bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A systematic review on biomechanical characteristics of walking in children and adolescents with overweight/obesity: Possible implications for the development of musculoskeletal disorders
Authors: Molina‐Garcia Pablo , Migueles Jairo H. , Cadenas‐Sanchez Cristina , Esteban‐Cornejo Irene , Mora‐Gonzalez Jose , Rodriguez‐Ayllon Maria , Plaza‐Florido Abel , Vanrenterghem Jos , Ortega Francisco B.
Published: April 2019

It is known that obesity is associated with biomechanical alterations during locomotor tasks, which is considered a potential risk factor for the development of musculoskeletal disorders (MSKD). However, the association of obesity with biomechanical alterations of walking in the early stages of life have not yet been systematically reviewed. Thus, this review aims to summarize the biomechanical characteristics of walking in children and adolescents with overweight/obesity (OW/OB) versus their normal‐weight (NW) counterparts. PubMed and Web of Science were systematically searched until November 2018. We found strong and moderate evidence supporting biomechanical differences in the gait pattern of OW/OB with respect to NW. Based on strong evidence, the gait patterns of OW/OB present greater pelvis transversal plane motion, higher hip internal rotation, higher hip flexion, extension and abduction moments and power generation/absorption, greater knee abduction/adduction motion, and higher knee abduction/adduction moments and power generation/absorption. Based on moderate evidence, OW/OB walk with greater step width, longer stance phase, higher tibiofemoral contact forces, higher ankle plantarflexion moments and power generation, and greater gastrocnemius and soleus activation/forces. These biomechanical alterations during walking in OW/OB could play a major role in the onset and progression of MSKD.
Association of long non‐coding RNA MEG3 polymorphisms with oral squamous cell carcinoma risk
Authors: Hou Yunwen , Zhang Bo , Miao Limin , Ji Yefeng , Yu Yang , Zhu Longbiao , Ma Hongxia , Yuan Hua
Published: April 2019

Objective

Long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) MEG3 was associated with multiple types of cancers such as oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) might affect cancer risk by modifying the function of lncRNAs. But fewer study researched the relationship between SNPs and MEG3 in cancers. Considering these reasons, we supposed SNPs in MEG3 may influence the risk of OSCC.

Material and Methods

The selected SNPs in MEG3 were genotyped in 1,428 subjects (444 patients with OSCC and 984 cancer‐free controls). The relationship between SNPs in MEG3 and OSCC risk was calculated by logistic regression analysis. The function of the SNPs was explored by luciferase activity assay.

Results

A statistically significant increased risk was observed between rs11160608 and OSCC (Dominant model: adjusted OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.06–1.76, p = 0.017). Moreover, the effect of rs11160608 CC genotype with OSCC risk was much strong in drinkers than non‐drinkers (adjusted OR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.17–2.73, p = 0.007). Furthermore, the luciferase activity of rs11160608 A allele was lower than rs11160608 C allele by luciferase reporter assay.

Conclusion

Our study confirmed that the SNP rs11160608 in MEG3 might play an important role in OSCC by interring the binding of miRNA.
The Politics ofTerànga: Gender, Hospitality, and Power in Senegal
Authors: Riley Emily Jenan
Published: April 2019

This article examines the complex and contested praxis of “doing politics,” both publicly and privately, among female politicians in Senegal. It explores women's political practices comprising myriad gendered performances of femininity, generosity, and hospitality—elements of what I deem theterànga(hospitality) ethos. This article contributes to the existing literature focusing on hospitality and exchange in conversation with theories of gender and political action from an African perspective. Through a contrastive lens, I explore how women in politics not only engage in the practice of terànga as an obligation and performance of gendered norms for doing politics but also as a means of subverting existing limitations for political and personal opportunity.
Developmental trends of performance monitoring measures in 7‐ to 25‐year‐olds: Unraveling the complex nature of brain measures
Authors: Gavin William J. , Lin Mei‐Heng , Davies Patricia L.
Published: April 2019

This study explores how trial‐to‐trial latency variability contributes to the developmental trends observed in ERN amplitude found in the incorrect trials of a performance monitoring task, the visual flanker task. An Adaptive Woody filter was used to measure and correct for the trial‐to‐trial latency variability of the ERN in 240 participants aged 7–25 years. Using three measures of latency variability, the degree of trial‐to‐trial latency variability was shown to decrease as the age of the participants increased from 7 to 25 years. The success of the Adaptive Woody filter technique to remove the trial‐to‐trial latency variability was demonstrated in a straightforward manner by the significant changes in the measures of fit and intraindividual variability obtained before and after applying the filter. After the latency variability effects were removed and adjusted averaged ERPs were obtained, a more subtle but significant nonlinear developmental trend was still found in the amplitude of the ERN component.
Regulating the delivery of cash‐for‐care payments across Europe
Authors: Gori Cristiano , Luppi Matteo
Published: April 2019

The article aims to understand how governments across Europe have modified the regulation of the delivery of cash‐for‐care schemes (CfCs) to dependent older people since the beginning of the century. In our terminology, the regulation of the CfCs delivery defines the norms, rules, and practices that public actors adopt to manage how beneficiaries can use the benefits. To discuss the regulation of CfCs delivery, we employ an original framework that take three analytical dimensions into account: the degrees of freedom in benefits' utilization (“CfCs utilization” dimension), the provision of information/orientation/advices/counselling to older people and families (“professional support” dimension), and the relationship between the delivery of CfCs and the delivery of the other publicly funded long‐term care inputs (“care system” dimension). The analysis adopts a comparative perspective, looking at six countries—Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, France, Germany, and England. Among various findings, the main one consists in showing that there has been a shared and increased interest in consolidating the regulation of CfCs delivery. This trend has been mostly directed towards the new policy aim of strengthening the professional support, a goal underestimated in the past, when this dimension was not a major topic of both debate and practice concerning CfCs across Europe.
Skill and Earnings in the Healthcare Sector: Evidence From Rustbelt and Sunbelt Cities
Authors: Yin Wei , Poon Jessie P. H.
Published: April 2019

The Rustbelt‐Sunbelt regional divide has captured economic geographers’ imagination since the 1980s. Sunbelt cities have been held up as a model of openness, highly attractive to the mobile and skilled. Yet Rustbelt cities are not unattractive to skilled workers though it is unclear which skills may be driving urban vitality through higher earnings. This paper examines the effect of cognitive, social and communication skills on individual earnings in cities of the Rustbelt and Sunbelt. Focusing on healthcare occupations, it finds that cognitive skill positively influences earnings. Conversely, social and communication skills are not likely to result in income payoffs. Returns to earnings in the Rustbelt and Sunbelt are comparable, and may explain why cities in the former region can remain attractive to healthcare professionals with cognitive skill.
Vibration Characteristics of a Hydroelectric Generating System During the Load Rejection Process
Authors: Guo Bingqian , Xu Beibei , Chen Diyi , Ye Wei , Li Huanhuan
Published: April 2019

Forces and moments increase rapidly in complex interactions while maintaining stability of the shaft for the hydroelectric generating system in the load rejection process. These interactions caused by factors such as the unbalanced hydraulic fault give rise to vibration patterns, which are of interest for fault identification and diagnosis. In this work, the vibration characteristics of the generating system are investigated in the load rejection process. The first is a novel-established model based on the interaction effect of the mechanical–electrical forces and the pressure pulsation solved by method of characteristics in the penstock. In the second analysis, the shaft displacement is compared with experimental data in order to verify the correctness of the established model. Transient radial displacements are conducted in different load rejection conditions and then mechanical and electrical factors are analyzed to investigate the shaft vibration characteristics. The results of this study suggest that the excretion coefficient of the runner inlet, the initial position angle of the turbine blade, the up guide bearing, and the mass of the generator rotor have the ability in decreasing the shaft vibration, while decreasing the mass eccentricity reduces the shaft vibration and ensure the structural reliability of the generating system.
Ultrasonic Interface Wave for Interlaminar Crack Detection in Steel–Titanium Composite Pipe
Authors: Tian Fei , Li Bing , Zhou Weimeng
Published: April 2019

The bimetal composite pipe has found wide ranging applications in engineering owing to its excellent mechanical and physical performances. However, the interlaminar cracks which are usually invisible and inaccessible may occur in the bimetal composite pipe and are difficult to detect. The ultrasonic interface wave, which propagates along the interface with high displacement amplitudes and low dispersion at high frequencies, provides a promising nondestructive testing (NDT) method for detecting cracks in the bimetal composite pipe. In this study, the interlaminar crack detection method in the steel–titanium composite pipe is investigated analytically and experimentally by using interface wave. The interface wave mode in steel–titanium composite pipe is first identified and presented by theoretical analyses of dispersion curves and wave structures. The selection of suitable excitation frequency range for NDT is discussed as well. Then an experiment is conducted to measure the interface wave velocities, which are in good agreement with the corresponding numerical results. In addition, interlaminar cracks with different locations in steel–titanium composite pipe are effectively detected and located, both in the axial and circumferential directions. Finally, the relationship between the reflection coefficient and the crack depth is experimentally studied to predict the reflection behavior of interface wave with crack. The numerical and experimental results show the interface wave is sensitive to interfacial crack and has great potentials for nondestructive evaluation in the bimetal composite pipe.
Calculating Positive Invariant Sets: A Quantifier Elimination Approach
Authors: Röbenack Klaus , Voßwinkel Rick , Richter Hendrik
Published: April 2019

A Lyapunov-based approach for calculating positive invariant sets in an automatic manner is presented. This is done using real algebraic geometry techniques, which are summed up under the term quantifier elimination (QE). Using available tools, the approach presented yields an algorithmizable procedure whose conservatism only depends on the initial choice for the Lyapunov candidate function. The performance of the approach is illustrated on a variant of the Rössler system and on the Lorenz-Haken system.
Calibration Tools for Scanning Thermal Microscopy Probes Used in Temperature Measurement Mode
Authors: Nguyen T. P. , Thiery L. , Euphrasie S. , Lemaire E. , Khan S. , Briand D. , Aigouy L. , Gomes S. , Vairac P.
Published: April 2019

We demonstrate the functionality of a new active thermal microchip dedicated to the temperature calibration of scanning thermal microscopy (SThM) probes. The silicon micromachined device consists in a suspended thin dielectric membrane in which a heating resistor with a circular area of 50 μm in diameter was embedded. A circular calibration target of 10 μm in diameter was patterned at the center and on top of the membrane on which the SThM probe can land. This target is a resistive temperature detector (RTD) that measures the surface temperature of the sample at the level of the contact area. This allows evaluating the ability of any SThM probe to measure a surface temperature in ambient air conditions. Furthermore, by looking at the thermal balance of the device, the heat dissipated through the probe and the different thermal resistances involved at the contact can be estimated. A comparison of the results obtained for two different SThM probes, microthermocouples and probes with a fluorescent particle is presented to validate the functionality of the micromachined device. Based on experiments and simulations, an analysis of the behavior of probes allows pointing out their performances and limits depending on the sample characteristics whose role is always preponderant. Finally, we also show that a smaller area of the temperature sensor would be required to assess the local disturbance at the contact point.
Slug Formation Analysis of Liquid–Liquid Two-Phase Flow in T-Junction Microchannels
Authors: Qian Jin-yuan , Li Xiao-juan , Wu Zan , Jin Zhi-jiang , Zhang Junhui , Sunden Bengt
Published: April 2019

Slug flow is a common flow pattern in the liquid–liquid two-phase flow in microchannels. It is an ideal pattern for mass transfer enhancement. Many factors influence the slug formation such as the channel geometries (channel widths, channel depth), flow rates of the two phase, and physical properties. In this paper, in order to investigate the liquid–liquid two-phase slug formation in a T-junction microchannel quantitatively, the volume of fluid (VOF) method is adopted to simulate the whole slug formation process. With the validated model, the effects of the disperse phase channel width, channel depth, and two-phase flow rate ratio on slug formation frequency and slug size (slug volume and slug length) are analyzed with dimensionless parameters. Dimensionless parameters include the disperse-to-continuous phase channel width ratio, height-to-width ratio, and two-phase flow rate ratio. Results show that both the channel geometry and two-phase flow rate ratio have a significant influence on slug formation. Compared with the conventional slug formation stages, a new stage called the lag stage emerges when the disperse phase channel width decreases to half of the continuous phase channel width. When the channel depth decreases to one third of the continuous phase channel width, the flow patterns become unstable and vary with the two-phase flow rate ratio. Moreover, empirical correlations are proposed to predict the slug formation frequency. The correlation between slug formation frequency and slug volume is quantified.
Viability of Airborne Wind Energy in the United Kingdom
Authors: Ye Zhihui , Chaer Issa , Lawner Harry , Ross Marcus
Published: April 2019

To meet the worldwide requirements of carbon emission reduction, the European Council has set the UK a 15% energy target to come from renewable energy by 2020. The biggest renewable energy sources in the UK are bioenergy, wind, solar, and hydro. The UK is located in prime geography, considered to be the best in Europe, for harvesting, and over the last three decades, the number of wind farms has increased greatly. However, the interaction of wind speed and structural strength has limited the height of platform-based wind turbines to a maximum height of around 100 m. Airborne wind energy (AWE) systems enable the extraction of more energy from the wind at elevated altitudes beyond 150 m using a device termed a kite. A method is required to determine suitable locations for AWE system implementation. In this work, a regional feasibility study has been conducted to establish an ideal suitable location to implement AWE systems. Extensive research has been carried out to assess the electricity costs, energy savings, area availability, as well as regional airborne wind energy power densities at different regions within the UK. A standardized method has been developed to assess the viability of AWE in various geographical locations. It was found that Scotland was the most suitable location for the implementation of AWE systems due to the high wind power density in this region and existing high costs of electricity, thus greater potentials for energy cost savings.
Analysis of Passenger Car Turbocharged Diesel Engines Performance When Tested at Altitude and of the Altitude Simulator Device Used
Authors: Broatch Alberto , Bermúdez Vicente , Serrano José Ramón , Tabet Roberto , Gómez Javier , Bender Stefan
Published: April 2019

According to current worldwide trends for homologation vehicles in real driving conditions is forced to test the engines in altitude and in highly dynamic driving cycles in order to approach nowadays and next future emissions standard. Up to now, there were two main options to perform this type of tests: round-robin tests of the whole vehicle or hypobaric chambers, both with high costs and low repeatability. In this paper a new device is described, which can emulate ambient conditions at whatever altitude between sea level and 5000 m high. Even it can be used to emulate ambient conditions at sea level when test bench is placed up to 2000 m high. The main advantages of the altitude simulation equipment are as follows: dynamic emulation of all the psychrometric variables affecting the vehicles during round-robin tests; lower space usage and low-energy consumption. The altitude simulator (AS) has been validated comparing with results from a hypobaric chamber at different altitudes. Previously a research about the dispersion in the measurements of both testing devices has been done for assessing the results of the comparison experiment. Final conclusion resulted in the same operating performance and emissions of the studied engine with both types of testing equipment for altitude simulation.
A Local Sensitivity-Based Multiscale Stochastic Stress Analysis of a Unidirectional Fiber-Reinforced Composite Material Considering Random Location Variation of Multifibers
Authors: Sakata Sei-ichiro , Sakamoto Takuro
Published: April 2019

This paper describes an efficient computational method for estimating the probabilistic properties of the maximum microscopic stresses in a unidirectional fiber-reinforced composite material against microscopic random variations of fibers locations. Some microscopic geometrical random variations will cause a large variation of the microscopic stresses, even if the influence on the homogenized elastic properties is small. The random variation of the microscopic stresses will have a significant influence on the apparent strength of composites, and therefore, estimation of the random variation will be important for reliability-based design of a composite structure. Further, for more precise analysis, a unit cell containing many inclusions should be employed. When the number of random variables becomes large, a multipoint approximation-based approach will not be appropriate. Therefore, a computational approach with a local surrogate constructed by a successive sensitivity analysis is proposed in this paper. The realizations of the microscopic stresses are estimated with the successive sensitivity-based local surrogate, and the probabilistic properties of the stresses are estimated with using the approximated realizations in the Monte Carlo simulation. As an example, the multiscale stochastic stress analysis of a unidirectional fiber-reinforced composite plate under unidirectional tensile load along the transverse direction is performed with considering randomness in fibers locations. For this problem, probabilistic properties as the expectation and coefficient of variation of the maximum microscopic stresses in resin are estimated. From comparisons between the direct Monte Carlo simulation and the proposed method, validity and effectiveness of the proposed approach are discussed.
Direct measurement of electrostatic fields within the Zernike electrostatic phase plate using single 155 nm Teflon nanoparticle attached to the pillar-shaped atomic force microscope tip
Authors: Chang Joe-Ming , Wu Wei-Jung , Chang Wei-Yu , Chen Fu-Rong , Tseng Fan-Gang
Published: April 2019

This paper reports the modification of a silicon nitride atomic force microscope tip using a focused ion beam to produce a pillar-shaped tip for the attachment of a single 155-nm Teflon nanoparticle. The Teflon nanoparticle is charged via contact electrification to produce a point charge for the measurement of the electrostatic field within the Zernike electrostatic phase plate. The resulting device was then used to measure the distribution of the electrostatic field at the nanoscale, the results of which were compared with those obtained through ansoft maxwell simulation.
Crowdsourcing triggers rapid, reliable earthquake locations
Authors: Steed Robert J. , Fuenzalida Amaya , Bossu Rémy , Bondár István , Heinloo Andres , Dupont Aurelien , Saul Joachim , Strollo Angelo
Published: April 2019

Detection of earthquakes by seismic networks has been accelerated on a global scale using crowdsourced data.
Cotrimoxazole reduces systemic inflammation in HIV infection by altering the gut microbiome and immune activation
Authors: Bourke Claire D. , Gough Ethan K. , Pimundu Godfrey , Shonhai Annie , Berejena Chipo , Terry Louise , Baumard Lucas , Choudhry Naheed , Karmali Yusuf , Bwakura-Dangarembizi Mutsa , Musiime Victor , Lutaakome Joseph , Kekitiinwa Adeodata , Mutasa Kuda , Szubert Alexander J. , Spyer Moira J. , Deayton Jane R. , Glass Magdalena , Geum Hyun Min , Pardieu Claire , Gibb Diana M. , Klein Nigel , Edens Thaddeus J. , Walker A. Sarah , Manges Amee R. , Prendergast Andrew J.
Published: April 2019

Cotrimoxazole reduces systemic and intestinal inflammation in HIV infection by suppressing gut-resident Streptococci and immune cell activation.
The Injectisome, a Complex Nanomachine for Protein Injection into Mammalian Cells
Authors: Lara-Tejero Maria , Galán Jorge E.
Published: April 2019

Type III protein secretion systems (T3SSs), or injectisomes, are multiprotein nanomachines present in many Gram-negative bacteria that have a sustained long-standing close relationship with a eukaryotic host. These secretion systems have evolved to modulate host cellular functions through the activity of the effector proteins they deliver. To reach their destination, T3SS effectors must cross the multibarrier bacterial envelope and the eukaryotic cell membrane. Passage through the bacterial envelope is mediated by the needle complex, a central component of T3SSs that expands both the inner and outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria. A set of T3SS secreted proteins, known as translocators, form a channel in the eukaryotic plasma membrane through which the effector proteins are delivered to reach the host cell cytosol. While the effector proteins are tailored to the specific lifestyle of the bacterium that encodes them, the injectisome is conserved among the different T3SSs. The central role of T3SSs in pathogenesis and their high degree of conservation make them a desirable target for the development of antimicrobial therapies against several important bacterial pathogens.
Factors That Influence Confirmation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Positivity by Molecular Methods
Authors: Cuschieri Kate , Shepherd Jill , Graham Catriona , Guerendiain Daniel , Templeton Kate E.
Published: April 2019

Several
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) with high sensitivity exist. However, the specificity of
N. gonorrhoeae
NAATs may be suboptimal, particularly for extragenital biospecimens.
Draft Genome Sequences of 38 Serratia marcescens Isolates Associated with Acroporid Serratiosis
Authors: Elledge Nicole C. , Eytan Ron I. , Pinnell Lee J. , Pray Reavelyn , Joyner Jessica L. , Wares John P. , Sutherland Kathryn P. , Lipp Erin K. , Turner Jeffrey W.
Published: April 2019

Serratia marcescens
is a Gram-negative bacterium causally linked to acroporid serratiosis, a form of white pox disease implicated in the decline of elkhorn corals. We report draft genomes of 38
S. marcescens
isolates collected from host and nonhost sources.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Mycolicibacterium
sp. Strain NCC-Tsukiji, Isolated from Blood Culture of a Patient with Malignant Lymphoma
Authors: Fukano Hanako , Yoshida Mitsunori , Shouji Michi , Hatta Shunsuke , Maruyama Dai , Izutsu Koji , Shiotsuka Mika , Ogura Yoshitoshi , Hayashi Tetsuya , Hasegawa Naoki , Iwata Satoshi , Hoshino Yoshihiko
Published: April 2019

A nonidentifiable mycolicibacterium was isolated from a malignant lymphoma patient treated with intensive chemoimmunotherapy. Multilocus sequence analysis showed that this isolate was close to “
Mycolicibacterium
(
Mycobacterium
)
ratisbonense
,” but the details of this species were still unknown.
Draft Genome Sequences of Three Human Pathogenic Acinetobacter baumannii Strains
Authors: Madhi Masoumeh , Ronco Troels , Hasani Alka , Olsen Rikke H.
Published: April 2019

Acinetobacter baumannii
is an opportunistic human pathogen with the ability to develop multiple resistances against the main antibiotic classes. It causes nosocomial infections, especially in intensive care units.
Об одной разностной схеме на треугольных сетках для уравнений газовой динамики
Authors: Ложников Михаил Андреевич , Lozhnikov Mikhail Andreevich
Published: April 2019

Для уравнений динамики идеального баротропного газа предложена разностная схема на треугольных сетках, обеспечивающая выполнение сеточного аналога закона сохранения массы и гарантирующая положительность сеточной функции плотности. Для решения разностной задачи доказано выполнение энергетического неравенства. Доказано существование разностного решения.
Unusual cause of progressively impaired cognitive function:Mycobacterium aviumcomplex meningoencephalitis
Authors: Okazaki Yuji , Higashi Yusuke
Published: April 2019

Mycobacterium aviumcomplex (MAC) is a rare cause of meningoencephalitis. Non-tuberculous mycobacterium meningoencephalitis including MAC meningoencephalitis is an important cause of rapidly progressive dementia. We present a case of MAC meningoencephalitis in an immunosuppressed woman who had progressively impaired cognitive function. An 83-year-old woman who had been taking glucocorticoid for myasthenia gravis developed cognitive dysfunction and visual hallucinations over a period of 2 weeks. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings were normal, but MAC was positive in CSF culture andM. aviumandM. intracellularewere identified by PCR. She was treated with multiple antimycobacterial agents and her symptoms fully recovered. MAC meningoencephalitis is an unusual cause of progressively impaired cognitive function. The possibility of mycobacterial central nervous system infection cannot be excluded by normal CSF findings.
Leadership perspective on the implementation of guidelines on healthcare-associated infections
Authors: Hegarty Josephine , Murphy Siobhan , Creedon Sile , Wills Teresa , Savage Eileen , Barry Fiona , Smiddy Maura , Coffey Alice , Burton Aileen , O'Brien Deirdre , Horgan Sinead , Nibhuachalla Cliodhna , Brennan Cathal , Agreli Heloise , Drennan Jonathan
Published: April 2019

Background

Leadership is a key component for infection prevention and control and plays an important role in the implementation of guidelines on healthcare-associated infections. A body of literature exists on healthcare workers’ perspectives on implementing these types of guidelines; however, there is a paucity of data on the leadership perspectives on implementation. This study aims to contribute to the evidence base of leadership perspectives.

Objective

To explore the implementation of National Clinical Guidelines pertaining to methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureusandClostridium difficilefrom the leadership angle.

Setting

Healthcare organisations.

Participants

Clinical and non-clinical leaders.

Design

This research used a mixed-methods approach comprising qualitative individual interviews (n=16) and quantitative surveys (n=51) underpinned by the integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services framework.

Results

Leaders recognise the value and innovation of guidelines to support clinical practice. However, they describe barriers to implementation that prevent the full uptake of guidelines, for example, guidelines may present an ideological approach to care which differs from the contextual reality of clinical practice where resources and time are not always available.

Conclusion

This research highlighted that guidelines are complex interventions in complex organisations, perhaps leadership could help overcome the challenges posed by this complexity. Leadership may allow a systematic approach to all aspects of implementation despite the variety of challenges faced at different stages of implementation and sustainability of uptake of guidelines over time.
PVDF-based composites filled with PZT@Ag core-shell structured particles for enhanced dielectric properties
Authors: Jing Lu , Li Weili , Feng Yu , Zhang Yulei , He Jun , Fei Weidong
Published: April 2019

Polymer-based composites with high dielectric constant and suppressed dielectric loss were successfully fabricated by using PZT@Ag core-shell structured particles as fillers and PVDF as polymer matrix. The PZT@Ag core-shell structured particles were synthesized via conventional solid-state method. The results indicate that the fillers dispersed in the polymer matrix prominently enhance the dielectric constant while keeping the dielectric loss unchanged simultaneously. Composites with high dielectric constant result from the high dielectric constant of PZT itself, the superior interfacial polarization of PZT@Ag core-shell structure and the conductivity of Ag according to percolation theory, while the dielectric loss is suppressed due to the tunneling current decreasing among Ag particles and Coulomb blockade effect.
2D Carbon Material/Silicon Heterojunctions for Fast Response Self-Powered Photodetector
Authors: Scagliotti M. , Salvato M. , De Crescenzi M. , Castrucci P. , Kovalchuk N. G. , Komissarov I. V. , Prischepa S. L. , Catone D. , Di Mario L. , Boscardin M. , Crivellari M.
Published: April 2019

Photodetectors (PDs) based on single-walled carbon nanotube film/silicon and graphene/silicon heterojunctions have been realized for fast applications. We investigated the response of the PDs to femtosecond pulsed laser using a three-electrode configuration for photoconductive operations. Both junction PDs exhibit rise times of some nanoseconds, detecting light from ultraviolet (275[Formula: see text]nm) to infrared (1150[Formula: see text]nm). Applying a gate voltage [Formula: see text], the rise time decreases down to about 1[Formula: see text]ns, making our devices comparable to most commercial PDs.
Practical Astronomy Education at the National University of Singapore (NUS)
Authors: Yang A. , Ng S. C. Cindy , Leong Q. , Tan M. H. , Agarwal P. , Ong Z. , Ang H. W. , Chan A. H.
Published: April 2019

Singapore is not known for astronomy research. However, the interest in astronomy has grown since the 1990s, when more educational institutions and observatories were built to equip students with the skills and knowledge in astronomy. The National University of Singapore (NUS) currently has a strong and rigorous astronomy and astrophysics programme that leads to an astrophysics specialization within the physics B.Sc. degree as well as four general education modules in astronomy and astrophysics. As experimental data is the final arbiter of any scientific theory, we emphasize the practical aspects of astronomy in this programme. We also have a state-of-the-art observatory equipped with a robotic telescope and a planetarium for tutorials. This paper outlines the philosophy, pedagogy and approach of how our NUS team has achieved a very successful undergraduate astronomy and astrophysics for aspiring Singaporean youth.
DM2-ECOP
Authors: Mazouzi Houssemeddine , Achir Nadjib , Boussetta Khaled
Published: April 2019

Mobile Edge Computing is a promising paradigm that can provide cloud computing capabilities at the edge of the network to support low latency mobile services. The fundamental concept relies on bringing cloud computation closer to users by deploying cloudlets or edge servers, which are small clusters of servers that are mainly located on existing wireless Access Points (APs), set-top boxes, or Base Stations (BSs). In this article, we focus on computation offloading over a heterogeneous cloudlet environment. We consider several users with different energy—and latency-constrained tasks that can be offloaded over cloudlets with differentiated system and network resources capacities. We investigate offloading policies that decide which tasks should be offloaded and select the assigned cloudlet, accordingly with network and system resources. The objective is to minimize an offloading cost function, which we defined as a combination of tasks’ execution time and mobiles’ energy consumption. We formulate this problem as a Mixed-Binary Programming. Since the centralized optimal solution is NP-hard, we propose a distributed linear relaxation-based heuristic approach that relies on the Lagrangian decomposition method. To solve the subproblems, we also propose a greedy heuristic algorithm that computes the best cloudlet selection and bandwidth allocation following tasks’ offloading costs. Numerical results show that our offloading policy achieves a good solution quickly. We also discuss the performances of our approach for large-scale scenarios and compare it to state-of-the-art approaches from the literature.
Stimulation of spinal δ-opioid receptors attenuates the exercise pressor reflex in decerebrate rats
Authors: Kim Joyce S. , Kaufman Marc P.
Published: April 2019

A reflex arising from contracting hindlimb muscle is responsible in part for the increases in arterial pressure and heart rate evoked by exercise. The afferent arm of this reflex comprises group III and IV afferents. δ-Opioid receptors are expressed predominately on the spinal endings of group III afferents, whereas μ-opioid receptors are expressed predominately on the spinal endings of group IV afferents. Using stimuli that activated group III afferents, namely static contraction, calcaneal tendon stretch, and lactic acid injection into the superficial epigastric artery, we tested the hypothesis that, in rats with either patent or ligated femoral arteries, activation of pre- and postsynaptic δ-opioid receptors in the dorsal horn attenuated pressor reflex responses to these stimuli. In rats with patent arteries or ligated femoral arteries, [d-Pen2,5]enkephalin (DPDPE), a δ-opioid agonist injected intrathecally (10 μg in 10 μl), significantly attenuated the pressor responses to contraction, stretch, and lactic acid (all P < 0.05). Naltrindole, a δ-opioid receptor antagonist, prevented the attenuation. In contrast, DPDPE did not attenuate the pressor response to capsaicin injection into the superficial epigastric artery in either group of rats (both P > 0.05). Intrathecal injection of saline (10 μl), the vehicle for DPDPE, had no effect on the pressor responses in either group of rats. We conclude that activation of spinal δ-opioid receptors attenuates reflexes evoked by group III afferents in both freely perfused and ligated rats.
Targeting STAT3 signaling in kidney disease
Authors: Pace Jesse , Paladugu Praharshasai , Das Bhaskar , He John C. , Mallipattu Sandeep K.
Published: April 2019

The Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway is a multifaceted transduction system that regulates cellular responses to incoming signaling ligands. STAT3 is a central member of the JAK/STAT signaling cascade and has long been recognized for its increased transcriptional activity in cancers and autoimmune disorders but has only recently been in the spotlight for its role in the progression of kidney disease. Although genetic knockout and manipulation studies have demonstrated the salutary benefits of inhibiting STAT3 activity in several kidney disease models, pharmacological inhibition has yet to make it to the clinical forefront. In recent years, significant effort has been aimed at suppressing STAT3 activation for treatment of cancers, which has led to the development of a wide variety of STAT3 inhibitors, but only a handful have been tested in kidney disease models. Here, we review the detrimental role of dysregulated STAT3 activation in a variety of kidney diseases and the current progress in the treatment of kidney diseases with pharmacological inhibition of STAT3 activity.
Visual imagery and visual perception induce similar changes in occipital slow waves of sleep
Authors: Bernardi Giulio , Betta Monica , Cataldi Jacinthe , Leo Andrea , Haba-Rubio José , Heinzer Raphaël , Cirelli Chiara , Tononi Giulio , Pietrini Pietro , Ricciardi Emiliano , Siclari Francesca
Published: April 2019

Previous studies have shown that regional slow-wave activity (SWA) during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep is modulated by prior experience and learning. Although this effect has been convincingly demonstrated for the sensorimotor domain, attempts to extend these findings to the visual system have provided mixed results. In this study we asked whether depriving subjects of external visual stimuli during daytime would lead to regional changes in slow waves during sleep and whether the degree of “internal visual stimulation” (spontaneous imagery) would influence such changes. In two 8-h sessions spaced 1 wk apart, 12 healthy volunteers either were blindfolded while listening to audiobooks or watched movies (control condition), after which their sleep was recorded with high-density EEG. We found that during NREM sleep, the number of small, local slow waves in the occipital cortex decreased after listening with blindfolding relative to movie watching in a way that depended on the degree of visual imagery subjects reported during blindfolding: subjects with low visual imagery showed a significant reduction of occipital sleep slow waves, whereas those who reported a high degree of visual imagery did not. We also found a positive relationship between the reliance on visual imagery during blindfolding and audiobook listening and the degree of correlation in sleep SWA between visual areas and language-related areas. These preliminary results demonstrate that short-term alterations in visual experience may trigger slow-wave changes in cortical visual areas. Furthermore, they suggest that plasticity-related EEG changes during sleep may reflect externally induced (“bottom up”) visual experiences, as well as internally generated (“top down”) processes.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Previous work has shown that slow-wave activity, a marker of sleep depth, is linked to neural plasticity in the sensorimotor cortex. We show that after short-term visual deprivation, subjects who reported little visual imagery had a reduced incidence of occipital slow waves. This effect was absent in subjects who reported strong spontaneous visual imagery. These findings suggest that visual imagery may “substitute” for visual perception and induce similar changes in non-rapid eye movement slow waves.
Rapid adaptation to Coriolis force perturbations of voluntary body sway
Authors: Bakshi Avijit , DiZio Paul , Lackner James R.
Published: April 2019

Studying adaptation to Coriolis perturbations of arm movements has advanced our understanding of motor control and learning. We have now applied this paradigm to two-dimensional postural sway. We measured how subjects ( n = 8) standing at the center of a fully enclosed rotating room who made voluntary anterior-posterior swaying movements adapted to the Coriolis perturbations generated by their sway. Subjects underwent four voluntary sway trials prerotation, 20 per-rotation at 10 rpm counterclockwise, and 10 postrotation. Each trial lasted 20 s, and subjects were permitted normal vision. Their voluntary sway during rotation generated Coriolis forces that initially induced rightward deviations of their forward sway paths and leftward deviations of their backward sway. Sagittal plane sway was gradually restored over per-rotation trials, and a mirror image aftereffect occurred in postrotation trials. Dual force plate data analysis showed that subjects learned to counter the Coriolis accelerations during rotation by executing a bimodal torque pattern that was asymmetric across legs and contingent on forward vs. backward movement. The experience-dependent acquisition and washout of this compensation indicate that an internal, feedforward model underlies the leg-asymmetric bimodal torque compensation, contingent on forward vs. backward movement. The learned torque asymmetry we observed for forward vs. backward sway is not consistent with parallel two-leg models of postural control.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This paper describes adaptation to Coriolis force perturbations of voluntary sway in a rotating environment. During counterclockwise rotation, sway paths are deviated clockwise, but full restoration of fore-aft sway is regained in minutes. Negative aftereffects are briefly present postrotation. Current parallel leg models of postural control cannot account for these findings, which show that postural control, like arm movement control, can adapt rapidly and completely to the Coriolis forces generated in artificial gravity environments.
A New Unified Solution for Circular Tunnels Based on Generalized SMP Criterion considering the Strain Softening and Dilatancy
Authors: Guo Qifeng , Pan Jiliang , Wu Xinghui , Xi Xun , Cai Meifeng
Published: April 2019

According to the strain‐softening characteristics of rock mass, an ideal elastic strain‐softening model is developed, and the surrounding rock of tunnels is subdivided into the plastic broken zone, plastic strain‐softening zone, and elastic zone. Based on the generalized spatially mobilized plane criterion, an elastic‐plastic analytical solution of a circular tunnel is derived. The effects of intermediate principal stress, strain softening, and dilatancy are considered in the unified solution. The stress, displacement, and plastic zone radius of surrounding rock based on the SMP criterion are compared with those based on the Mohr–Coulomb criterion. Furthermore, the effects of parameters such as the softening modulus, dilatancy angle, and internal friction angle on the deformation and stress of tunnels are discussed. It has been found that the larger the dilatancy angle is, the larger the plastic zone displacement and the radius of the broken zone are. The larger the internal friction angle, the smaller the sizes of the plastic zone, the strain‐softening zone, and the broken zone are. The deformation of surrounding rock in the broken zone is more sensitive to the internal friction angle than that in the strain‐softening zone. The unified solution based on the SMP criterion provides a well understanding for the elastic‐plastic state of tunnels, which can be the guidance for tunnel excavations and support designs.
Occurrence of Selected Zoonotic Fecal Pathogens and First Molecular Identification ofHafnia paralveiin Wild Taihangshan Macaques (Macaca mulatta tcheliensis) in China
Authors: Zhang Qingxun , Han Shuyi , Liu Kongshang , Luo Jing , Lu Jiqi , He Hongxuan
Published: April 2019

Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) are hosts to a range of zoonotic and potentially zoonotic pathogens. The present study firstly provides a broader investigation of the presence and prevalence of zoonotic fecal pathogens in wild Taihangshan macaques, a subspecies of rhesus macaque in China. A total of 458 fecal samples were collected between September 2015 and November 2016. Fourteen genera of intestinal parasites (four genera of protozoans and ten genera of helminths) and twelve genera of bacteria were tested for using PCR amplification. The overall samples prevalence of parasitic infection was 98.25%.Entamoebaspp. (89.96%),Balantidium coli(70.09%), andIsosporaspp. (28.38%) were the most prevalent protozoa, whereas the predominant prevalent helminths wereTrichurissp. (93.23%),Strongyloidesspp. (73.36%), andOesophagostomumsp. (31.66%). Ten genera of intestinal bacteria were detected in samples of rhesus macaques, includingShigella(31.66%),Escherichia coli(29.91%),Klebsiella pneumoniae(28.38%),Leptospira(26.64%),Campylobacter jejuni(18.34%),Salmonella(13.32%), etc. Eight samples (1.75%) were testedHafnia-positive based on sequences analysis of 16S rRNA and ampC gene. This is the first molecular characterization ofHafniainfection in NHPs. Our cross-sectional prevalence study provides important information for monitoring the potential transmission of zoonotic infections from wild rhesus macaques.
The Effect of Moxibustion Stimulation on Local and Distal Skin Temperature in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Li Ying , Sun Chao , Kuang Jiujie , Ji Changchun , Wu Jiangtao
Published: April 2019

The aim of this study is to investigate the response of local and distal skin temperature to moxibustion stimulation (MS) and explore the effects of MS on sympathetic nerve activity. The distal skin temperatures of fingertips, as an indicator for sympathetic reflex response, were recorded using infrared camera during resting period (10 min), MS period (10 min), and natural cooling period (15 min), respectively. The MS without ash cleaning (AC) was applied to acupoints Quze (PC3) (Group I) and Lao Gong (PC8) (Group II), respectively. In Group III, the MS with the operation of AC was performed on PC8. The temperature responses of the local stimulation points and corresponding control points were also investigated. At the beginning of MS period, a significant increase of temperature on the stimulation point accompanied by a simultaneous reduction of temperature on fingertips was observed. A marked negative correlation was also obtained between temperature changes in the stimulation point and in the fingertips. At the end of natural cooling period (t= 34 min), the temperature of stimulation point was obviously higher than baseline values. In contrast, the temperatures of fingertips increased and then returned to the baseline levels during the second minute of MS period. In Group III, the temperature of stimulation point increased every time with the operation of AC, accompanied by the temperature decrease of middle fingertip. The findings suggest that moxibustion may trigger the sympathetic nervous system and induce the reduction of microcirculation, accompanied by a reduction of fingertip temperature. In addition, the operation of AC caused repeated cycles of thermal stimulation on the stimulation point, which may repetitively activate cutaneous sympathetic nerve fibres and evoke the temperature reduction of fingertips.