bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abnormal lipid storage related to adipocyte shrinkage in acquired partial lipodystrophy (Barraquer–Simons syndrome)
Authors: Velter C. , Messaddeq N. , Levy E. , Morruzzi C. , Cribier B. , Dali‐Youcef N. , Lipsker D.
Published: November 2018

Background

Acquired partial lipodystrophy (APL) is characterized by the gradual symmetrical loss of subcutaneous fat starting from the face, spreading towards the upper part of the body and sparing the lower extremities.

Objective

We report a 33‐year‐old woman with facial lipodystrophy, loss of buccal fat pads and breast fat tissue. The subcutaneous fat was preserved in other anatomic regions, and we noted some excess of fat accumulation in the lower abdomen and thighs. She had a low serum level of C3 that was positive for a polyclonal immunoglobulin C3NeF in the serum. She was diagnosed with APL.

Methods

We examined fat from lipoatrophic and healthy areas and compared it to subcutaneous fat samples from a healthy control.

Results

Using scanning electron microscopy, we saw shrunken adipocytes with numerous small lipid droplets detaching from the surface of the adipocytes as compared to the classic aspect of adipose tissue in the control subject where the cytoplasm is occupied by one big lipid droplet. A loss of contact between adipocytes was observed in the APL patient when compared to the normal network of adipocytes in the control subject. The healthy fat seemed not affected by lipoatrophy; we observed normal‐sized adipocytes, though their surface was not as regular as in the control samples.

Conclusion

The significance and mechanism of the electron microscopic findings are unknown, but they suggest adipocyte shrinkage related to a defect in the retaining triglycerides, which could contribute to the pathogenesis of this disorder.
High Prevalence and Endemism of Trypanosomatids on a Small Caribbean Island
Authors: Votýpka Jan , Kment Petr , Kriegová Eva , Vermeij Mark J.A. , Keeling Patrick J. , Yurchenko Vyacheslav , Lukeš Julius
Published: November 2018

We describe the monoxenous trypanosomatids parasitizing true bugs and flies on the island of Curaçao. Out of 248 examined true bugs belonging to 17 species, 93 individuals were found to be infected (overall 38% prevalence) by at least one trypanosomatid species (referred to as typing units; TUs). Out of 80 flies, six were infected. All detected trypanosomatids were compared based on their 18S rRNA sequences with TUs parasitizing bugs and flies described from mainland South America, allowing us to assess their diversity and distribution. Besides Leptomonas pyrrhocoris and Leptomonas seymouri, two known species of the subfamily Leishmaniinae, our analysis revealed six new TUs falling into the groups ‘jaculum’, Blastocrithidia and Herpetomonas. Moreover, two new members of the genus Phytomonas and three new TUs belonging to the monophyletic group designated as ‘new clade II’ sensu Mol. Phylogenet. Evol, 69, 255 (2013) were isolated. The detected trypanosomatids were characterized by moderate diversity (13 TUs) species richness. Out of nine and four TUs from the heteropteran and dipteran hosts, respectively, 11 TUs have not been encountered before. Although a sampling bias may partially affect the comparison between trypanosomatid communities on Curaçao and the mainland, the high proportion of unique TUs from the former location suggests that the prominent role of islands in increasing the global diversity of macroscopic organisms may also extend to their protistan parasites.
Hospital at Home‐Plus: A Platform of Facility‐Based Care
Authors: DeCherrie Linda V. , Wajnberg Ania , Soones Tacara , Escobar Christian , Catalan Elisse , Lubetsky Sara , Leff Bruce , Federman Alex , Siu Albert
Published: November 2018

OBJECTIVES

To describe the evolution of a hospital at home (HaH) program to a HaH with a 30‐day posthospitalization transition period (HaH‐Plus) and results of a retrospective review of cases.

DESIGN

After launching HaH‐Plus, we used the same interdisciplinary clinical team to provide acute home‐based care for a broader range of home‐based acute‐level services than originally conceived in the Hospital at Home model. These included a palliative care unit at home (PCUaH), an observation unit at home (OUaH), a post‐acute care rehabilitation at home (RaH), and a program for the hospital averse – those patients needing to be in the hospital but who refuse.

SETTING

Urban health system.

PARTICIPANTS

Individuals 18 years or older residing in specified catchment area with Medicare fee‐for‐service or accepted Medicare/Medicaid Advantage plans requiring facility‐based care.

INTERVENTION

Provision of facility‐based acute‐level care at home to 685 participants.

MEASUREMENTS

Length of stay, readmission, and mortality.

RESULTS

HaH‐Plus cared for 685 individuals. The PCUaH had the oldest participants (mean age 87), and all groups were predominantly female and dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Diagnoses and length of stay were similar in all groups except that those in RaH had a larger group of diagnoses, than those accepted in to HaH‐Plus and those in OUaH had a shorter stay. Rate of readmission was highest for RaH (19%). Mortality during the active treatment episode was highest for PCUaH and hospital averse as compared to HaH‐Plus, OUaH and RaH.

CONCLUSION

Providing a broader range of facility‐based care in the home has significant advantages for patients and increases the scalability of HaH. Developing a spectrum of services was possible by leveraging a robust, 24‐hour HaH team. Community‐ and home‐based care could become a greater part of the U.S. healthcare system if a platform of HaH services along with advances in technology and payment models were developed. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:596–602, 2019.
Alexithymia and temporomandibular joint and facial pain in the general population
Authors: Kindler Stefan , Schwahn Christian , Terock Jan , Mksoud Maria , Bernhardt Olaf , Biffar Reiner , Völzke Henry , Metelmann Hans Robert , Grabe Hans Jörgen
Published: November 2018

Background

Associations of alexithymia with temporomandibular pain disorders (TMD), facial pain, head pain and migraine have been described, but the role of the different dimensions of alexithymia in pain development remained incompletely understood.

Objectives

We sought to investigate the associations of alexithymia and its subfactors with signs of TMD and with facial pain, head pain and migraine in the general population.

Methods

A total of 1494 subjects from the general population completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale‐20 (TAS‐20) and underwent a clinical functional examination with palpation of the temporomandibular joint and masticatory muscles. Facial pain, migraine and head pain were defined by questionnaire. A set of logistic regression analyses was applied with adjustment for age, sex, education, number of traumatic events, depressive symptoms and anxiety.

Results

Alexithymia was associated with TMD joint pain (Odds Ratio 2.63; 95% confidence interval 1.60‐4.32 for 61 TAS‐20 points vs the median of the TAS‐20 score) and with facial pain severity (Odds Ratio 3.22; 95% confidence interval 1.79‐5.79). Differential effects of the subfactors were discovered with difficulties in identifying feelings as main predictor for joint, facial, and head pain, and externally oriented thinking (EOT) as U‐shaped and strongest predictor for migraine.

Conclusion

Alexithymia was moderately to strongly associated with signs and symptoms of TMD. These results should encourage dental practioners using the TAS‐20 in clinical practice, to screen TMD, facial or head pain patients for alexithymia and could also help treating alexithymic TMD, facial or head pain patients.
Automatic identification of sleep and wakefulness using single‐channel EEG and respiratory polygraphy signals for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Sabil AbdelKebir , Vanbuis Jade , Baffet Guillaume , Feuilloy Mathieu , Le Vaillant Marc , Meslier Nicole , Gagnadoux Frédéric
Published: November 2018

Polysomnography (PSG) is necessary for the accurate estimation of total sleep time (TST) and the calculation of the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI). In type III home sleep apnea testing (HSAT), TST is overestimated because of the lack of electrophysiological sleep recordings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of a novel automated sleep/wake scoring algorithm combining a single electroencephalogram (EEG) channel with actimetry and HSAT signals. The study included 160 patients investigated by PSG for suspected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Each PSG was recorded and scored manually using American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) rules. The automatic sleep/wake‐scoring algorithm was based on a single‐channel EEG (FP2‐A1) and the variability analysis of HSAT signals (airflow, snoring, actimetry, light and respiratory inductive plethysmography). Optimal detection thresholds were derived for each signal using a training set. Automatic and manual scorings were then compared epoch by epoch considering two states (sleep and wake). Cohen's kappa coefficient between the manual scoring and the proposed automatic algorithm was substantial, 0.74 ± 0.18, in separating wakefulness and sleep. The sensitivity, specificity and the positive and negative predictive values for the detection of wakefulness were 76.51% ± 21.67%, 95.48% ± 5.27%, 81.84% ± 15.42% and 93.85% ± 6.23% respectively. Compared with HSAT signals alone, AHI increased by 22.12% and 27 patients changed categories of OSA severity with the automatic sleep/wake‐scoring algorithm. Automatic sleep/wake detection using a single‐channel EEG combined with HSAT signals was a reliable method for TST estimation and improved AHI calculation compared with HSAT.
No evidence for short‐term purging benefits of sexual selection in inbred red flour beetle populations
Authors: Prokop Z. M. , Hlebowicz K. , Gaczorek T. S. , Antoł W. M. , Martin O. Y. , Gage M. J. G. , Michalczyk Ł.
Published: November 2018

Sexual selection may increase population‐level fitness by facilitating the removal of deleterious mutations with pleiotropic effects on competition for fertilizations as well as other fitness components in both sexes. Under inbreeding, this could promote purging selection, that is the removal of deleterious recessive alleles exposed in homozygotes via matings between closely related individuals. Here, in two independent experiments, we found no evidence for short‐term purging of the inbreeding load from severely bottlenecked populations of red flour beetles, Tribolium castaneum. We hypothesize that sexual selection may have dual effects on purging, corresponding to good‐genes versus compatible‐genes mechanisms. Whereas the former should facilitate the removal of inbreeding load from bottlenecked populations, the latter may actually hamper this process while simultaneously limiting inbreeding depression by preventing the expression of deleterious recessives.
The perils of teaching medical triads
Authors: Manzoor Fizza , Redelmeier Donald A
Published: November 2018

The authors argue that teaching medical triads may perpetuate misconceptions and worsen cognitive traps including overconfidence, base rate neglect, and the conjunction fallacy.
Form and Orbital Tonality in the Finale of Bruckner's Seventh Symphony
Authors: HORTON JULIAN
Published: November 2018

This article investigates questions of form in the Finale of Bruckner's Seventh Symphony, paying special attention to the reversed recapitulation as a problematic category in contemporaryFormenlehre. Counterpointing Timothy Jackson's reading of the movement as a ‘tragic’ reversed sonata against James Hepokoski and Warren Darcy's critique of the concept of reversal, it seeks ways of accounting for the movement's novel form‐functional characteristics, which integrate concepts of thematic syntax with a model of chromatic tonality, drawing simultaneously on Schenkerian and neo‐Riemannian theories and the notion of the double‐tonic complex first proposed by Robert Bailey. The argument is contextualised in relation to critical debates about Bruckner's forms that originated during the composer's lifetime, especially claims of material discontinuity and harmonic illogicality, which were common in the symphonies’ pro‐Brahmsian reception and which linger in the discourse up to the present. The article's central claim is that a substantial understanding of both the Finale's form and its critical reception is attendant upon a theory of formal function, which takes seriously the difficulties of harmonic analysis that Bruckner's post‐Wagnerian idiom engenders.
Oxidosqualene cyclase and CYP716 enzymes contribute to triterpene structural diversity in the medicinal tree banaba
Authors: Sandeep  , Misra Rajesh Chandra , Chanotiya Chandan Singh , Mukhopadhyay Pradipto , Ghosh Sumit
Published: November 2018

Pentacyclic triterpenes (PCTs) represent a major class of bioactive metabolites in banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa) leaves; however, biosynthetic enzymes and their involvement in the temporal accumulation of PCTs remain to be studied.

We use an integrated approach involving transcriptomics, metabolomics and gene function analysis to identify oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs) and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) that catalyzed sequential cyclization and oxidative reactions towards PCT scaffold diversification.

Four monofunctional OSCs (LsOSC1,3–5) converted the triterpene precursor 2,3‐oxidosqualene to either lupeol, β‐amyrin or cycloartenol, and a multifunctional LsOSC2 formed α‐amyrin as a major product along with β‐amyrin. Two CYP716 family P450s (CYP716A265, CYP716A266) catalyzed C‐28 oxidation of α‐amyrin, β‐amyrin and lupeol to form ursolic acid, oleanolic acid and betulinic acid, respectively. However, CYP716C55 catalyzed C‐2α hydroxylation of ursolic acid and oleanolic acid to produce corosolic acid and maslinic acid, respectively. Besides, combined transcript and metabolite analysis suggested major roles for the LsOSC2, CYP716A265 and CYP716C55 in determining leaf ursane and oleanane profiles.

Combinatorial expression of OSCs and CYP716s in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Nicotiana benthamiana led to PCT pathway reconstruction, signifying the utility of banaba enzymes for bioactive PCT production in alternate plant/microbial hosts that are more easily tractable than the tree species.
Biome: evolution of a crucial ecological and biogeographical concept
Authors: Mucina Ladislav
Published: November 2018

A biome is a key community ecological and biogeographical concept and, as such, has profited from the overall progress of community ecology, punctuated by two major innovations: shifting the focus from pure pattern description to understanding functionality, and changing the approach from observational to explanatory and, most importantly, from descriptive to predictive. The functional focus enabled development of mechanistic and function‐focused predictive and retrodictive modelling; it also shaped the current understanding of the concept of a biome as a dynamic biological entity having many aspects, with deep roots in the evolutionary past, and which is undergoing change. The evolution of the biome concept was punctuated by three synthetic steps: the first synthesis formulated a solid body of theory explaining the ecological and biogeographical meaning of zonality and collated our knowledge on drivers of vegetation patterns at large spatial scales; the second translated this knowledge into effective mechanistic modelling tools, developing further the link between ecosystem functionality and biogeography; and the third (still in progress) is seeking common ground between large‐scale ecological and biogeographic phenomena, using macroecology and macroevolutionary research tools.
Estimating the incidence of atrial fibrillation in single‐chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillator patients
Authors: Zweibel Steven , Cronin Edmond M. , Schloss Edward J. , Auricchio Angelo , Kurita Takashi , Sterns Laurence D. , Gerritse Bart , Lexcen Daniel R. , Cheng Alan
Published: November 2018

Background

Atrial arrhythmias are associated with major adverse cardiovascular events. Recent reports among implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) patients have demonstrated a high prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF), predominantly in dual‐chamber recipients. AF incidence among patients with single‐chamber systems (approximately 50% of all ICDs) is currently unknown. The objective was to estimate the prevalence of new‐onset AF among single‐chamber ICD patients by observing the rates of new atrial tachycardia (AT)/AF among a propensity scoring matched cohort of dual‐chamber ICD patients from the PainFree SmartShock technology study, to better inform screening initiatives.

Methods

Among 2770 patients enrolled, 1862 single‐chamber, dual‐chamber, and cardiac resynchronization therapy subjects with no prior history of atrial tachyarrhythmias were included. Daily AT/AF burden was estimated using a propensity score weighted model against data from dual‐chamber ICDs.

Results

Over 22 ± 9 months of follow‐up, the estimated incidence of AT/AF—lasting at least 6 min, 6 h, and 24 h per day —in the single‐chamber cohort was 22.0, 9.8, and 6.3%, whereas among dual‐chamber patients, the prevalence was 26.6, 13.1, and 7.1%, respectively. Initiation of oral anticoagulation was estimated to occur in 9.8% of the propensity matched single‐chamber cohort, which was higher than the actual observed rate of 6.0%. Stroke and transient ischemic attack occurred at low rates in all device subgroups.

Conclusions

Atrial arrhythmias occur frequently, and significant underutilization of anticoagulation is suggested in single‐chamber ICD recipients. Routine screening for AF should be considered among single‐chamber ICD recipients.
Treatment Outcome of Acute Sacral Nerve Stimulation in Functional Anorectal Pain
Authors: Rongqing Gao , Yafei Wang , Zhimin Wang , Feng Liu , Yuantao Li , Xinhua Chen , Lu Chen , Hui Zhang , Kailun Liu
Published: November 2018

Background

Sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) has revolutionized the management of certain intractable cases of fecal and urinary incontinence; however, the management of functional anorectal pain (FAP) has been addressed in only a few studies.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment effect of SNS in improving FAP symptoms.

Methods

A total of 120 patients with FAP who had undergone temporary SNS probe placement were investigated at Qianfoshan Hospital between January 2014 and December 2016. Pre‐ and post‐SNS treatment outcomes were assessed using the VAS, anorectal manometry, and the 36‐item short‐form health survey (SF‐36) medical outcomes study instrument.

Results

A total of 120 patients proceeded to insertion of an SNS probe at the S3 nerve root (2 Hz, 1.50 mA, 0.10 milliseconds). Of these, 75 patients were cured, 41 improved, and 4 had an ineffective outcome. The total effectiveness rate was 96.7% 1 year after treatment. There was a significant reduction in the median VAS score pre‐SNS and post‐SNS, from 8 to 3, respectively. Patients post‐SNS had lower anal maximum contraction pressure and anal rest pressure than did patients pre‐SNS. Compared with the pretreatment group, there were no substantial differences between anal longest contraction time and rectal rest pressure. In addition to general health, there was a substantial improvement in the remaining dimension scores of the SF‐36.

Conclusion

The effect of SNS in treating FAP was positive, and the improvement of symptoms was substantial and worthy of clinical promotion.
Rapid phenotyping of adult plant resistance in barley (Hordeum vulgare) to leaf rust under controlled conditions
Authors: Rothwell Christopher T. , Singh Davinder , van Ogtrop Floris , Sørensen Chris , Fowler Ryan , Germán Silvia , Park Robert F. , Dracatos Peter
Published: November 2018

Breeding for adult plant resistance (APR) is currently impeded by the low frequency of annual field‐based testing and variable environmental conditions. We developed and implemented a greenhouse‐based methodology for the rapid phenotyping of APR to leaf rust in barley to improve the efficacy of gene discovery and cloning. We assessed the effects of temperature (18 and 23°C) and growth stage (1–5 weeks) on the expression of APR in the greenhouse using 28 barley genotypes with both known and uncharacterized APR. All lines were susceptible in week 1, while lines carrying Rph20 and several with uncharacterized resistance expressed resistance as early as week 2. In contrast, lines lacking Rph20 and carrying either Rph23 and/or Rph24 expressed resistance from week 4. Resistant phenotypes were clearest at 18°C. A subset of 16 of the 28 lines were assessed for leaf rust across multiple national and international field sites. The greenhouse screening data reported in this study were highly correlated to most of the field sites, indicating that they provide comparable data on APR phenotypes for screening purposes.
Circulating cell‐free microRNAs in cutaneous melanoma staging and recurrence or survival prognosis
Authors: Polini Beatrice , Carpi Sara , Romanini Antonella , Breschi Maria Cristina , Nieri Paola , Podestà Adriano
Published: November 2018

Cutaneous melanoma is a skin cancer with increasing incidence. Identification of novel clinical biomarkers able to detect the stage of disease and suggest prognosis could improve treatment and outcome for melanoma patients. Cell‐free microRNAs (cf‐miRNAs) are the circulating copies of short non‐coding RNAs involved in gene expression regulation. They are released into the interstitial fluid, are detectable in blood and other body fluids and have interesting features of ideal biomarker candidates. They are stable outside the cell, tissue specific, vary along with cancer development and are sensitive to change in the disease course such as progression or therapeutic response. Moreover, they are accessible by non‐invasive methods or venipuncture. Some articles have reported different cf‐miRNAs with the potential of diagnostic tools for melanoma staging, recurrence and survival prediction. Although some concordance of results is already emerging, differences in analytical methods, normalization strategies and tumour staging still will require further research and standardization prior to clinical usage of cf‐miRNA analysis. This article reviews this literature with the aim of contributing to a shared focusing on these new promising tools for melanoma treatment and care.
Sambucus ebulus extract stimulates cellular responses in cutaneous leishmaniasis
Authors: Heidari‐Kharaji Maryam , Fallah‐Omrani Vahid , Badirzadeh Alireza , Mohammadi‐Ghalehbin Behnam , Nilforoushzadeh Mohammad Ali , Masoori Leila , Montakhab‐Yeganeh Hossein , Zare Mehrak
Published: November 2018

This is the first study aiming to determine the therapeutic effects of the Sambucus ebulus aquatic extract as an antileishmanial herbal drug and evaluate the immune responses in Leishmania major major infected BALB/c mice. The antileishmanial activity of S ebulus aquatic extract was evaluated using MTT test as well as parasite rescue and transformation assay. Footpad swelling and parasite load of infected mice were measured by several techniques. The immune responses were evaluated by measuring the levels of IFN‐γ, IL‐4, nitric oxide and arginase. The results indicated that S. ebulus can significantly decrease L. major promastigotes and amastigotes viability, but it was not toxic to macrophages. The lesion size, parasite burden and the level of ARG decreased in the treated infected mice, while the IFN‐γ‐to‐IL‐4 ratio and the level of NO increased significantly. Altogether, the S. ebulus extract is an effective compound for killing Leishmania parasite without excessive toxicity to the host cells and can cure the CL by switching the host immune responses towards Th1 response. Thus, it may be a perfect therapeutic option for CL treatment.
Genetic variability of Pseudocercospora fijiensis, the black Sigatoka pathogen of banana (Musa spp.) in Mexico
Authors: Manzo‐Sánchez G. , Orozco‐Santos M. , Islas‐Flores I. , Martínez‐Bolaños L. , Guzmán‐González S. , Leopardi‐Verde C. L. , Canto‐Canché B.
Published: November 2018

Pseudocercospora (previously known as Mycosphaerella) fijiensis causes black Sigatoka disease in banana (Musa spp.) and is considered to be the most devastating pathogen of this crop worldwide. To improve knowledge of its evolutionary patterns, this study determined the genetic variability of populations from two regions of Mexico: Central Pacific (Colima and Michoacan) and Southern (Chiapas, Tabasco and Oaxaca), using 10 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci and the MAT‐specific PCR assay. Both mating types were present in all regions under study, with frequencies of 63% MAT1‐1 and 37% MAT1‐2. The SSR markers showed an average of three alleles per locus, resulting in 34 alleles in total. The genetic diversity (HT) was 0.3308, but at the local level (HS) ranged from 0.0976 (Colima) to 0.2228 (Oaxaca). However, the genotypic diversity was usually high (H′ > 2.4, S > 0.89). Cluster analysis grouped the isolates into five clusters with high statistical support (au > 80%), suggesting a geographic organization of the genetic variability of P. fijiensis; AMOVA, the minimum spanning tree and the population structure analysis supported this result, and all data indicated that the major genetic differences were between the different populations under analysis. Thus, the high level of genetic variability in P. fijiensis is attributed partly to a high rate of sexual reproduction, and also to a strong evolutionary capacity coupled with isolation due to limited genetic flow between distant populations. Both possibilities could be playing a relevant role in population differentiation of the pathogen.
Coincidence of potato CONSTANS (StCOL1) expression and light cannot explain night‐break repression of tuberization
Authors: Plantenga Faline D. M. , Heuvelink Ep , Rienstra Juriaan A. , Visser Richard G. F. , Bachem Christian W. B. , Marcelis Leo F. M.
Published: November 2018

In the obligate short‐day potato Solanum tuberosum group Andigena (Solanum andigena), short days, or actually long nights, induce tuberization. Applying a night break in the middle of this long night represses tuberization. However, it is not yet understood how this repression takes place. We suggest a coincidence model, similar to the model explaining photoperiodic flowering in Arabidopsis. We hypothesize that potato CONSTANS (StCOL1), expressed in the night of a short day, is stabilized by the light of the night break. This allows for StCOL1 to repress tuberization through induction of StSP5G, which represses the tuberization signal StSP6A. We grew S. andigena plants in short days, with night breaks applied at different time points during the dark period, either coinciding with StCOL1 expression or not. StCOL1 protein presence, StCOL1 expression and expression of downstream targets StSP5G and StSP6A were measured during a 24‐h time course. Our results show that a night break applied during peak StCOL1 expression is unable to delay tuberization, while coincidence with low or no StCOL1 expression leads to severely repressed tuberization. These results imply that coincidence between StCOL1 expression and light does not explain why a night break represses tuberization in short days. Furthermore, stable StCOL1 did not always induce StSP5G, and upregulated StSP5G did not always lead to fully repressed StSP6A. Our findings suggest there is a yet unknown level of control between StCOL1, StSP5G and StSP6A expression, which determines whether a plant tuberizes.
Probing the hidden depths of climate law: Analysing national climate change legislation
Authors: Scotford Eloise , Minas Stephen
Published: November 2018

National governments that are committed to a social transition in the pursuit of climate policy face a complex legal challenge in evaluating how their legal and regulatory architectures support climate policy and in introducing new legal measures to implement their Paris Agreement commitments. This article sets out a method for appraising how fragmented national climate‐relevant laws combine to create an aggregated legal and regulatory landscape that frames and governs national responses to climate change. Appraising this kind of landscape is a methodologically fraught exercise, considering that climate change can intersect with many areas of law and regulation, which are all embedded within the histories, legal doctrines and governance frameworks of particular legal systems. We propose a tripartite method for this task – identifying ‘direct’ or explicit climate laws, identifying ‘indirect’ or implicit climate laws, and investigating legal cultures that inform and express both types of climate‐related law. The article focuses on climate‐related legislation in countries with lawmaking assemblies in proposing this approach, arguing that the national scale and legislative processes are both particularly significant in evaluating climate laws. This approach to climate law methodology can support both national climate planning and multilateral processes such as the Paris Agreement's global stocktake.
A Counterexample to Three Imprecise Decision Theories
Authors: Bradley Seamus
Published: November 2018

There is currently much discussion about how decision making should proceed when an agent's degrees of belief are imprecise; represented by a set of probability functions. I show that decision rules recently discussed by Sarah Moss, Susanna Rinard and Rohan Sud all suffer from the same defect: they all struggle to rationalize diachronic ambiguity aversion. Since ambiguity aversion is among the motivations for imprecise credence, this suggests that the search for an adequate imprecise decision rule is not yet over.
Construcción y validación de una Escala de actitud hacia la matemática para estudiantes de psicología
Authors: Abal Facundo Juan Pablo , Auné Sofía Esmeralda , Attorresi Horacio Félix
Published: November 2018

El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar el proceso de construcción de una escala de actitud hacia la matemática específica para estudiantes de Psicología. Se tomaron como referencia las dimensiones del constructo más mencionadas en la literatura y se generaron ítems para operacionalizarlas. Se efectuó una depuración mediante juicio experto y estudio piloto. Los ítems conservados se administraron una muestra de 2 814 estudiantes. Mediante un análisis factorial exploratorio, se identificaron tres dimensiones relevantes (Afectivo-motivacional, Confianza y Utilidad) que fueron replicadas en un estudio confirmatorio. Este resultado aportó evidencias de validez de constructo. Se obtuvieron indicadores óptimos de consistencia interna y estabilidad temporal. Se compara la estructura factorial alcanzada con las reportadas en otras investigaciones que miden el mismo constructo.
French and Venezuelan People’s Conceptualization of Human Rights: Indivisibility and Universality Issues
Authors: Guédez Ana Gabriela , Mullet Etienne
Published: November 2018

The present study aimed to examine French unpaid participants’ (N = 50) perceptions about Human Rights (HR). The material was a series of scenarios depicting a socio-political situation of a fictitious state and a response scale. Four critical items of information were provided: (a) the degree in which the State offers social protection to the citizens (not at all, intermediate or complete);(b) the level of respect for Civil Liberties in the country (no respect, intermediate, full respect);(c) the level of Equality between citizens (inequality of rights vs. equality of right);and (d) the level of Respect for the private life of the citizens (no respect for private life vs. full respect for private life). The 36 stories were obtained by the orthogonal crossing of the four factors: 3 x 3 x 2 x 2 = 36. Results from the French sample were compared with previous results from a Venezuelan sample (Guédez & Mullet, 2014). Results showed no difference in the importance given to Social Protection between French and Venezuelan participants. Also, the crucial four-way interaction was significant at a very stringent level, and the five-way interaction involving Country was not. Thus, it can be safely considered that the way HR are conceptualized is correctly expressed by the equation: Judged Respect for HR = Privacy x Civil Liberties x Equality x Social Protection.
Space Structures With Embedded Flat Plate Pulsating Heat Pipe Built by Additive Manufacturing Technology: Development, Test and Performance Analysis
Authors: Belfi Federico , Iorizzo Filomena , Galbiati Claudio , Lepore Fabio
Published: November 2018

In this paper is described the development and the experimental study of a flat plate pulsating heat pipe (FPPHP) built by means of metal additive manufacturing (AM). In the recent years, small/medium aerospace companies have gained interest in the development of small satellites. The small dimensions, coupled with the need for high-power devices for science and communications, increase the interest in thermally functional structures. The space business is characterized by a very small production lot, and custom designs from project to project. The AM exactly fits these needs and, in the past years, the use of this technology in aerospace projects has grown significantly. This paper, after a brief review of the pulsating heat pipe (PHP), focuses on the development and testing of a panel with an embedded closed-loop FPPHP built by means of metal AM technique. The article presents a trade-off analysis between the metal AM technologies available on the market; by means of the trade-off analysis, a design strategy is proposed by the authors. A comparison between available FPPHP results in literature and the three-dimensional (3D) printed structure will show the differences between the common subtractive technology and the innovative AM technique.
Data-Driven Platform Design: Patent Data and Function Network Analysis
Authors: Song Binyang , Luo Jianxi , Wood Kristin
Published: November 2018

A properly designed product-system platform seeks to reduce the cost and lead time for design and development of the product-system family. A key goal is to achieve a tradeoff between economy of scope from product variety and economy of scale from platform sharing. Traditionally, product platform planning uses heuristic and manual approaches and relies almost solely on expertise and intuition. In this paper, we propose a data-driven method to draw the boundary of a platform-system, complementing the other platform design approaches and assisting designers in the architecting process. The method generates a network of functions through relationships of their co-occurrences in prior designs of a product or systems domain and uses a network analysis algorithm to identify an optimal core–periphery structure. Functions identified in the network core co-occur cohesively and frequently with one another in prior designs, and thus, are suggested for inclusion in the potential platform to be shared across a variety of product-systems with peripheral functions. We apply the method to identify the platform functions for the application domain of spherical rolling robots (SRRs), based on patent data.
Experimental Framework for Evaluation of the Thermodynamic and Kinetic Parameters of Metal-Oxides for Solar Thermochemical Fuel Production
Authors: Carrillo Richard J. , Warren Kent J. , Scheffe Jonathan R.
Published: November 2018

The two-step metal oxide redox cycle is a promising and thermodynamically attractive means of solar fuel production. In this work, we describe the development of a high-temperature tubular reactor in which the fundamental thermodynamic and kinetic behavior of thermochemical materials can be readily assessed. This reactor system is capable of operating at temperatures up to 1873 K, total pressures ranging from vacuum to ambient, and oxygen partial pressures (pO2) as low as 10−29 atm. Compared to off-the-shelf systems like thermogravimetric analyzers or indirect conductivity-based measurement systems, this system has three inherent benefits: (1) the flexibility to control the sample morphology (e.g., powder, packed bed, reticulated porous ceramic, or pellet), (2) the potential for a well-developed and characterized flow, and (3) the ability to readily customize the system on demand (e.g., easy integration with a steam generator to control and operate at very low pO2). The reactor system and experimental methods were validated by performing isothermal relaxation experiments with undoped ceria, wherein the sample environment was rapidly altered by stepwise changes in the delivered H2O vapor concentration, and comparing measured oxygen nonstoichiometries with accepted data available in the literature. Data were measured at temperatures from 1173 to 1473 K and pO2 from 4.54  × 10−18 to 1.02 × 10−9 atm. The measured equilibrium data displayed strong agreement with the literature and the expected trends were preserved. Kinetic data were extracted by first transforming reactant concentrations measured downstream of the reaction zone using a tanks-in-series mixing model to account for gas dispersion. Next, a mechanistic kinetic model distinguishing surface and bulk species concentrations was fit to the data to extract pertinent thermodynamic and kinetic parameters. The model assumed a two-step reaction mechanism mediated by the formation of an intermediate hydroxyl species on the surface. Activation energies and defect formation enthalpies and entropies for the forward and reverse reactions were found to be in good agreement with previous modeling efforts, providing further validation of the use of this system to explore thermodynamic and kinetic behavior of emerging thermochemical materials.
Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(azomethine)/ZnO Nanocomposite Toward Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue, Malachite Green, and Bismarck Brown
Authors: Pradeeba S. J. , Sampath K.
Published: November 2018

This research was carried out based on the significance of protecting the environment by preventing the contamination of water caused from effluents discharge from dyeing industries, effective nanocomposite were prepared to solve this problem. The poly(azomethine), ZnO, and poly(azomethine)/ZnO nanocomposites were prepared and characterized by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet (UV)–visible spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), scanning electron Microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Methylene blue (MB), Malachite green (MG), and Bismarck brown (BB) were degraded from water using poly(azomethine) (PAZ), zinc oxide (ZnO), PAZ/ZnO (PNZ) nanocomposites as photocatalyst in the presence of natural sunlight. The degradation efficiency and reaction kinetics were calculated, and the outcome of the photocatalytic experiments proved that the PAZ/ZnO nanocomposites reveals excellent photocatalytic activity and effective for decolorization of dye containing waste water than PAZ and ZnO in the presence of natural sunlight. The maximum degradation efficiency 97%, 96%, and 95% was obtained for PNZ nanocomposites at optimum dosage of catalyst as 500 mg and 50 ppm of MB, MG, and BB dye concentration, respectively. The maximum degradation time was 5 h. After photocatalytic study, the samples were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and UV–visible spectroscopy.
Techno-Economic Analysis and Feasibility Study of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell-Battery Hybrid System for Water Taxi Application
Authors: Song Datong , Zhang Xinge , Neagu Roberto , Qu Wei
Published: November 2018

A hybrid power system consisting of an intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and a lithium-ion battery is conceptually designed for water taxi applications. The sizing method of such a hybrid system is developed based on the resistance, acceleration performance, cruising cycle, and the speeds of a water taxi under the conditions of daily operation time and charge neutrality over a 24 h period. A techno-economic analysis (TEA) is performed for the proposed hybrid system and compared with other two power sources, a typical internal combustion engine (ICE), and a battery-only system. A feasibility study based on the weight and the volume of the hybrid system is conducted. The potential reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions is calculated and compared with the GHG emissions from water taxies powered by an ICE and a battery-only, respectively.
Lithium-Ion Battery Packs Formation With Improved Electrochemical Performance for Electric Vehicles: Experimental and Clustering Analysis
Authors: Yun Liu , Sandoval Jayne , Zhang Jian , Gao Liang , Garg Akhil , Wang Chin-Tsan
Published: November 2018

With the increase of production of electrical vehicles (EVs) and battery packs, lithium ion batteries inconsistency problem has drawn much attention. Lithium ion battery imbalance phenomenon exists during three different stages of life cycle. First stage is premanufacturing of battery pack i.e., during the design, the cells of similar performance need to be clustered to improve the performance of pack. Second is during the use of battery pack in EVs, batteries equalization is necessary. In the third stage, clustering of spent lithium ion batteries for reuse is also an important problem because of the great recycling challenge of lithium batteries. In this work, several clustering and equalization methods are compared and summarized for different stages. The methods are divided into the traditional methods and intelligent methods. The work also proposes experimental combined clustering analysis for new lithium-ion battery packs formation with improved electrochemical performance for electric vehicles. Experiments were conducted by dismantling of pack and measurement of capacity, voltage, and internal resistance data. Clustering analysis based on self-organizing map (SOM) neural networks is then applied on the measured data to form clusters of battery packs. The validation results conclude that the battery packs formed from the clustering analysis have higher electrochemical performance than randomly selected ones. In addition, a comprehensive discussion was carried out.
Simulation of Wave Interaction With a Circular Ice Floe
Authors: Huang Luofeng , Thomas Giles
Published: November 2018

Global warming is inducing sea ice retreat, which is opening new shipping routes and extending the accessible area for resource exploration. This encourages an increasing research interest in sea ice behavior. With the sea ice melting, level ice is broken up by waves propagated from the open ocean, resulting in an environment where both floating ice floes and waves exist. Such wave–ice interaction can bring significant influences on the potential human activities. This work presents a series of numerical simulations to predict the behavior of a circular ice floe forced by regular waves, with different wavelength and wave amplitude conditions being investigated. The numerical model was validated against experiments, and it revealed good accuracy in predicting the rigid body motion of an ice floe, including some extreme cases that are difficult to model by previous methods. Two specific behaviors were observed during the numerical simulations, namely overwash and scattering. Both behaviors are discussed in detail to analyze their linear/nonlinear effect on the ice floe motion. The applied model could be used to provide valuable estimations for arctic engineering purposes.
Influence of Wave-Induced Uplift Forces on Upheaval Buckling of Pipelines Buried in Sandy Seabeds
Authors: Suresh Kumar D. , Achani D. , Sunny M. R. , Sahoo T.
Published: November 2018

This study focuses on the buckling of pipelines in shallow waters subjected to surface gravity waves. The wave-induced uplift forces on pipelines buried in sandy seabeds are investigated using Biot's consolidation model. Empathetic imperfection model proposed by Taylor and Tran (1994, “Experimental and Theoretical Studies in Subsea Pipeline Buckling," Mar. Struct., 9(2), pp. 211–257.) is used for the study. Thereafter, buckling analyses are performed on the pipeline with the combined temperature and the wave-induced loads. The differences in the critical buckling temperatures for the pipe with consideration of wave loads are analyzed within a range of sea states. The influence of wave loads is found significant for low burial depth ratios.
Numerical Running-In Method for Modifying Cylindrical Roller Profile Under Mixed Lubrication of Finite Line Contacts
Authors: Zhang Yazhao , Cao Hui , Kovalev Alexander , Meng Yonggang
Published: November 2018

A numerical method for modifying cylindrical roller profile was proposed to smooth axial pressure distributions of finite line contacts under the mixed lubrication regime. The mixed lubrication model, in which the Reynolds equation modified by Patir and Cheng has been solved with implementing the rough surface contact model of Kogut and Etsion for the stochastic solution of hydrodynamic pressure and asperity-contact pressure, was established and it is validated by the comparison between simulation results and experiments. Some common roller profiles were carried into the mixed lubrication model and obvious increment of pressure appears near the roller ends or at the central contact area. A numerical running-in method was developed to smooth pressure shapes and the crown drop of roller profile was modified gradually implementing Archard's wear law, where a higher asperity-contact pressure leads to a larger crown drop on a roller profile. The results of the numerical running-in method indicated that pressure distributions of finite line contacts are uniform if the optimized roller profile is employed.
The importance of pancreatic inflammation in endosonographic diagnostics of solid pancreatic masses
Authors: Vitali Francesco , Strobel Deike , Frulloni Luca , Heinrich Marc , Pfeifer Lukas , Goertz Ruediger Stephan , Hundorfean Gheorghe , Wachter David L. , Gruetzmann Robert , Bernatik Thomas , Neurath Markus F. , Wildner Dane
Published: November 2018

Aims: Endosonography (EUS) is one of the main diagnostic tools for the differential diagnosis of pancreatic masses. The aim of our study was to describe the value of this technique in the work-up of solid pancreatic lesions, considering the influence of the morphological evidence of pancreatic inflammation in the diagnostic process.Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data in our tertiary University center. From March 2007 to October 2015, 218 patients underwent EUS for a suspected solid pancreatic neoplasm (based on previous cross-sectional imaging results, idiopatic acute pancreatitis, weight loss, pancreatic hyperenzymemia, painless jaundice or elevated Ca 19-9 values).Results: Malignant lesions were diagnosed in 98 (45%) patients. Sensitivity of EUS for malignancy was 91% and specificity 89.2%. Signs of pancreatic inflammation in the surrounding pancreatic parenchyma around the focal lesion were present in 97 patients (44.4%)(more often in men, smokers and drinkers, and the most common etiology was focal chronic pancreatitis) and in these patients the sensitivity and sensibility dropped to 44% and 87.1%, respectively. In patients without signs of pancreatic inflammation, the pancreatic focal lesions were adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumor, ventral/dorsal split, non-pancreatic pathology, pancreatic lipomatosis and autoimmune pancreatitis.Conclusion: Pancreatic inflammation (either focal or involving the whole gland) lowers the diagnostic sensibility of EUS in the work- up of pancreatic masses suspected for cancer, requiring further invasive diagnostic methods. Focal autoimmune pancreatitis and paraduodenal pancreatitis are still confused with pancreatic cancer, even in the absence of pancreatic inflammation.