bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimating Reservoir Sedimentation at Large Dams in India
Authors: Froehlich David C.
Published: September 2018

Mathematical expressions are developed that relate the storage capacity loss of reservoirs in India to the catchment area, the reservoir surface area, the original storage volume, and the time since the first filling of the impoundment. The relations for sedimentation of reservoirs found on eastward and westward flowing rivers differ significantly, because of meteorological and geological influences on land surface runoff and sediment yield within reservoir catchments. The formulations give good fits to the assembled data and allow an uncomplicated calculation of the half-life of reservoirs (that is, the time needed for the storage capacity to be reduced by 50%), which offers a measure of when sedimentation will have a significant adverse impact on the functioning of dams.
An estimate of bedload discharge in rivers with passive acoustic measurements: Towards a generalized calibration curve?
Authors: Geay Thomas , Zanker Sébastien , Hauet Alexandre , Misset Clement , Recking Alain
Published: September 2018

Bedload Self-Generated Noise (SGN) measurements consist in deploying an underwater microphone (i.e. a hydrophone) in the river and to record the ambient noise. The use of hydrophones to measure bedload characteristics (flux, spatial distribution, granulometry) could be of interest as it can be more easily and rapidly deployed than physical samplers in rivers. Several measurement campaigns where conducted during spring and summer 2017 in 5 alpine rivers with contrasted transport conditions (bedload D50 between 1 and 40 mm) and varying slopes (0.05 to 1 %). Physical sampling measurements were done from a bridge along the river cross section for specific bedload flux varying between 10 and 150 g.m-1s-1. Bedload SGN measurements were obtained with a small board equipped with a hydrophone and deriving downstream the bridge within a 10 to 50 m long river section. For 2 of the 5 rivers, acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP) were also deployed along the river cross-section to provide a surrogate measurement of apparent bedload velocity. As a result, we have been able to draw an acoustic 1D-map of the river bottom, derived from the SGN sub-surface measurements obtained with the deriving board. The results show a coherent relation between the riverbed acoustic maps and the physical samplings for 3 rivers over 5. Bedload profile were less consistent with SGN measurements when bedload transport was localized in a narrow channel. The apparent bedload velocities obtained with ADCP for 2 rivers are consitent with the physical samplings (bedload location and flux distribution) but a slight bias was observed and is attributed to grain-size sorting effects along the cross-section. Finally, when plotting together 4 over 5 rivers, an almost linear relation can be established between bedload discharge (computed with physical samplings data) and the average acoustic response (i.e acoustic power averaged over the cross-section). This result suggests that a generalized calibration curve could exist between bedload SGN and bedload discharge. The existence of an outsider is interpreted as a problem related to propagation effects. Further researches should therefore concentrate their effort on deconvoluting SGN signals from propagation effects to give a better confident proxy for bedload discharge measurement in different rivers types.
Comparison of standardized methods for suspended solid concentration measurements in river samples
Authors: Dramais Guillaume , Camenen Benoît , Le Coz Jérôme , Thollet Fabien , Le Bescond Chloé , Lagouy Mickaël , Buffet Alexis , Lacroix Fréderic
Published: September 2018

SSC (Suspended Solid Concentration) measurements in rivers are a complex scientific issue. Many questions arise on the spatial and temporal distribution of particles throughout a cross-section, on the properties of particles and grain-size, and also on the sediment transport capacity of streams and rivers. In this study, we focused on the SSC and grain size distribution measured from river samples, automatically or manually acquired. Many agencies suggested slightly different methods for measuring SSC: The European standard NF EN 872, which related to the US EPA 160.2 requires sub-sampling using shake-and-pour aliquot selection. The APHA 2540D requires sub-sampling by pipetting at middepth in the original sample shaken with a magnetic stirrer. These methods lead to significant uncertainty when particles larger than 63 μm are present in the samples. The ASTM D3977 analysis method, endorsed by the USGS is more accurate to capture and quantify particles larger than 63 μm. In this study we confirm the sub-sampling problem in a large concentration range using a set of samples from an alpine river.
Comparison of Large Woody Debris Prototypes in a Large Scale Non-flume Physical Model
Authors: Perry Brian , Rennie Colin , Cornett Andrew , Knox Paul
Published: September 2018

Due to excessive rainfall in June of 2013, several rivers located in and near the City of Calgary, Canada experienced significant flooding events. These events caused severe damage to infrastructure throughout the city, precipitating a renewed interest in flood control and mitigation strategies for the area. A major potential strategy involves partial diversion of Elbow River flood water to the proposed Springbank Off-Stream Storage Reservoir. A large scale physical model study was conducted to optimize and validate the design of a portion of the new project. The goals of the physical model were to investigate diversion system behaviors such as flow rates, water levels, sediment transport and, debris accumulation, and optimize the design of new flow control structures to be constructed on the Elbow River. In order to accurately represent the behavior of debris within the system due to flooding, large woody debris created from natural sources was utilized in the physical model and its performance was compared to that of debris of the same size fabricated from pressed cylindrical wood dowels. In addition to comparing the performance of these two debris types, the impact of root wads on debris damming was also investigated. Significant differences in damming behavior was shown to exist between the natural debris and the fabricated debris, while the impact of root wad on damming affected the dam structure and formation. The results of this experiment indicate that natural debris is preferred for studies involving debris accumulation.
Numerical simulations on mixing of passive scalars in river confluences
Authors: Pouchoulin Sébastien , Mignot Emmanuel , Rivière Nicolas , Le Coz Jérôme
Published: September 2018

The study deals with the mixing of passive scalars (such as pollutants) in open-channel confluences when the two inflows exhibit different concentrations. The dispersion of such passive scalars is investigated through the analysis of the processes enhancing the mixing in the confluence in order to estimate the length for complete mixing Lm in the downstream branch. The aim of this study is then to establish a correlation between this length for complete mixing Lm and characteristics of the confluence, namely its angle and two hydrodynamic parameters that are the momentum ratio M* of the inflows and the width-to-depth ratio of the downstream branch b/h. In this work, the flow in the confluence is numerically simulated by RANS calculation coupled with the advection-diffusion equation at field scale, i.e. with Reynolds and Froude numbers corresponding to real rivers (Re = 107 and Fr=0.1). The role of other parameters such as bed discordance or bed forms... is not addressed here. The numerical results highlight that the mixing in the confluence and its downstream branch, is enhanced by the presence of secondary currents that are themselves strongly affected by the characteristics of the confluence. The results aim at getting an operative empirical law linking the geometric and hydrodynamic parameters of the confluence with Lm.
Flow structure in compound open-channel flows in the presence of transverse currents
Authors: Proust Sébastien , Nikora Vladimir
Published: September 2018

The structure of free-surface flows is experimentally investigated in a laboratory flume with a compound cross-section consisting of a central main channel (MC) and two adjacent floodplains (FPs). The study focuses on the effects of transverse currents on: (i) mixing layers and quasi-two-dimensional coherent structures at the interfaces between MC and FPs; (ii) secondary currents developing across the channel; and (iii) large and very-large-scale motions that were recently observed in non-compound open channel flows. Transverse currents represent spanwise depth- and time-averaged flow from MC to FPs or vice versa. The study is based on one-point and two-point ADV measurements. Streamwise non-uniform flows are generated by imposing an imbalance in the discharge distribution between MC and FPs at the flume entrance, keeping the total flow rate the same for all scenarios. It is shown that even small transverse currents can be very effective in flow modification, as they can significantly displace the mixing layer, shear-layer turbulence, and coherent structures towards MC or FP, depending on the current direction. They can also alter the distribution and strength of the secondary currents. The interactions of quasi-two-dimensional coherent structures, very-large-scale motions, and secondary currents at different conditions are also part of this study.
Novel approaches for large-scale two-dimensional hydrodynamic modelling of rivers
Authors: Yossef Mohamed F.M. , de Jong J. S. , Spruyt A. , Scholten M.
Published: September 2018

For decades, the decision-making process for water management in the Netherlands makes full utilisation of state of the art models. For rivers, two-dimensional hydrodynamic models are considered essential for a wide range of questions. Every five years, there is a major model revision that includes software updates, improved physical processes, new modelling strategy, and a new calibration. 2017 marked the setup and calibration of the first river model in the sixth generation of these models. In this paper, we discuss the most recent developments in two-dimensional hydrodynamic modelling of rivers. We give an overview of the process followed to agree on the functional design of the model and address the use of the recently developed Delft3D Flexible Mesh suite. We address, in some details: i) a mesh independent approach for model setup; ii) the utilisation of a new calibration technique, which is automated using data assimilation and includes spatial and discharge dependencies; and iii) the use of a novel operational module to control hydraulic structures. The first river model within the 6th generation of models is that of the Meuse River, where the new approaches are being successfully applied. In conclusion: the mesh independent modelling approach offers great flexibility and facilitates that the same data set can be used for multiple versions of the model (e.g. different grid resolution; or different model extent). The automated calibration approach makes it possible to utilise a comprehensive calibration data set for a large-scale model in a reproducible way. The increased complexity of modelling has become possible over the last decade due to the availability of large datasets and increased computational power. This paper is particularly relevant for modellers and decision makers alike.
Propagation of aggrading sediment fronts in a laboratory flume
Authors: Radice Alessio , Unigarro Villota Stefanía
Published: September 2018

Channel bed aggradation due to sediment overloading was studied experimentally. A series of aggradation tests, with uniform lightweight sediment, were performed to observe the hydro-morphologic response of a laboratory flume to bed-load sediment transport and nonequilibrium upstream sediment feeding. The hydro-dynamic and the sediment feeding rates were kept constant in time. The temporal evolution of the longitudinal profiles of the stream bed and of the water surface was measured by imaging methods. The experimental data were used to (i) provide a phenomenological description of the aggradation process, recognizing different morphologic features superimposed on one another and (ii) characterize the height and velocity of propagation of aggrading sediment fronts. The front heights increased with increasing sediment supply, while the front celerity decreased. The celerity values were compared to a few predictors available in the literature. The literature formulae return celerity values scattered over almost two orders of magnitude, and present conflicting trends (a predicted celerity may either increase or decrease for increasing sediment feeding rate), thus stimulating further research on the topic.
Dam break over mobile bed: Characterisation ofthe flow by means of pressure distribution and bed shear stress
Authors: Fent Ilaria , Soares-Frazão Sandra , Franca Mario J.
Published: September 2018

The study of the pressure distribution within the dam-break flow over mobile bed is very important because it allows to discuss the hydrostatic pressure distribution, which is the main assumption for the validity of the shallow water equations (SWE). Indeed, this assumption is not always valid, especially when the streamlines are not straight and not perpendicular to the gravity acceleration direction. The flow varies abruptly in the first instants of the falling dam-break wave evolution, but it tires towards a stationary motion during time. To better characterize this phenomenon it is important to examine the evolution of each component of velocity vector field and the distribution of the pressure, which is compared to the hydrostatic distribution. Moreover, the present study considers the distribution of pressure linked with the distribution of the shear stress, through the Navier-Stokes equations. The final object of this work is to characterize the dam break experiment over mobile bed by means of forces acting during the event. The dam-break experiment under examination has been performed in a dedicated flume designed at the laboratory of Civil Engineering Department, Université catholique de Louvain. The analysis of this very transient flow it is now possible and more accurate thanks to the application of non-intrusive new techniques, such as PIV.
Sewer overflow in the urban model MURI
Authors: Chibane Tariq , Paquier André , Benmamer Saâdia , Lalanne Cécile
Published: September 2018

Sewer overflow is one of the main causes of urban floods. Using an urban model called MURI recently built by Irstea, a series of experiments are carried out in order to simulate overflowing cases. The first configuration that was studied is a single street of 5.4 m in length, 0.15 m in width with a slope of 0.1% and two street inlets (of which the orifice diameter is 14 mm) that ensure the connection with the sewer network. Inflows of 2 and 3 L/s are used for the street and an inflow of 0.5 L/s for the sewer network that is partially closed in order to obtain overflow at the street inlets. The rising of the weir downstream the street permitted to obtain same water depth and to measure the vertical profiles of velocities. This study allowed us to investigate how the overflow process influence the water depth and the velocity field around the street inlet. The exchange flow discharge can be calculated using either an orifice equation or the head loss in the two pipes connecting the street and the sewage network, both methods requesting calibration, which is made difficult by the complexity of the flow around the street inlets.
Combined Influence of Terrain Modell and Roughness in Dam Break Wave Simulation
Authors: Bornschein Antje
Published: September 2018

Dam break wave simulation provides data for emergency management. The calculation results should be as accurate as possible. The modeler has to deal with different sources of uncertainty. The paper presents dam break calculation for three different dams in order to assess the uncertainty due to the chosen model (1D or 2D), different terrain models and different Manning's n values. The comparison of the calculation results is focused on the maximum discharge, maximum water level and flood wave arrival time.
The estimation of the uncertainty associated with rating curves of the river Ivinhema in the state of Paraná/Brazil
Authors: Maldonado Luiz Henrique , Firmo Kazay Daniel , Romero Lopez Elio Emanuel
Published: September 2018

The estimation of the uncertainty associated with stage-discharge relations is a challenge to the hydrologists. Bayesian inference with likelihood estimator is a promissory approach. The choice of the likelihood function has an important impact on the capability of the model to represent the residues. This paper aims evaluate two likelihood functions with DREAM algorithm to estimate specific non-unique stage-discharge rating curves: normal likelihood function and Laplace likelihood function. The result of BaRatin is also discussed. The MCMC of the DREAM and the BaRatin algorithm have been compared and its results seem consistent for the studied case. The Laplace likelihood function presented as good results as normal likelihood function for the residues. Other gauging stations should be evaluated to attend more general conclusions.
Modelling urban floods using a finite element staggered scheme with porosity and anisotropic resistance
Authors: Viero Daniele P.
Published: September 2018

Artificial porosity models for urban flooding use porosity as a statistical descriptor for the presence of buildings, which are then treated as subgridscale features. Computational efficiency makes porosity models attractive for large-scale applications. These models are typically implemented in the framework of two-dimensional (2D) finite volume collocated schemes. The most effective schemes, falling under the category of Integral Porosity models, allow accounting for a wealth of sub-grid processes, but they are known to suffer from oversensitivity to mesh design in the case of anisotropic porosity fields. In the present exploratory study, a dual porosity approach is implemented into a staggered finite element numerical model. The free surface elevation is defined at grid nodes, where continuity equation is solved; fluxes are conveyed by triangular cells, which act as 2D-links between adjacent grid nodes. The presence of building is modelled using an isotropic porosity in the continuity equation to account for the reduced water storage, and an anisotropic conveyance porosity in the momentum equations to compute bottom shear stress. Both porosities are defined on an element-by-element basis, thus avoiding mesh-dependency. Although suffering a number of limitations, the model shows promising results.
Discharge and location dependency of calibrated main channel roughness: Case study on the River Waal
Authors: Domhof Boyan C.A. , Berends Koen D. , Spruyt Aukje , Warmink Jord J. , Hulscher Suzanne J.M.H.
Published: September 2018

To accurately predict water levels, river models require an appropriate description of the hydraulic roughness. The bed roughness increases as river dunes grow with increasing discharge and the roughness depends on differences in channel width, bed level and bed sediment. Therefore, we hypothesize that the calibrated main channel roughness coefficient is most sensitive to the discharge and location in longitudinal direction of the river. The roughness is determined by calibrating the Manning coefficient of the main channel in a 1D hydrodynamic model. The River Waal in the Netherlands is used as a case study. Results show that the calibrated roughness is mainly sensitive to discharge. Especially the transition from bankfull to flood stage and effects of floodplain compartmentation are important features to consider in the calibration as these produce more accurate water level predictions. Moreover, the downstream boundary condition also has a large effect on the calibrated roughness values near the boundary.
Resonance parameter covariance representation: file32 versus file33
Authors: Leal Luiz
Published: September 2018

Sensitivity and uncertainty analysis in error propagation studies are carried out based on nuclear data uncertainty information available in the basic nuclear data libraries such as ENDF, JEFF, JENDL and others. The uncertainty files (covariance matrices) are generally obtained from analysis of experimental data. In the resonance region, the computer code SAMMY is used for analyses of experimental data and generation of resonance parameters. In addition to resonance parameters evaluation, SAMMY also generates resonance parameter covariance matrices (RPCM). The intent of this paper is to discuss the use of the RPCM in contrast to the use of a cross section covariance matrix (CSCM) representation. For so, the resonance evaluation for 48Ti in the resonance range from 10−5 eV to 400 keV is used. The RPCM is translated into two distinct CSCM by using a coarser and a finer group structures. The results are presented and discussions of the feasibility of using these covariance representations are depicted.
Panhypopituitarism Without GH Replacement: About Insulin Sensitivity, CRP Levels, and Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Castillo Alejandro , Zantut-Wittmann Denise , Neto Arnaldo , Jales Rodrigo , Garmes Heraldo
Published: September 2018

A complete deficiency of anterior pituitary hormones from several etiologies characterizes Panhypopituitarism (PH). Despite advances in treatment, patients with PH maintain high rates of morbidity and mortality, a reason to investigate some insulin sensitivity, metabolic and inflammatory parameters that could be related to the increase of these indicators. This was a cross-sectional study comprising 41 PH patients under hormonal replacement, except for growth hormone, and 37 individuals in a control group (CG) with similar age, gender and body mass index (BMI). We assessed clinical data as age, sex, BMI, waist circumference, waist/hip ratio (WHR), history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia as well as fasting glycaemia, insulin, HOMA-IR, HbA1c, high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP), and lipid profile. PH patients presents lower values of glycaemia, insulin, HOMA-IR (0.88 vs 2.1) and WHR, but higher levels of hs-CRP (0.38 vs 0.16mg/dl) when compared with the CG. Although the occurrence of dyslipidemia was higher in patients with PH, the frequency of metabolic syndrome was similar between the groups. In multivariate linear regression analysis, the PH group independently predicted lower HOMA-IR and WHR values. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that patients with PH without GH replacement have lower HOMA-IR and WHR values and higher levels of hs-CRP than a CG paired by age, gender and BMI. The diagnosis of dyslipidemia was more frequent in patients with PH, but the occurrence of MS was similar to CG. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings and to better understand the metabolic characteristics of patients with PH.
Maternal Obesity Affects Cardiac Remodeling and Recovery in Women with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Davis Esa , Ewald Gregory , Givertz Michael , Rajagopalan Navin , Cooper Leslie , Briller Joan , Felker G. , Bozkurt Biykem , Drazner Mark , Hanley-Yanez Karen , Halder Indrani , McTiernan Charles , McNamara Dennis ,   on behalf of the IPAC Investigators
Published: September 2018

Objective To examine the association between maternal obesity on left ventricular (LV) size and recovery in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM).

Study Design This was a prospective analysis of 100 women enrolled within 13 weeks of PPCM diagnosis and followed for a year in the Investigation of Pregnancy Associated Cardiomyopathy study. Adiposity was defined by standard body mass index (BMI) definitions for under/normal weight, overweight, and obesity. Demographic, clinical, and biomarker variables were compared across weight categories.

Outcomes LV end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and ejection fraction were measured at entry, 6, and 12 months postpartum. Multivariable regression models examined the relationship between adiposity, LV size, and leptin levels with cardiac recovery at 6 and 12 months postpartum.

Results Obese and nonobese women had similar LV dysfunction at entry. Obese women had greater LV size and less LV recovery at 6 and 12 months postpartum. BMI was positively associated with leptin and ventricular diameter. Greater BMI at entry remained associated with less ventricular recovery at 6 months (p = 0.02) in adjusted race-stratified models. LVEDD at entry predicted lower ejection fraction at 6 months (p < 0.001) and similarly at 12 months.

Conclusion Obese women with PPCM had greater cardiac remodeling, higher leptin levels, and diminished cardiac recovery.
Hole traps and persistent photocapacitance in proton irradiated β-Ga2O3 films doped with Si
Authors: Polyakov A. Y. , Smirnov N. B. , Shchemerov I. V. , Pearton S. J. , Ren F. , Chernykh A. V. , Lagov P. B. , Kulevoy T. V.
Published: September 2018

Hole traps in hydride vapor phase epitaxy β-Ga2O3 films were studied by deep level transient spectroscopy with electrical and optical excitation (DLTS and ODLTS) and by photocapacitance and temperature dependence measurements. Irradiation with 20 MeV protons creates deep electron and hole traps, a strong increase in photocapacitance, and prominent persistent photocapacitance that partly persists above room temperature. Three hole-trap-like signals H1 [self-trapped holes (STH)], H2 [electron capture barrier (ECB)], and H3, with activation energies 0.2 eV, 0.4 eV, 1.3 eV, respectively, were detected in ODLTS. The H1 (STH) feature is suggested to correspond to the transition of polaronic states of STH to mobile holes in the valence band. The broad H2 (ECB) feature is due to overcoming of the ECB of the centers responsible for persistent photocapacitance for temperatures below 250 K. The H3 peak is produced by detrapping of holes from Ev + 1.3 eV hole traps believed to be related to gallium vacancy acceptors. One more deep acceptor with optical ionization threshold near 2.3 eV is likely responsible for high temperature persistent photocapacitance surviving up to temperatures higher than 400 K. The latter traps show a significant barrier for capture of electrons.
Metformin Regulates the Expression of SK2 and SK3 in the Atria of Rats With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Through the NOX4/p38MAPK Signaling Pathway
Authors: Liu Changhe , Hua Na , Fu Xi , Pan Yilong , Li Bin , Li Xiaodong
Published: September 2018

We previously found that metformin regulates the ion current conducted by the small conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (SK channels) in the atria of rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as well as the mRNA and protein expression of the SK2 and SK3 subtypes of SK channels. In this study, we hypothesized that the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 (NOX4)/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) signaling pathway was involved in the metformin-mediated regulation of SK2 and SK3 expression in the atria of rats with T2DM. We randomly divided Wistar rats into the control group, the untreated T2DM group, the metformin-treated group, the group receiving subcutaneous injections of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX) inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), and the group receiving tail vein injections of the p38MAPK agonist anisomycin. Real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were applied to examine the expression levels of SK2, SK3, NOX4, and phospho-p38MAPK (p-p38MAPK) mRNAs and proteins in the atrial tissue of relevant groups. We observed that the expression levels of NOX4 mRNA and protein and p-p38MAPK protein were significantly elevated in the atria of rats with T2DM compared with the control group. In addition, SK2 protein expression was reduced, whereas SK3 protein expression was increased. The 8-week treatment with metformin markedly reduced the expression levels of NOX4 mRNA and protein and p-p38MAPK protein, upregulated the SK2 expression, and downregulated the SK3 expression. Tail vein injection with anisomycin significantly increased the p-p38MAPK expression while further inhibiting the expression of SK2 and enhancing the expression of SK3. Subcutaneous injection with DPI considerably inhibited the expression of NOX4, further enhanced the expression of SK2 and suppressed the expression of SK3. In addition, subcutaneous injection with DPI significantly suppressed the phosphorylation of p38MAPK. In conclusion, the NOX4/p38MAPK signaling pathway mediates the downregulation of SK2 and the upregulation of SK3 in the atria of rats with T2DM. Long-term metformin treatment upregulates SK2 protein expression and downregulates SK3 protein expression by inhibiting the NOX4/p38MAPK signaling pathway.
Inter-relationship between diet, lifestyle habits, gut microflora, and the equol-producer phenotype: baseline findings from a placebo-controlled intervention trial
Authors: Yoshikata Remi , Myint Khin Z. , Ohta Hiroaki , Ishigaki Yoko
Published: September 2018

Objective:

Equol is an active metabolite of isoflavones produced by gut microbiota. It is beneficial to health; however, equol-producing ability varies greatly among individuals. These variations depend on the host's gut microbiota and lifestyle habits including diet. We investigated the relationship between the gut microbiota, lifestyle habits including diet, and equol-producing ability in postmenopausal Japanese women.

Methods:

We studied 58 postmenopausal Japanese women aged 48 to 69 years who visited the Sendai Medical Center in January, 2018. Self-administered questionnaires assessed their recent and remote food intake histories and lifestyle habits. Fecal microbiome analysis was performed using a next-generation sequencer. Urinary equol was measured using an immunochromatographic strip test. Women with urinary equol concentration >1.0 μM were defined as equol producers.

Results:

Equol-producing bacteria were identified in 97% (56) of women; however, only 13 (22%) were equol producers. Equol producers showed significantly higher microflora diversity (P = 0.002), and significantly different recent and remote food intake patterns compared with equol nonproducers. Higher consumption of foods such as meat, fish, soy, vegetables, and Japanese snacks positively affected microbial diversity and equol production, whereas a high intake of Ramen and smoking showed negative effects.

Conclusion:

Equol production might not depend on the quantity, but on the quality of equol-producing bacteria. High microbial diversity might enhance equol production. Increasing microbial diversity through healthy lifestyle habits and habitual consumption of a wide variety of foods might be useful to maintain a healthy gut environment for equol production.
Neuropathic pain and pain interference are linked to alpha-band slowing and reduced beta-band magnetoencephalography activity within the dynamic pain connectome in patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Kim Junseok A. , Bosma Rachael L. , Hemington Kasey S. , Rogachov Anton , Osborne Natalie R. , Cheng Joshua C. , Oh Jiwon , Crawley Adrian P. , Dunkley Ben T. , Davis Karen D.
Published: September 2018

Chronic pain is a common occurrence in multiple sclerosis (MS) that severely affects quality of life, but the underlying brain mechanisms related to these symptoms are unknown. Previous electroencephalography studies have demonstrated a role of alpha-band and beta-band power in pain processing. However, how and where these brain signals change in MS-related chronic pain is unknown. Here, we used resting state magnetoencephalography to examine regional spectral power in the dynamic pain connectome—including areas of the ascending nociceptive pathway, default mode network (DMN), and the salience network (SN)—in patients with chronic MS pain and in healthy controls. Each patient was assessed for pain, neuropathic pain (NP), and pain interference with activities of daily living. We found that patients with MS exhibited an increase of alpha-band power and a decrease of beta-band power, most prominently in the thalamus and the posterior insula of the ascending nociceptive pathway and in the right temporoparietal junction of the SN. In addition, patients with mixed-NP exhibited slowing of alpha peak power within the thalamus and the posterior insula, and in the posterior cingulate cortex of the DMN. Finally, pain interference scores in patients with mixed-NP were strongly correlated with alpha and beta peak power in the thalamus and posterior insula. These novel findings reveal brain mechanisms of MS-related pain in the ascending nociceptive pathway, SN, and DMN, and that these spectral abnormalities reflect the impact of pain on quality of life measures.
The Management of Nausea at the End of Life
Authors: Moorthy Gayathri S. , Letizia MariJo
Published: September 2018

The evaluation and management of nausea in patients near the end of life can be more challenging than that of nausea in patients undergoing antineoplastic therapies. Unlike in the oncology setting in which nausea is primarily managed using antiemetic regimens that have been developed with the neuropharmacology and emetogenic potentials of chemotherapy agents in mind, many patients receiving end-of-life care have nausea of multifactorial etiology. Patients also may be older with reduced physiologic ability to metabolize and clear drugs. Therefore, typical antiemetics in regimens initially selected for oncology patients may be ineffective. In this article, the prevalence, manifestation, and pathophysiology of nausea experienced by patients near and at the end of life will be reviewed, with a focus on pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions that have been found to effectively manage this symptom in this patient population.
Pilot of a Pediatric Palliative Care Early Intervention Instrument
Authors: Shaw Rachel , Seegal Hallie , Miller Joy G. , Keim-Malpass Jessica
Published: September 2018

Current research demonstrates that pediatric symptom management care is often initiated in the late stages of disease once clinicians are no longer able to meaningfully impact symptom burden. Given that physicians or nurse practitioners are responsible for initiating palliative care referrals, it is incumbent upon registered nurses to advocate when improved symptom management care is needed. The pediatric palliative care screening instrument pilot provides a centralized instrument to document and quantify a patient's symptom profile, giving registered nurses the opportunity to objectively communicate and track a patient's need for improved symptom management care within the areas of pain, secretions, dyspnea, intractable seizures, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, anorexia, cachexia, sleep disturbance, lethargy, anxiety, depression, and/or agitation. The 4-week quality improvement project at an academic teaching hospital formally incorporated the bedside registered nurses' symptom assessment into a centralized document. Fifty-three patients were identified as having an uncontrolled symptom burden in at least one of the symptom domains, indicating that excessive and untreated symptom burden was present on the acute care floor. The pediatric palliative care screening instrument could act as a conduit between bedside registered nurses and the palliative care team, serving to reduce the time between onset of excessive symptom burden and initiation of symptom management services.
Noninvasive Flap Preconditioning by Foam-Mediated External Suction Improves the Survival of Fasciocutaneous Axial-Pattern Flaps in a Type 2 Diabetic Murine Model
Authors: Rhodius Patrick , Haddad Anthony , Matsumine Hajime , Sakthivel Dharaniya , Ackermann Maximilian , Sinha Indranil , Orgill Dennis P. , Giatsidis Giorgio
Published: September 2018

Background:

Advances in reconstructive surgery are leading to an increased number of flaps at risk for ischemic necrosis, because of either intrinsic (e.g., larger flap size) or extrinsic (e.g., diabetes) factors. Methods to preoperatively improve flap vascularity and limit postoperative ischemia are lacking. Noninvasive suction, using either a macrodeformational silicone cup interface (external volume expansion) or a microdeformational polyurethane foam interface (foam-mediated external volume expansion), has been shown to induce angiogenesis in tissues. The authors investigated whether the preoperative use of external volume expansion/foam-mediated external volume expansion improves flap survival in an obesity-induced diabetic animal model.

Methods:

Db/Db mice underwent either mechanical stimulation with suction for 5 days using either external volume expansion or foam-mediated external volume expansion, or received no stimulation (n = 8 per group). Five days after the last stimulation, a critical-size, axial-pattern, fasciocutaneous flap was raised in all animals. Postoperatively, flap survival was monitored with digital imaging for 10 days. After this period, flaps were harvested to assess tissue survival, angiogenesis, and inflammation, using histology and polymerase chain reaction.

Results:

Foam-mediated external volume expansion preconditioning significantly increased the viable flap area (28 percent), viable flap volume (27 percent), and flap capillary density (36 percent) in comparison to controls; vascular endothelial growth factor was also up-regulated (>300 percent). In contrast, external volume expansion resulted in a severe inflammatory response and increased flap necrosis.

Conclusions:

Foam-mediated external volume expansion improves flap survival in obese diabetic mice. This procedure may allow for improved clinical rates of flap survival in high-risk patients.
Carbon stocks of mangroves and salt marshes of the Amazon region, Brazil
Authors: Kauffman J. Boone , Bernardino Angelo F. , Ferreira Tiago O. , Giovannoni Leila R. , de O. Gomes Luiz Eduardo , Romero Danilo Jefferson , Jimenez Laís Coutinho Zayas , Ruiz Francisco
Published: September 2018

In addition to the largest existing expanse of tropical forests, the Brazilian Amazon has among the largest area of mangroves in the world. While recognized as important global carbon sinks that, when disturbed, are significant sources of greenhouse gases, no studies have quantified the carbon stocks of these vast mangrove forests. In this paper, we quantified total ecosystem carbon stocks of mangroves and salt marshes east of the mouth of the Amazon River, Brazil. Mean ecosystem carbon stocks of the salt marshes were 257 Mg C ha
−1
while those of mangroves ranged from 361 to 746 Mg C ha
−1
. Although aboveground mass was high relative to many other mangrove forests (145 Mg C ha
−1
), soil carbon stocks were relatively low (340 Mg C ha
−1
). Low soil carbon stocks may be related to coarse textured soils coupled with a high tidal range. Nevertheless, the carbon stocks of the Amazon mangroves were over twice those of upland evergreen forests and almost 10-fold those of tropical dry forests.
Tail walking in a bottlenose dolphin community: the rise and fall of an arbitrary cultural ‘fad’
Authors: Bossley M. , Steiner A. , Brakes P. , Shrimpton J. , Foster C. , Rendell L.
Published: September 2018

Social learning of adaptive behaviour is widespread in animal populations, but the spread of arbitrary behaviours is less common. In this paper, we describe the rise and fall of a behaviour called tail walking, where a dolphin forces the majority of its body vertically out of the water and maintains the position by vigourously pumping its tail, in a community of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus). The behaviour was introduced into the wild following the rehabilitation of a wild female individual, Billie, who was temporarily co-housed with trained dolphins in a dolphinarium. This individual was sighted performing the behaviour seven years after her 1988 release, as was one other female dolphin named Wave. Initial production of the behaviour was rare, but following Billie's death two decades after her release, Wave began producing the behaviour at much higher rates, and several other dolphins in the community were subsequently sighted performing the behaviour. Social learning is the most likely mechanism for the introduction and spread of this unusual behaviour, which has no known adaptive function. These observations demonstrate the potential strength of the capacity for spontaneous imitation in bottlenose dolphins, and help explain the origin and spread of foraging specializations observed in multiple populations of this genus.
Detection of HIV transmission clusters from phylogenetic trees using a multi-state birth–death model
Authors: Barido-Sottani Joëlle , Vaughan Timothy G. , Stadler Tanja
Published: September 2018

HIV patients form clusters in HIV transmission networks. Accurate identification of these transmission clusters is essential to effectively target public health interventions. One reason for clustering is that the underlying contact network contains many local communities. We present a new maximum-likelihood method for identifying transmission clusters caused by community structure, based on phylogenetic trees. The method employs a multi-state birth–death (MSBD) model which detects changes in transmission rate, which are interpreted as the introduction of the epidemic into a new susceptible community, i.e. the formation of a new cluster. We show that the MSBD method is able to reliably infer the clusters and the transmission parameters from a pathogen phylogeny based on our simulations. In contrast to existing cutpoint-based methods for cluster identification, our method does not require that clusters be monophyletic nor is it dependent on the selection of a difficult-to-interpret cutpoint parameter. We present an application of our method to data from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study. The method is available as an easy-to-use R package.
Synaptic dysfunction in neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases: an overview of induced pluripotent stem-cell-based disease models
Authors: Taoufik Era , Kouroupi Georgia , Zygogianni Ourania , Matsas Rebecca
Published: September 2018

Synaptic dysfunction in CNS disorders is the outcome of perturbations in physiological synapse structure and function, and can be either the cause or the consequence in specific pathologies. Accumulating data in the field of neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, point to a neurodevelopmental origin of these pathologies. Due to a relatively early onset of behavioural and cognitive symptoms, it is generally acknowledged that mental illness initiates at the synapse level. On the other hand, synaptic dysfunction has been considered as an endpoint incident in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's, mainly due to the considerably later onset of clinical symptoms and progressive appearance of cognitive deficits. This dichotomy has recently been challenged, particularly since the discovery of cell reprogramming technologies and the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from patient somatic cells. The creation of ‘disease-in-a-dish’ models for multiple CNS pathologies has revealed unexpected commonalities in the molecular and cellular mechanisms operating in both developmental and degenerative conditions, most of which meet at the synapse level. In this review we discuss synaptic dysfunction in prototype neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases, emphasizing overlapping features of synaptopathy that have been suggested by studies using induced pluripotent stem-cell-based systems. These valuable disease models have highlighted a potential neurodevelopmental component in classical neurodegenerative diseases that is worth pursuing and investigating further. Moving from demonstration of correlation to understanding mechanistic causality forms the basis for developing novel therapeutics.
Effect of fermentation stillage of food waste on bioelectricity production and microbial community structure in microbial fuel cells
Authors: Ma Hongzhi , Peng Cheng , Jia Yan , Wang Qunhui , Tu Maobing , Gao Ming
Published: September 2018

A single-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) was used in this study to treat recycled stillage obtained from food waste ethanol fermentation. Corresponding substrates inside the system were evaluated by fluorescence spectra, and microbial communities were also investigated. Results demonstrated that output voltage and current, respectively, reached 0.29 V and 1.4 mA with an external resistance of 200 Ω. Corresponding total organic carbon and chemical oxygen demand removal efficiency reached more than 50% and 70%, respectively. Results of fluorescence spectra demonstrated that tryptophan-like aromatic, soluble microbial by-product-like and humic acid-like substances accumulated and were not easily degraded. Microbial community analysis by high-throughput sequence indicated that
Advenella
and
Moheibacter
occupied the highest proportion among all genera at the anode instead of
Geobacter
. These results may be due to complicated accumulated stillage, and potential tetracyclines possibly influenced microbial communities. Details on how stillage affects MFC operation should be further studied, and a solution on relieving effects should be established.
High-sensitive and fast response to 255 nm deep-UV light of CH
3
NH
3
PbX
3
(X = Cl, Br, I) bulk crystals
Authors: Zhang Zhaojun , Zheng Wei , Lin Richeng , Huang Feng
Published: September 2018

Deep-UV light detection has important application in surveillance and homeland security regions. CH
3
NH
3
PbX
3
(X = Cl, Br, I) materials have outstanding optical absorption and electronic transport properties suitable for obtaining excellent deep-UV photoresponse. In this work, we have grown high-quality CH
3
NH
3
PbX
3
(X = Cl, Br, I) bulk crystals and used them to fabricate photodetectors. We found that they all have high-sensitive and fast-speed response to 255 nm deep-UV light. Their responsivities are 10–10
3
times higher than MgZnO and Ga
2
O
3
detectors, and their response speeds are 10
3
times faster than Ga
2
O
3
and ZnO detectors. These results indicate a new promising route for deep-UV detection.
Integrating the aesthetic value of landscapes and biological diversity
Authors: Tribot Anne-Sophie , Deter Julie , Mouquet Nicolas
Published: September 2018

As a cultural ecosystem service, the aesthetic value of landscapes contributes to human well-being, but studies linking biodiversity and ecosystem services generally do not account for this particular service. Therefore, congruence between the aesthetic perception of landscapes, ecological value and biodiversity remains poorly understood. Here, we describe the conceptual background, current methodologies and future challenges of assessing landscape aesthetics and its relationship with biodiversity. We highlight the methodological gaps between the assessment of landscape aesthetics, ecological diversity and functioning. We discuss the challenges associated with connecting landscape aesthetics with ecological value, and the scaling issues in the assessment of human aesthetics perception. To better integrate aesthetic value and ecological components of biodiversity, we propose to combine the study of aesthetics and the understanding of ecological function at both the species and landscape levels. Given the urgent need to engage society in conservation efforts, this approach, based on the combination of the aesthetic experience and the recognition of ecological functioning by the general public, will help change our culture of nature and promote ecologically oriented conservation policies.