bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Root Dimensions in Patients with Mild Hypodontia and a Control Group
Authors: Khalaf Khaled , Seraj Zahra , Hussein Hesham , Mando Mahmoud
Published: December 2019

Objectives The aim of this study was to compare root dimensions (length and mesiodistal widths) between subjects with mild hypodontia and an age- and sex-matched control group.

Materials and Methods Root dimension measurements of all permanent teeth excluding third molars were made on standardly taken orthopantomograms of 50 individuals (25 hypodontia and 25 controls) attending the University of Sharjah Dental Hospital. The length and two mesiodistal widths were measured for each fully formed root. The length of the root was measured digitally by drawing a line from the midpoint and bisecting the mesiodistal cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) of the tooth and extended to its apex. The mesiodistal widths of each root were measured at the cervical region and at half way of and perpendicular to the length of the root.

Statistical Analysis Two sample t-tests were used to compare root dimension measurements between the hypodontia and control groups.

Results There were no significant differences between genders with regard to root length or widths measurements, and therefore genders were combined for further analysis. Patients with hypodontia have significantly shorter root lengths than controls for the upper central incisors, upper canines, first premolars, and lower first molars (p < 0.05). Similarly, root width at the midpoint of the root was found to be less in hypodontia group than that in controls for the upper central incisors, lower first premolars, upper first molars, and all second premolars (p < 0.05). Similar pattern of differences was found with regard to the root width at the cervical region (p < 0.05).

Conclusions Patients with hypodontia have shorter and narrower roots of the whole permanent dentition except the upper lateral incisors, lower incisors, lower canines, and all second molars when compared with controls. In effect, this may affect the orthodontic treatment planning and implant placement.
A Case in Which Focal Convulsion Was the Initial Sign of Fatal Aortic Dissection
Authors: Yanagawa Youichi , Ishikawa Kouhei , Nagasawa Hiroki , Takeuchi Ikuto , Jitsuiki Kei , Madokoro Shunsuke , Kondo Akihiko , Ohsaka Hiromichi , Omori Kazuhiko
Published: December 2019

Focal convulsion as an initial sign of aortic dissection is extremely rare. Type A aortic dissection involves the aortic arch, which may result in seizure either through the extension of the dissection into the common carotid arteries or through thromboembolism or cerebral hypoperfusion. Physicians should perform whole body computed tomography to determine whether or not dissection is present when treating patients with convulsion and a high level of fibrin degradation products.
Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Minimum Antibacterial Values of Different Medicaments Used in Endodontic Regenerative Procedures
Authors: Khoshkhounejad Mehrfam , Sobhi Afshar Mahsa , Jabalameli Fereshteh , Emaneini Mohammad , Sharifian Mohammadreza
Published: December 2019

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of minimum antibacterial values of medicaments used in endodontic regeneration on stem cells.

Materials and Methods “Minimum inhibitory concentration,” “minimum bactericidal concentration,” and “minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration” of triple and double antibiotic paste, a modified triple antibiotic paste (minocycline replaced by clindamycin), Augmentin, and calcium hydroxide were determined using Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212) by microtiter plate method. Direct cytotoxic effects of drugs were evaluated by lactate dehydrogenase and water-soluble tetrazolium salt-1 assays using stem cells of apical papilla obtained from immature third molars via enzymatic digestion.

Statistical Analysis Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 24, one-way analysis of variance and post hoc comparisons. The statistical power was set at p < 0.05.

Results All medicaments caused similar cytotoxicity and cell proliferation at “minimum inhibitory concentration” (p > 0.05) except Augmentin which was significantly more toxic than others (p < 0.05). At “minimum bactericidal concentration,” calcium hydroxide was more toxic than other drugs (p < 0.001), but its adverse effect on cell proliferation was the same as Augmentin (p > 0.05). Triple and double antibiotic paste revealed similar favorable effects in terms of toxicity and proliferation rate at most of the tested concentrations (p > 0.05). At “minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration” both the modified paste and Augmentin caused less proliferation rate than triple and double antibiotic paste (p < 0.001and p < 0.05, respectively) and Augmentin induced more cytotoxicity (p < 0.05).

Conclusions Considering the antimicrobial potency, triple antibiotic paste seems to be the safest drug for the stem cells of apical papilla, while Augmentin may have some adverse effects.
Impact of face-to-face annealed sputtered AlN on the optical properties of AlGaN multiple quantum wells
Authors: Shojiki Kanako , Ishii Ryota , Uesugi Kenjiro , Funato Mitsuru , Kawakami Yoichi , Miyake Hideto
Published: December 2019

The impact of a face-to-face annealed sputtered AlN/sapphire (FFA Sp-AlN) template with threading-dislocation densities (TDDs) of 2 × 108 cm−2 and an n-type AlGaN (n-AlGaN) underlayer on optical properties of AlGaN multiple quantum wells (MQWs) with an ultraviolet C (UVC) emission is investigated comprehensively. For comparison of the FFA Sp-AlN template with low TDDs, a conventional MOVPE (metalorganic vapor phase epitaxially)-grown AlN/sapphire (MOVPE-AlN) template with TDDs of 1 × 109 cm−2 was prepared. Consequently, cathodoluminescence (CL), temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL), and time-resolved PL (TR-PL) measurements verified that both the FFA Sp-AlN template and n-AlGaN underlayer are indispensable for obtaining MQWs with high internal quantum efficiencies, which decrease the TDDs and point defect (PD) densities. Our results revealed that 10-period quantum wells (10QWs)/n-AlGaN/AlN grown on the FFA Sp-AlN template exhibit a lower dark spot density in CL panchromatic intensity maps, a higher integrated emission intensity ratio from the temperature-dependent PL (from 15 to 300 K), and a longer nonradiative lifetime from the TR-PL measurements at 300 K compared with those grown on the MOVPE-AlN template. Moreover, we found that the optical properties of 10QWs/AlN in FFA Sp-AlN and MOVPE-AlN templates do not exhibit a significant difference because of the existence of numerous PDs. Our experimental results demonstrate the favorable impact of the FFA Sp-AlN template for low-TDDs and the n-AlGaN underlayer for low-PDs, which holds promise for highly efficient AlGaN deep-ultraviolet light-emitting devices.
Electronic properties of graphene with point defects (Review Article)
Authors: Skrypnyk Y. V. , Loktev V. M.
Published: December 2019

This review is an attempt to consistently examine the electronic spectrum of graphene containing defects (such as adsorbed atoms, substitutional atoms, vacancies) that can be adequately described using the Lifshitz model. Therefore, the known Hamiltonian of this model is chosen for the case of two-dimensional relativistic electrons, and the criteria for the appearance of an impurity resonance near the Dirac point are provided. The theory of concentration band structure transformation in graphene is outlined, from which it follows that a transport gap opens in the vicinity of the impurity resonance energy when a specific value of the impurity concentration is reached. Along the way, the question of whether or not it is possible (or impossible) for Dirac quasiparticles to become localized in such a spatially disordered system is analyzed. Based on this, it is feasible to explain and describe the recently observed in impure graphene phenomenon of metal-insulator transition, which turns out to be a direct consequence of the system’s Fermi energy falling into the domain of the transport gap. The concept of local spectrum rearrangement, which can also unfold as the defect concentration increases, is introduced and justified for graphene. We formulate the physical reasons why the minimum of graphene’s low-temperature conductivity dependence on the Fermi energy of electrons does correspond to the impurity resonance energy, and not the Dirac point, as it has been claimed in a number of theoretical and experimental studies. Furthermore, the mentioned minimum value proves to be not universal, but is dependent, instead, on the concentration of defects. The analytical considerations of the impurity effects are accompanied by numerical simulations of the examined system, and a complete correspondence between these two approaches is established as a result. In particular, the general scenarios of spectrum rearrangement, electron state localization, as well as of effects having a local nature, are confirmed.
Proteome-wide observation of the phenomenon of life on the edge of solubility
Authors: Vecchi Giulia , Sormanni Pietro , Mannini Benedetta , Vandelli Andrea , Tartaglia Gian Gaetano , Dobson Christopher M. , Hartl F. Ulrich , Vendruscolo Michele
Published: December 2019

Significance

More than a decade ago, we put forward the “life on the edge of solubility” hypothesis, according to which proteins are expressed in the cellular environment at levels close to their solubility limits. This observation was based on the analysis of a small number of proteins for which solubility and cellular concentration information was available at the time. To confirm this hypothesis we have now taken advantage of recent advances in mass spectrometry that have enabled the proteome-wide analysis of protein concentrations in both the soluble and insoluble forms. We have been able to show in this way that the vast majority of proteins in a model organism are indeed expressed above their solubility limits, and to investigate the consequences of this phenomenon.
Structure of the cytochrome
aa

3

-600 heme-copper menaquinol oxidase bound to inhibitor HQNO shows TM0 is part of the quinol binding site
Authors: Xu Jingjing , Ding Ziqiao , Liu Bing , Yi Sophia M. , Li Jiao , Zhang Zhengguang , Liu Yuchen , Li Jin , Liu Liu , Zhou Aiwu , Gennis Robert B. , Zhu Jiapeng
Published: December 2019

Virtually all proton-pumping terminal respiratory oxygen reductases are members of the heme-copper oxidoreductase superfamily. Most of these enzymes use reduced cytochrome
c
as a source of electrons, but a group of enzymes have evolved to directly oxidize membrane-bound quinols, usually menaquinol or ubiquinol. All of the quinol oxidases have an additional transmembrane helix (TM0) in subunit I that is not present in the related cytochrome
c
oxidases. The current work reports the 3.6-Å-resolution X-ray structure of the cytochrome
aa

3

-600 menaquinol oxidase from
Bacillus subtilis
containing 1 equivalent of menaquinone. The structure shows that TM0 forms part of a cleft to accommodate the menaquinol-7 substrate. Crystals which have been soaked with the quinol-analog inhibitor HQNO (
N
-oxo-2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline) or 3-iodo-HQNO reveal a single binding site where the inhibitor forms hydrogen bonds to amino acid residues shown previously by spectroscopic methods to interact with the semiquinone state of menaquinone, a catalytic intermediate.
Assessment of Environmental Degradation Costs: A Case Study of Beijing and Tianze Agricultural Parks
Authors: Zhang Liufen , Zhang Zebin , Ma Yanxin , Liu Xiangdong
Published: December 2019

Nowadays, the community of human destiny has gradually become the consensus of people. The pursuit of economic benefits and the neglect of ecological benefits will bring serious consequences. Therefore, predicting the cost of environmental degradation for managers is an urgent problem we need to solve.

We establish a mathematical model to predict the cost of environmental degradation. And we ignore some insignificant factors and choose seven factors as indicators in our model under the consideration of actuality. To make the model more intuitive, we transform environmental degradation costs into ecosystem services values and calculate the value of each service in the ecosystem separately. At the same time, we use Analytic Hierarchy Process to calculate the weight of each service according to the judgment matrix. Then we introduce a concept in economics “Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC)”. Hence, we can derive the final cost of environmental degradation. Next, we take Beijing’s construction as an example of a large national project and Tianze agricultural park as an example of a small community-based project to estimate their respective degradation costs.

As for the effectiveness analysis, we use polynomial 7-th approximation to fit curve and prove its effectiveness successfully. According to the data we get from fitting curve, we analyze the ideal environment level of 2020. The result shows that land use projects exist many shortcomings and we give land use project planners and managers some advice to help them reach the ideal environment level in 2020.

Since ecosystem service valuation is pretty complex and some indicators are influenced by humanity factor, we cannot ensure the accuracy of our calculation. We improve our model and add fuzzy mathematic method into AHP. By using Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process, we can let the weight change automatically over time. Therefore, we success in improving our model and adding time factor into our improved model.

Finally, we analyze our works and then discuss strengths and weaknesses of our model.
FFT based unambiguous acquisition method for BOC modulation signal
Authors: Li Bin , Qi Dan , Zhang Shaozhen , Cheng Dan , Mu Jun , Yan Zheng
Published: December 2019

This paper presents an unambiguous acquisition algorithm for Binary Offset Carrier (BOC) modulation signals, which is adopted by modernized Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). By utilizing FFT, the spectrum of BOC signals is derived. This paper proposes an unambiguous acquisition method based on FFT to get rid of the BOC modulation drawback. By utilizing FFT, the spectrum of BOC signal is derived. The up and down sideband are separated in frequency domain by rectangular function, which means sideband filtering. Due to sparsity of filtered BOC spectrum, frequency compression method is proposed to reduce the number of IFFT points. Theoretical and simulation results show that this technique completely removes the ambiguity threat in acquisition process.
Predict post spreading in online social networks based on independent cascade model
Authors: Yakovleva O V , Rudakov I V , Stroganov Y V
Published: December 2019

Today, online social networks play an important role in the information spreading. Based on the social influence effect, posts can be spread across the network by repost mechanism. This paper addresses the problem of using independent cascade model for repost dynamics prediction in online social networks. A spreading post probability between two connected users is presented as function of preassigned features and coefficients fitted by the EM algorithm. This approach combines ideas of previously proposed methods. The list of considered features is composed and it includes users, their relationships and posts features. The iteratively solved by the Newton’s method system of equation is derived for independent cascade model to obtain coefficients of a probability function. The experiments with the Sina Weibo dataset show that the EM algorithm more accurately estimates unknown coefficients of probability function that the logistic regression method. Since actual values of diffusion probabilities are unknown for a real network, a problem of their estimation is considered as a binary classification problem to determine accuracy of various methods. The independent cascade model tuned by proposed method of diffusion probability estimation was verified. The experimental results show than the model can commendably predict the reposting dynamics for a given post.
Design of component cooling water system for Comprehensive Research Facilities in Support of CFETR
Authors: Li Weibao , Hu Jiansheng , Yang Lei , Guo Bin , Zhu Lili , Zhou Jinxuan , Liu Zhe , Yao Lidong , Xu Qianglin
Published: December 2019

Comprehensive Research Facilities in Support of CFETR is aimed to demonstrate a comprehensive research platform with the highest parameters and the most complete functions in the field of magnetic confinement. The cooling water system is an integral part of a comprehensive research platform. The cooling water system includes component cooling water system (CCWS), chilled water system (CHWS) and heat removal system (HRS). The component cooling water system is mainly responsible for transferring the heat load generated by each subsystem during the operation, preventing the system from overheating. This paper presents the thermal hydraulic design of CCWS for Comprehensive Research Facilities in Support of CFETR. Through the development of the thermal hydraulic model of the CCWS, the AFT Fathom code is used to calculate the key thermal hydraulic parameters and predict the thermal hydraulic behaviour. Based on the results of thermal hydraulic analysis, the key thermal hydraulic parameters have been plotted to evaluate the capability of CCWS, such as the required pump head, inlet pressure, flow rate, inlet and outlet temperature and pressure drop of the customer. This paper will provide design guidance for the construction of component cooling water system (CCWS) for Comprehensive Research Facilities in Support of CFETR.
Research on pedestrian detection system based on intelligent terminal with limited computing ability
Authors: Chen Ning , Li Menglu , Liu Zhijian
Published: December 2019

Pedestrian detection technology is the use of computer vision technology to determine whether there are pedestrians in static images or video images, and accurately mark pedestrians. Intelligent vehicles, intelligent monitoring, human behaviour analysis and other aspects are related to pedestrian detection technology, so pedestrian detection technology has been widely concerned by all walks of life. However, in some application environments, the network setting is flexible and the location of the device can be changed at any time, so it is difficult to establish a pedestrian detection system by wired way, and the pedestrian detection system can only be established through WSN. It is necessary to consider how to complete pedestrian detection through intelligent terminal under the condition of limited computing power. Many researchers have put forward a lot of algorithms, which are constantly optimized, but there are still many problems to be solved in practical application. In this paper, aiming at the intelligent terminal in WSN environment with limited computing power, a pedestrian detection system based on HOG+SVM is designed, which can detect moving pedestrians in video in real time. The detection system is mainly composed of detection algorithm and video acquisition module. After the test of INRIA and CVC data set, the accuracy of the detection algorithm in this paper is 89.06%. This method is tested under the intelligent terminal with limited computing power, with a good detection effect.
Optimization of helicopter blade section based on multi-objective optimization algorithm
Authors: Wang Shuai , Wang Guohua
Published: December 2019

This paper aims to find a better performance multi-objective optimization algorithm to optimize the helicopter blade section structure, so that the optimized blade section characteristics are better. Optimization objectives include the section quality linear density of the blade and the section stiffness characteristics of the blade. In this paper, three multi-objective optimization algorithms including non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II), non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm III (NSGA-III) and multi-objective evolutionary algorithm based on decomposition (MOEA/D) algorithm are used to optimize the blade section. The performance evaluation results of the three algorithms are evaluated by inverted generation distance(IGD). The calculation results show that the MOEA/D algorithm has better convergence, uniformity and extensiveness, and the comprehensive performance is better than other algorithms in high-dimensional multi-objective optimization. After optimization by the algorithm, the quality linear density of the section is reduced by 1.8%, the torsional stiffness of section is increased by 2.1%., the shimming stiffness of section is decreased by 1.9%, the waving stiffness of section is decreased by 1.7%, and the tensile stiffness is increased by 0.9 %.
Evolutionary dynamics of Chinese tourism market extremely low-priced strategies based on wright-fisher processes
Authors: Lv Wanqing , Wang Yijie , Ni Xiangli
Published: December 2019

Extremely low-priced of package tours is an important cause of Chinese tourism market price disorder. Regulating the price of package tours in Chinese tourism market, can solve the problem of Chinese tourism market price disorder. In order to research the reason of extremely low package tours price, consider the stochastic dynamics of N homogeneous mixed travel agency pricing strategies, and each travel agency could choose Extremely low-pricing or regular pricing. Based on Wright-Fisher processes, we obtain the dominant strategy of Extremely low-pricing and regular pricing under the weak selectivity in the package tours price setting, when the travel agency groups are finite. And then further verify these conditions by numerical simulation. The simulation shows that the Price elasticity of tourism demand, the transparency of the tourism market and the degree of government supervision strength have important effects on the stochastic evolution of package tours price setting. Reducing the demand elasticity of tourism market, increasing the transparency of the tourism market and the degree of government supervision strength can make travel agency choose regular pricing and solve chaotic of Chinese tourism market further. Therefore, this paper puts the suggestion of “two increases and one decrease” for the development of Chinese tourism market.
Compared Analysis of Calculation and Simulation on Heat Transfer Characteristics in PCM Heat Exchange Unit, Part I: Thermal Storage Process
Authors: Hu Xiao , Song Pengxiang , Deng Zhanfeng , Xu Guizhi , Zhao Qingqi , Tang Meng , Chen Changnian
Published: December 2019

Based on the temperature change and thermal storage processes of PCM phase change energy storage unit, the PCM channel number of which is 39, the plate spacing is 0.01 m, the air channel is 40 with its plate spacing of 0.003 m, and the unit length is total of 1.62 m. MATLAB solution about the above PCM energy storage unit was performed according to the model and physical property data, and the numerical simulation was carried out by using Fluent software. The theoretical calculation and numerical simulation were compared and analyzed. It is found that only in the case of smaller or larger flow rate working conditions, the solution results of MATLAB for the increase rate of the average temperature of the phase change material inside the system is quite different from the FLUENT simulation result; the comparison of the phase change process degree of advancement is found that at a higher flow rate, the difference between the two results is small, but the difference is larger when the flow rate is smaller; the comparison result of the PCM liquid rate is different under the small flow rate condition. However, the comparative analysis of heat storage shows that the maximum error does not exceed 10%. It can be seen that the flow rate conditions in the model and working conditions are the obvious factors affecting the two results, but the calculation and simulation results can more accurately describe the heat storage characteristics of the PCM phase change energy storage unit, which was calculated in nearly 90% ranges of working conditions, which can prove that the results of MATLAB and FLUENT are consistent.
Research and Simulation Analysis of Systematic Voltage Fluctuation in DC Commutation Failure
Authors: Yang Lei , He Xin , Ma Shenghong , Xiang Chuan , Xiao Can , Xing Chao , Xu Shoudong , Chang Chang
Published: December 2019

The failure of high-power DC commutation leads to large fluctuations in the voltage of the transmitting end grid, which brings great harm to the safe and stable operation of the transmitting end grid. In this paper, the detailed analysis of PMU data is carried out for the voltage fluctuation events of the transmitting end caused by the frequent DC commutation failure in recent years. By constructing a simulation model in BPA and RTDS, the fault back-tracking of the voltage fluctuation of the power supply with the commutation failure is carried out. The simulation results show that the main cause of the fluctuation is caused by the timing coordination and the delay of the rectification side AC filter. This is of great significance for reducing voltage fluctuations in the case of subsequent DC system commutation failure, and it also has great significance for maintaining safe and stable operation of the power grid.
Research on simulation fixture for seat anchorage strength test
Authors: Du Changjiang , Cong Yunpeng , Li Gang , Tian Zeyang
Published: December 2019

The fixture is often used to the test of automotive component parts. This paper states the research ideas of a new type simulation fixture for the seat anchorage strength test. The effectiveness of the simulation fixture is verified by FEA (Finite Element Analysis) and experiments. The new simulation fixture has higher strength and better applicability, which can simulate preferably the position of the belt anchorage in the actual vehicle.
Manganese ferrite nanocubes as an MRI contrast agent
Authors: Ravichandran M , Velumani S
Published: December 2019

Facile synthesis of superparamagnetic, highly crystalline, manganese ferrite nanocubes (MnNCs) is reported. X-ray diffraction depicts single-phase face-centred cubic spinel and the electron microscopy represents the nearly monodispersed cube-like nanostructure with the size ranging from 18 to 20 nm. Vibrating sample magnetometer shows magnetization field-dependent curves at 300 K exhibiting the superparamagnetic behaviour of NCs with negligible remanence. Furthermore, the biocompatibility of NCs was proved by MTT assay. These unique characteristics make this NCs as a contrast agent ideally suited for T2-weighted MR imaging. This novel method of synthesizing NCs proves to be very attractive for various biomedical applications because of their outstanding stability and biocompatibility.
Enhanced photoresponse in ZnO nanorod array/p-GaN self-powered ultraviolet photodetectors via coupling with CuO nanostructures
Authors: Fu Qiu-Ming , Yao Zhi-Chao , Peng Ji-Liang , Zhao Hong-Yang , Ma Zhi-Bin , Tao Hong , Tu Ya-Fang , Zhou Di , Tian Yu
Published: December 2019

ZnO nanorod arrays (ZnO NRAs) coupled with coral-like CuO nanostructures (CuO CLNs) were prepared by low-temperature hydrothermal method. Self-powered ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors (PDs) based on ZnO NRAs/CuO CLNs/p-GaN heterostructure were fabricated via a direct-contact method. Under UV illumination (1.46 mW cm−2), the ratios of photocurrent to dark current (I
photo/I
dark), photo-responsivity and specific detectivity for the ZnO NRAs/CuO CLNs/p-GaN heterojunction self-powered PD were estimated to be 1143, 1.44 mA W−1 and 5.9 × 1010 cm H z 1 /2/W at 0 V, which were about ∼187, ∼104 and ∼153 times greater than those of the ZnO NRAs/p-GaN self-powered PD, respectively. Moreover, the PD displayed faster response time, excellent stability and repeatability by coupling with CuO CLNs. The mechanism of the enhanced photoresponse performance was discussed through the energy band diagram.
Room temperature selective sensing of aligned Ni nanowires using impedance spectroscopy
Authors: Mohammadi Masoumeh , Fardindoost Somayeh , Iraji zad Azam , Almasi-Kashi Mohammad
Published: December 2019

Room temperature gas sensing behavior of arrayed one-dimensional (1D) nickel nanowires (Ni NWs) are investigated using impedance spectroscopy. Ni nanowires synthesized via electrochemical deposition method based on anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. Their structural characterization verified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis. Impedance spectroscopy as an essential technique utilized to understand the mechanism of gas interaction with the wires through the changes in their electronic behavior. Bode and Nyquist plots with the real and imaginary impedances are plotted versus frequency range of 500 Hz to 2 MHz at different relative humidity values (varying from 30% to 70%) and ethanol vapor concentrations (varying from 2 to 18 ppm). The equivalent circuits are proposed and simulated for impedance responses to both humidity and ethanol vapors. The impedance plots indicate the increase in resistance of the aligned nanowires at low frequencies by the adsorption of water and ethanol molecules.
ipyrad: Interactive assembly and analysis of RADseq datasets
Authors: Eaton Deren A R , Overcast Isaac
Published: December 2019

ipyrad is a free and open source tool for assembling and analyzing restriction site-associated DNA sequence datasets using de novo and/or reference-based approaches. It is designed to be massively scalable to hundreds of taxa and thousands of samples, and can be efficiently parallelized on high performance computing clusters. It is available both as a command line interface and as a Python package with an application programming interface, the latter of which can be used interactively to write complex, reproducible scripts and implement a suite of downstream analysis tools.

Availability and implementation

ipyrad is a free and open source program written in Python. Source code is available from the GitHub repository (https://github.com/dereneaton/ipyrad/), and Linux and MacOS installs are distributed through the conda package manager. Complete documentation, including numerous tutorials, and Jupyter notebooks demonstrating example assemblies and applications of downstream analysis tools are available online: https://ipyrad.readthedocs.io/.
Use of the ACTH challenge test to identify the predominant glucocorticoid in the southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis)
Authors: Murray M J , Young M A , Santymire R M
Published: December 2019

After nearly being hunted to extinction during the fur trade of the late 20th Century, sea otter (Enhydra lutris) populations have recovered to varying degrees of their historical range. While overall population numbers and range have increased, there are regions in which expansion has occurred at a slower rate and/or animal numbers have decreased, which may be a result of chronic stress from a variety of sources. Some have employed glucocorticoid analysis in their attempts to validate these explanations. Our goal was to conduct a controlled study using sea otters managed under human care to validate the use of serum glucocorticoid analysis to monitor stress physiology in the sea otter. We used a standard ACTH challenge test to compare cortisol and corticosterone responses, thereby identifying the primary glucocorticoid in the sea otter. Fourteen sea otters of both sexes (five males, nine females), including juveniles, sub-adults and adults, participated in the study. The results of the testing supported cortisol as the primary glucocorticoid in the sea otter. Sex and age did not affect how the individual responded to the ACTH or saline injection. Interestingly, the saline injection not only confirmed the effects of the ACTH on glucocorticoid release from the adrenal glands but also provided information on how long it takes the sea otter’s glucocorticoid levels to return to baseline after capture and sedation. The insight gained from this study will aid in future efforts to better understand the role of stress in free-ranging sea otter populations. Recognition of the primary glucocorticoid will facilitate evaluation of more stable biological material, such as fur or whiskers, which tend to be less affected by the diurnal cycling of glucocorticoids.
Electoral Accountability and Responsive Democracy
Authors: Duggan John , Martinelli César
Published: December 2019

We consider elections with hidden preferences and hidden actions, in which neither voters nor politicians can commit to future choices. When politicians are highly office motivated, they respond by choosing high policies to signal that they are above average, and some below-average politicians must randomise between choosing policies near their ideal points and mimicking above-average politicians by choosing high policies. If voter preferences are increasing, then elections deliver positive outcomes; but if voter preferences are single peaked, then politicians overshoot in the first period. Electoral incentives shift to sanctioning, rather than selection, as office motivation becomes large.
Physiological monitoring in the complex multimorbid heart failure patient - Conclusions
Authors: Böhm Michael , Coats Andrew J S , Kindermann Ingrid , Spoletini Ilaria , Rosano Giuseppe
Published: December 2019

Comorbidities are increasingly recognized as crucial components of the heart failure syndrome. Main specific challenges are polypharmacy, poor adherence to treatments, psychological aspects, and the need of monitoring after discharge. The chronic multimorbid patient therefore represents a specific heart failure phenotype that needs an appropriate and continuous management over time. This supplement issue covers the key points of a series of meeting coordinated by the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), that have discussed the issues surrounding the effective monitoring of our ever more complex and multimorbid heart failure patients. Here, we present an overview of the complex issues from a healthcare delivery perspective.
Earning to learn: the time-health trade-offs of employed Australian undergraduate students
Authors: Grimmond Tessa , Yazidjoglou Amelia , Strazdins Lyndall
Published: December 2019

Australian undergraduate students are facing difficult economic circumstances and rates of psychological distress are well above the general population. Many are combining their study with paid work to manage financially. There is, however, little to no research on the relationship between economic pressures, academic demands and health (mental and physical) among these young adults. This study used a mixed-methods approach, combining semi-structured interviews with health measures to investigate the interactions and interconnections between work, study and health among 22 Australian undergraduate students. Thematic data analysis concentrated on the effect of time constraints on health, due to the financial and academic demands of contemporary undergraduate life. We found that students felt time-pressured, and commonly sacrificed sleep, nutrition, exercise and lecture attendance as a way of managing employment demands. These strategies contributed to poor health; we observed very high rates of psychological distress, poor sleep, diet and exercise, peaking during exams. Our in-depth study illustrates the challenges facing the current generation of undergraduate students in Australia, raising their study–work conflict as a genuine public health and social equity issue.
The Chios Massacre (1822) and early British Christian-humanitarianism
Authors: Cartledge Yianni John Charles
Published: December 2019

This article explores early British Christian-humanitarianism towards the Greeks following the 1822 Chios Massacre. Scholars of the Greek revolution have previously acknowledged the massacre as a pivotal moment for British attitudes towards the Greeks, although few have elaborated significantly on this humanitarian shift. This article focuses on what the massacre was and public and political reactions to it in Britain. It also investigates how perceptions of ‘Christian’ Greeks, compared to ‘Islamic’ and ‘barbarian’ Ottomans, encouraged British sympathy. Essentially it argues that the massacre ‘humanized’ the Greeks to the British, leading to an early type of Christian-humanitarian intervention.
Gastroenterologist Consultation Is Uncommon but Associated with Improved Care Among IBD Patients Presenting to Emergency Departments in Winnipeg Hospitals
Authors: Bernstein Charles N , Crocker Elise , Nugent Zoann , Virdi Paramvir , Singh Harminder , Targownik Laura E
Published: December 2019

Objective

To describe the patterns of care when persons with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) present to the Emergency Department (ED) and post-ED follow-up.

Methods

We linked the University of Manitoba IBD Epidemiology Database with the Emergency Department Information System of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2012. We then generated a list of all ED attendances by persons with IBD at four of six hospitals within the City of Winnipeg (two academic and two community hospitals). The charts were reviewed by two investigators extracting data on testing, consulting and treatment undertaken in the ED as well as postdischarge follow-up. We focused on outcomes among those attending the ED but not admitted to hospital.

Results

Of 1275 IBD patients with a first visit to the ED, 523 (41%) were for IBD-specific complaints. Three hundred and twenty-seven (62.5%) were discharged from the ED without an in-hospital admission. Nearly 80% had an identified gastrointestinal (GI) specialist (either gastroenterologist or GI surgeon) involved in their care. A gastroenterologist was consulted in the ED 20% of the time. Follow-up post-ED with a gastroenterologist was only documented in 36%. For those who saw a gastroenterologist in the ED, there was more likely to be a change in medications and follow-up arranged with a gastroenterologist. ED consultation with a gastroenterologist was the only predictor of seeing a gastroenterologist in follow-up post-ED.

Conclusions

ED gastroenterology consultation is more likely to effect IBD management change. When discharged from the ED gastroenterology, follow-up should be arranged and documented.
Predicting oil saturation of tight conglomerate reservoirs via well logs based on reconstructing nuclear magnetic resonance T2 spectrum under completely watered conditions
Authors: Wang Xiaojun , Wang Zhenlin , Feng Cheng , Zhu Tao , Zhang Ni , Feng Ziyan , Zhong Yuntao
Published: December 2019

Due to complex lithology, strong heterogeneity, low porosity and permeability; resistivity logging faces great challenges in oil saturation prediction of tight conglomerate reservoirs. First, 10 typical core samples were selected to measure and analyse the porosity, permeability, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) T2 spectrum and mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) curve. Second, an empirical method was proposed for reconstructing the NMR T2 spectrum under completely watered conditions using MICP curve based on the ‘three-piece’ power function. The parameters of different models were calibrated via experimental data analysis, respectively. The 180 core experimental data from an MICP curve were used as the input database. Porosity and permeability were regarded as the MICP data selection criteria to apply this model in formation evaluation. The comparison results show good application effects. Finally, to reflect oil saturation, the ratio of T2 geometric means of NMR T2 spectra under oil-bearing and completely watered conditions was proposed. Then, the quantitative relation between oil saturation and the proposed ratio was established via experimental data from the sealed cores, which established a quantitative prediction on oil saturation of tight conglomerate reservoirs. This showed a good application effect. The average relative error and the root mean square error (RMSE) of the predicted oil saturation and sealed coring measurement were around 10 and 3%, respectively. As the proposed method is only influenced by the wettability of reservoir and viscosity of oil, it is not only appropriate for the studied area, but also for other water-wet reservoirs containing light oil. It is important for identifying oil layers, calculating oil saturation and improving log interpretation accuracy in tight conglomerate reservoirs.
Iatrogenic rectal injury associated with fleet enema administration masquerading as Fournier’s Gangrene
Authors: Liang Yi , Di Re Angelina , Ctercteko Grahame
Published: December 2019

Rectal injuries secondary to fleet enemas are the result of a chemical irritation as well as mechanical trauma causing localized perforation and mucosal necrosis. These injuries can be managed expectantly. Fournier’s Gangrene is a life-threatening, fulminant soft tissue infection of the genito-perineal region commonly secondary to a perianal infection, requiring extensive debridement of all affected tissue and judicious antibiotic therapy. This distinction is critical in the management of the current case, allowing for limited debridement and judicious observation without a resection of the injured rectum. A diverting colostomy allows for effective faecal management and minimizes contamination of the perineal wound.
Reduced Translational Efficiency of Eukaryotic Genes after Duplication Events
Authors: Chang Andrew Ying-Fei , Liao Ben-Yang
Published: December 2019

Control of gene expression has been found to be predominantly determined at the level of protein translation. However, to date, reduced expression from duplicated genes in eukaryotes for dosage maintenance has only been linked to transcriptional control involving epigenetic mechanisms. Here, we hypothesize that dosage maintenance following gene duplication also involves regulation at the protein level. To test this hypothesis, we compared transcriptome and proteome data of yeast models, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and worm models, Caenorhabditis elegans and Caenorhabditis briggsae, to investigate lineage-specifically duplicated genes. Duplicated genes in both eukaryotic models exhibited a reduced protein-to-mRNA abundance ratio. Moreover, dosage sensitive genes, represented by genes encoding protein complex subunits, reduced their protein-to-mRNA abundance ratios more significantly than the other genes after duplication events. An analysis of ribosome profiling (Ribo-Seq) data further showed that reduced translational efficiency was more prominent for dosage sensitive genes than for the other genes. Meanwhile, no difference in protein degradation rate was associated with duplication events. Translationally repressed duplicated genes were also more likely to be inhibited at the level of transcription. Taken together, these results suggest that translation-mediated dosage control is partially contributed by natural selection and it enhances transcriptional control in maintaining gene dosage after gene duplication events during eukaryotic genome evolution.
Induced illusory body ownership in borderline personality disorder
Authors: Neustadter Eli S , Fineberg Sarah K , Leavitt Jacob , Carr Meagan M , Corlett Philip R
Published: December 2019

One aspect of selfhood that may have relevance for borderline personality disorder (BPD) is variation in sense of body ownership. We employed the rubber hand illusion to manipulate sense of body ownership in BPD. We extended previous research on illusory body ownership in BPD by testing: (i) two illusion conditions: asynchronous and synchronous stimulation, (ii) relationship between illusion experience and BPD symptoms, and (iii) relationship between illusion experience and maladaptive personality traits. We measured illusion strength (questionnaire responses), proprioceptive drift (perceived shift in physical hand position), BPD symptoms (Revised Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines score), and maladaptive personality traits (Personality Inventory for DSM-5) in 24 BPD and 21 control participants. For subjective illusion strength, we found main effects of group (BPD > healthy control, F(1, 43) = 11.94, P = 0.001) and condition (synchronous > asynchronous, F(1, 43) = 22.80, P < 0.001). There was a group × condition interaction for proprioceptive drift (F(1, 43) = 6.48, P = 0.015) such that people with BPD maintained illusion susceptibility in the asynchronous condition. Borderline symptom severity correlated with illusion strength within the BPD group, and this effect was specific to affective (r = 0.45, P < 0.01) and cognitive symptoms (r = 0.46, P < 0.01). Across all participants, trait psychoticism correlated with illusion strength (r = 0.44, P < 0.01). People with BPD are more susceptible to illusory body ownership than controls. This is consistent with the clinical literature describing aberrant physical and emotional experiences of self in BPD. A predictive coding framework holds promise to develop testable mechanistic hypotheses for disrupted bodily self in BPD.
Genes and speciation: is it time to abandon the biological species concept?
Authors: Wang Xinfeng , He Ziwen , Shi Suhua , Wu Chung-I
Published: December 2019

The biological species concept (BSC) is the cornerstone of neo-Darwinian thinking. In BSC, species do not exchange genes either during or after speciation. However, as gene flow during speciation is increasingly being reported in a substantial literature, it seems time to reassess the revered, but often doubted, BSC. Contrary to the common perception, BSC should expect substantial gene flow at the onset of speciation, not least because geographical isolation develops gradually. Although BSC does not stipulate how speciation begins, it does require a sustained period of isolation for speciation to complete its course. Evidence against BSC must demonstrate that the observed gene flow does not merely occur at the onset of speciation but continues until its completion. Importantly, recent genomic analyses cannot reject this more realistic version of BSC, although future analyses may still prove it wrong. The ultimate acceptance or rejection of BSC is not merely about a historical debate; rather, it is about the fundamental nature of species – are species (and, hence, divergent adaptations) driven by a relatively small number of genes, or by thousands of them? Many levels of biology, ranging from taxonomy to biodiversity, depend on this resolution.
Alveolar soft part sarcoma mimics prostate cancer metastasis
Authors: Principe Daniel R , Mohindra Nisha A , Munshi Hidayatullah G , Kamath Suneel D
Published: December 2019

A 61-year-old man presented to the oncology clinic with Gleason 9 (4 + 5) prostate cancer. Staging CT showed multiple nodules in both lungs. Since the lung lesions were too small for biopsy, he was started on anti-androgen therapy for suspected metastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. While his prostate-specific antigen decreased from 32 to <0.1 ng/ml, the multiple lung lesions showed no response on subsequent imaging. The patient presented during follow-up with severe right leg pain, at which time magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large, hyperintense mass in the femur. The mass was resected along with two lung nodules, with pathology demonstrating metastatic alveolar soft part sarcoma. This serves as an important reminder that lesions suspicious for metastases may be due to cancers of multiple primary origins, particularly if the pattern of metastasis is atypical or there is varied response to therapy.
Insufficient initial treatment but good recovery after diagnosis of pulmonary actinomycosis
Authors: Ito Toshiki , Yoshida Takayuki , Sakuraba Motoki , Tanaka Akihiko , Hamada Kunio , Ito Akihide
Published: December 2019

Actinomycosis is an infrequent invasive bacterial disease. Although multiple different clinical features of actinomycosis have been described, pulmonary actinomycosis (PA) is a rare but challenging diagnosis and complete cure to make. Here we report the case of a 41-year-old Asian woman who had a mass-like consolidation in the right middle lung field. The lung lesion was exacerbated after initial treatment. After diagnosis of PA, thoracoscopic resection combined with intravenous and oral penicillin made a good recovery.