amputation is a rare clinical emergency necessitating urgent urologic and microsurgical intervention. Microvascular replantation has become a conventional form of management, associated with significantly increased viability of the implanted tissue and a lower rate of complications. However, postreplantation treatment intended to promote early recovery of sexual function has been reported only seldomly. Here we report 2 cases of successful penile replantation with postreplantation daily sildenafil therapy. The patients were followed for 24 months and 8 months, respectively, from the date of repair. First intercourse was achieved at 92 days and 105 days, respectively. This is the first report of the use of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors in postoperative care of penile replantation.
Strain differences in maternal neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to stress and the relation to offspring cocaine responsiveness
Authors: Bagley Jared R. , Adams Julia , Bozadjian Rachel V. , Bubalo Lana , Kippin Tod E.
Published: June 2019

Early life stress exposure, including prenatal stress (PNS), influences subsequent risk for many disorders, including substance abuse, and these effects interact with genetic factors to determine risk for disease. We previously demonstrated gene X environmental interactions across the BXD recombinant inbred mouse strain panel and their progenitor strains in PNS modulation of cocaine‐induced reward and locomotion. Critical to dissecting genetic interactions with PNS is consideration of the modes of stress transmission to the offspring. Both maternal neuroendocrine responses during stress and subsequent maternal‐offspring interactions following stress may serve as transmission modes for PNS‐induced changes in cocaine responsiveness. Therefore, we characterized the maternal stress response by measuring restraint stress‐induced plasma corticosterone (CORT) during gestation as well as effects of restraint stress on dam‐pup contact in the first 10 postnatal days in BXD and progenitor mouse strains. Restraint stress interacted with strain to affect plasma CORT levels and dam‐pup contact, indicating heritable variation of the maternal stress response. Furthermore, strain‐level variance in maternal stress response correlated to the impact on cocaine response exhibited by adult offspring. These findings implicate multiple modes of maternal stress response in alterations of offspring drug responsiveness and indicate that assessment of maternal endocrine and behavioral responses during early life can be utilized to dissect the complex intersection of maternal factors, the response of the offspring and genetics.
Modeling Photoprotection at Global Scale: The Relative Role of Nonphotosynthetic Pigments, Physiological State, and Species Composition
Authors: Álvarez E. , Thoms S. , Bracher A. , Liu Y. , Völker C.
Published: June 2019

Microalgae are capable of acclimating to dynamic light environments, as they have developed mechanisms to optimize light harvesting and photosynthetic electron transport. When absorption of light exceeds photosynthetic capacity, various physiological protective mechanisms prevent damage of the photosynthetic apparatus. Xanthophyll pigments provide one of the most important photoprotective mechanisms to dissipate the excess light energy and prevent photoinhibition. In this study, we coupled a mechanistic model for phytoplankton photoinhibition with the global biogeochemical model Regulated Ecosystem Model version 2. The assumption that photoinhibition is small in phytoplankton communities acclimated to ambient light allowed us to predict the photoprotective needs of phytoplankton. When comparing the predicted photoprotective needs to observations of pigment content determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography, our results showed that photoprotective response seems to be mediated in most parts of the ocean by a variable ratio of xanthophyll pigments to chlorophyll. The variability in the ratio appeared to be mainly driven by changes in phytoplankton community composition. Exceptions appeared at high latitudes where other energy dissipating mechanisms seem to play a role in photoprotection and both taxonomic changes and physiological acclimation determine community pigment signature. Understanding the variability of community pigment signature is crucial for modeling the coupling of light absorption to carbon fixation in the ocean. Insights about how much of this variability is attributable to changes in community composition may allow us to improve the match between remotely sensed optical data and the underlying phytoplankton community.
Hybrid Simulations of Magnetodisc Transport Driven by the Rayleigh‐Taylor Instability
Authors: Stauffer B. H. , Delamere P. A. , Ma X. , Neupane B. R. , Burkholder B. L.
Published: June 2019

Plasma transport in the rapidly rotating giant magnetospheres is thought to involve a centrifugally driven flux tube interchange instability, similar to the Rayleigh‐Taylor (RT) instability. In three dimensions, the convective flow patterns associated with the RT instability can produce strong guide field reconnection, allowing plasma mass to move radially outward while conserving magnetic flux (Ma et al., 2016, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JA022122). We present a set of hybrid (kinetic ion/fluid electron) plasma simulations of the RT instability using high plasma beta conditions appropriate for the inner and middle magnetosphere at Jupiter and Saturn. A density gradient, combined with a centrifugal force, provide appropriate RT onset conditions. Pressure balance requires only a temperature gradient as the magnetic pressure is constant. Pressure balance is achieved with a temperature gradient in a fixed magnetic field. The three‐dimensional simulation domain represents a local volume of the magnetodisc resonant cavity. Simulated RT growth rates compare favorably with linear theory, where the fundamental mode of the resonant cavity determines the largest (stabilizing) parallel wavelength. We suggest that the perpendicular scale of RT structures is determined by the fundamental mode, which limits growth due to magnetic tension. Finally, we investigated strong guide field magnetic reconnection and diffusive processes as plausible mechanisms to facilitate kinetic‐scale radial transport.
Representing Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Carbon Interactions in the E3SM Land Model: Development and Global Benchmarking
Authors: Zhu Qing , Riley William J. , Tang Jinyun , Collier Nathan , Hoffman Forrest M. , Yang Xiaojuan , Bisht Gautam
Published: June 2019

Over the past several decades, the land modeling community has recognized the importance of nutrient regulation on the global terrestrial carbon cycle. Implementations of nutrient limitation in land models are diverse, varying from applying simple empirical down‐regulation of potential gross primary productivity under nutrient deficit conditions to more mechanistic treatments. In this study, we introduce a new approach to model multinutrient (nitrogen [N] and phosphorus [P]) limitations in the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) Land Model version 1 (ELMv1‐ECA). The development is grounded on (1) advances in representing multiple‐consumer, multiple‐nutrient competition; (2) a generic dynamic allocation scheme based on water, N, P, and light availability; (3) flexible plant CNP stoichiometry; (4) prognostic treatment of N and P constraints on several carbon cycle processes; and (5) global data sets of plant physiological traits. Through benchmarking the model against best knowledge of global plant and soil carbon pools and fluxes, we show that our implementation of nutrient constraints on the present‐day carbon cycle is robust at the global scale. Compared with predecessor versions, ELMv1‐ECA better predicts global‐scale gross primary productivity, ecosystem respiration, leaf area index, vegetation biomass, soil carbon stocks, evapotranspiration, N2O emissions, and NO3‐ leaching. Factorial experiments indicate that representing the phosphorus cycle improves modeled carbon fluxes, while considering dynamic allocation improves modeled carbon stock density. We also highlight the value of using the International Land Model Benchmarking (ILAMB) package to evaluate and document performance during model development.
Effects of VLF Transmitter Waves on the Inner Belt and Slot Region
Authors: Ross J. P. J. , Meredith N. P. , Glauert S. A. , Horne R. B. , Clilverd M. A.
Published: June 2019

Signals from very low frequency (VLF) transmitters can leak from the Earth‐ionosphere wave guide into the inner magnetosphere, where they propagate in the whistler mode and contribute to electron dynamics in the inner radiation belt and slot region. Observations show that the waves from each VLF transmitter are highly localized, peaking on the nightside in the vicinity of the transmitter. In this study we use ∼5 years of Van Allen Probes observations to construct global statistical models of the bounce‐averaged pitch angle diffusion coefficients for each individual VLF transmitter, as a function of L*, magnetic local time (MLT), and geographic longitude. We construct a 1‐D pitch angle diffusion model with implicit longitude and MLT dependence to show that VLF transmitter waves weakly scatter electrons into the drift loss cone. We find that global averages of the wave power, determined by averaging the wave power over MLT and longitude, capture the long‐term dynamics of the loss process, despite the highly localized nature of the waves in space. We use our new model to assess the role of VLF transmitter waves, hiss waves, and Coulomb collisions on electron loss in the inner radiation belt and slot region. At moderate relativistic energies, E∼500 keV, waves from VLF transmitters reduce electron lifetimes by an order of magnitude or more, down to the order of 200 days near the outer edge of the inner radiation belt. However, VLF transmitter waves are ineffective at removing multi–megaelectron volt electrons from either the inner radiation belt or slot region.
Deepening of the Winter Mixed Layer in the Canada Basin, Arctic Ocean Over 2006–2017
Authors: Cole Sylvia T. , Stadler James
Published: June 2019

The Arctic Ocean mixed layer interacts with the ice cover above and warmer, nutrient‐rich waters below. Ice‐Tethered Profiler observations in the Canada Basin of the Arctic Ocean over 2006–2017 are used to investigate changes in mixed layer properties. In contrast to decades of shoaling since at least the 1980s, the mixed layer deepened by 9 m from 2006–2012 to 2013–2017. Deepening resulted from an increase in mixed layer salinity that also weakened stratification at the base of the mixed layer. Vertical mixing alone can explain less than half of the observed change in mixed layer salinity, and so the observed increase in salinity is inferred to result from changes in freshwater accumulation via changes to ice‐ocean circulation or ice melt/growth and river runoff. Even though salinity increased, the shallowest density surfaces deepened by 5 m on average suggesting that Ekman pumping over this time period remained downward. A deeper mixed layer with weaker stratification has implications for the accessibility of heat and nutrients stored in the upper halocline. The extent to which the mixed layer will continue to deepen appears to depend primarily on the complex set of processes influencing freshwater accumulation.
Mutual inductance of arbitrary‐shaped coils using shape functions
Authors: Ishida Koichi , Itaya Toshiya , Tanaka Akio , Takehira Nobuo
Published: June 2019

The mutual inductance between coils is one of the important parameters of a system of coils. However, because the theoretical analysis of mutual inductances is difficult, a precise analysis of racetrack‐shaped coils has not yet been conducted. Although a method that involves the use of the finite element method for obtaining an approximation is available, this study aims to obtain the analytical solution which enables the computation of values with very high accuracy. The authors propose a novel magnetic field analysis method for deriving the analytical solution for the magnetic field and for the self‐inductance of the arbitrary‐shaped coils. In this study, the analytical solution is derived for the mutual inductance using a novel analysis method and numerous experiments using coils of different shapes are carried out. The experimental results were almost identical to the theoretical results, confirming the validity of the proposed analysis method. Furthermore, the authors show that even when the specifications and arrangements of the coils are changed, computational analysis can be performed in a short time.
Grid current low‐order harmonics suppression of the three‐phase grid converter with an LCL filter under the distorted grid voltage
Authors: Yin Hang , Dai Zhiyong , Lei Xianzhang , Lan Tian
Published: June 2019

This article presents an extended backstepping control method to reduce the grid‐side current harmonics caused by grid voltage distortion. A dynamic model considering the grid voltage as an external disturbance is derived in the stationary reference frame. The extended back‐stepping design procedure based on pole displacement guarantees that the system is stable without damping. The proposed method has a general low‐order harmonics suppression instead of selective harmonics elimination. Zero steady‐state error can be obtained tracking the grid currents. Stability, as well as good transient and steady‐state performance are verified through numerical simulation. A comparison with the state‐of‐the‐art proportional resonant control with active damping is also conducted. The results show that a good low‐order harmonics reduction in the grid current is achieved by the proposed control method.
Performance comparison of passive series R and shunt R‐C damped LCL filter for grid‐connected inverters
Authors: Temiz Hakan , Demirok Erhan , Keysan Ozan , Türkay Ali , Çetinkaya Burak
Published: June 2019

LCL filters are widely used in distributed power‐generation systems to attenuate high‐frequency harmonics caused by pulse‐width modulation switching of grid‐connected inverters. A resonance occurs due to the series‐connected reactive components. In order to damp resonance effects, active and passive damping methods are used. Lower switching frequencies are typically preferred to decrease switching power losses with high‐power applications. Thus, control bandwidth of the system is limited and implementation of active damping gets harder. As a result, passive damping methods are commonly used in high‐power applications. In this study, performances of two most commonly used passive damping methods which are series R damped and shunt R‐C damped are analysed and compared in terms of resonance damping, grid current attenuation at high frequencies, and power losses on damping circuits.