bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reduction effect of electromagnetic radiation emitted from mobile phones on human head using electromagnetic shielding materials
Authors: Mudigoudra Shivanagouda , Ragi Kiran , Kadennavar Mahesh , Danashetty Naveen , Sajjanar Prashant , Patil Arun Y , Sridhar M , Suresh H K , Kotturshettar Basavaraj B
Published: December 2020

Since the development of wireless technology we have been benefitted in many ways while becoming more susceptible to the electromagnetic radiations as electromagnetic radiations are the basic means of transmission in this technology. There has been many advancements in the technology which leads to the increased possibilities of exposure to the radiations .The constant exposure to the radiations is found be hazardous to the health of the person. There has been many efforts made by the scientist and research community so as to mitigate the bad effects of radiations by using the shielding materials which absorb the radiations. In this paper we have tried reducing the effect of electromagnetic radiations coming from mobile phones on human head. We used 6 materials as shielding materials. They are germanium, silver, nickel, ferrite, polyurethane and ABS. We conducted thermal analysis in ANSYS workbench. The results are showing that the heat flux developed and the temperature rise is minimum in case of polyurethane while it is maximum with silver.
Image-based bio-cad modeling: overview, scope, and challenges
Authors: Mangrulkar Amol , Rane Santosh , Sunnapwar Vivek
Published: December 2020

CAD used to facilitate engineering design, modeling, simulation, analysis, and manufacturing. Recent advancement in computer graphics, medical imaging, and Image processing created new ways for CAD in the design, modeling, and development of many novels and essential biomedical and non-biomedical applications. The Biomedical use to develop implant, scaffold, prostheses, surgical guide, and other medical devices. The non-medical use in forensic, anthropology, passenger safety product design, and impact analysis. This review article gives an overview of various recent approaches for the development of virtual Bio-CAD models from high resolution medical images. It shows how to choose the appropriate path as per the application's requirement in terms of its complexity and capturing features. Key publications from the reputed peer-reviewed journals and books have been reviewed and presented a different approach to develop Bio-CAD models from non-invasive medical imaging data. Different methods used to develop the interfaces are biomedical software, STL interface, and reverse engineering discussed from various research study have been explored. Recent advances in state-of-art technology such as CAD, medical imaging, and image processing, and reverse engineering techniques made it possible to easily reconstruct the 3D CAD models, which will be useful for other downstream applications. This study concludes that the Bio-CAD model plays a dominant role in all downstream applications for the design, analysis, simulation, and manufacturing of complex biomimetic scaffold, patient-specific implants, surgical guides, prosthesis, organ bio blueprints, and other biomedical models. The outcome from the literature review strongly suggested that Bio-CAD modeling will soon be the future for all medical practitioners, biomedical engineers, and manufacturers and will use in all computer-assisted surgery and planning. This paper is beneficial to study the development of Bio-CAD models techniques and its applications in design, modeling, analysis, and manufacturing of biomedical and nonbiomedical researchers.
Analysis of convective heat transfer over a square cylinder with rounded corners under steady flow regime at low Reynolds number
Authors: Bose S , Patle S D
Published: December 2020

This work deals with the numerical simulation of square cylinder with different rounded corners and numerical analysis of convective heat transfer is studied, here emphasis is being laid on both type of flow regime i.e. unsteady flow regime and steady flow regime i.e. between 40 ⩽ Re.⩽ 160 and Pr is kept as 0.7 and thus the finding suggests that the heat transfer increases significantly with rounded corners in square cylinder.
Experimental investigation on effect of zinc oxide nanofluid on performance, emission and combustion characteristics of CI engine fuelled with waste cooking oil biodiesel
Authors: Ramanathan V , Jaikumar M , Aleem Shaik Abdul , Induja S , SangeethKumar E
Published: December 2020

Environmental effluence and fossil fuels exhaustion are the main reasons to use alternate biofuels worldwide in engines. Many researchers focused their research on biodiesel which were extracted from eatable and non-eatable vegetable oils, used them in diesel engines. In this context, biodiesel derived from Waste Cooking Oil (WCO) was taken as a substitute fuel for diesel engine because of two reasons; one reason was some of the properties of this biodiesel were very nearer to diesel and another reason was giving second life to the waste cooking oil instead of disposing of in the land. In the first stage, Waste cooking oil Biodiesel (WCOB) was produced from WCO by transesterification process and experiment was carried out using diesel and WCOB and considered as base readings. In the second stage, Zinc oxide nanofluid in the mass proportions of 50ppm, 75ppm and 100 ppm were synthesised using a novel wet chemical method and blended with WCOB and considered fuels as WCOBZN50, WCOBZN75 and WCOBZN100 and their properties were tested. Then the experiment was conducted in a fully equipped engine test set up. The engine was loaded at various loading conditions. The readings were measured and analysed. The results exhibited that the blending of zinc oxide nanofluids with WCOB improved engine performance characteristics. Also, it was observed that the addition of zinc oxide nanofluids reduced the engine tailpipe emissions compared to neat WCOB. It was also found that the combustion characteristics of ZnO nano blended biodiesel were increased marginally.
Evaluation of effective location and thickness of shear wall on performance of multi-storey building subjected to lateral load
Authors: Shreelakshmi V , Kavitha S
Published: December 2020

The aim of the present study is to identify the optimum thickness of the shear divider and suitable position of shear divider in the structure. In this present study G+20 storeys building is considered which is positioned in a zone IV with soil type as medium. The linear static analysis method is used for analysis by using etabs 2016 software. We have considered four different thickness of shear wall such as 150mm, 175mm, 200mm and 225mm.and again considered the three different position in the buildings such as shear divider at corner, shear divider at mid span of the structure and core divider at center of the structure. The parameters considered are storey dislocation, storey drift, Overturning moment, base shear and modal time period.
Two dimensional rotor blade numerical analysis using ANSYS
Authors: Anand Shlok , Shenoy Satvik , Srinivas G
Published: December 2020

Turbo-pump is an essential component in any rocket engine. The airfoil (NGTE 10C4 series) section of a rotor blade in the SSME (Space Shuttle Main Engine) was modelled along with a far-field of suitable shape and dimensions. The model was suitably discretized with proper amount of refinement, etc. A numerical simulation was then carried-out using ANSYS software with several iterations of varying inlet boundary conditions to check for any improvement in the performance of the rotor blade. Inlet velocity for optimum functionality of the blade was identified.
Aerodynamic performance enhancement of missile using numerical techniques
Authors: Divakaran Raghuvaran , Barretto Nathan , Srinivas G
Published: December 2020

The objective of the paper is to conduct aerodynamic analysis on V-2 missile. The V-2 missile was the world’s first ballistic missile and the first object to go into space. It is a long-range liquid propelled missile. It uses aerodynamic surfaces such as wings, fins, control surfaces and fuselage to deliver the lateral maneuverability. This is accomplished by deflecting the control surfaces through the actuation mechanism and thereby modifying the equilibrium forces and producing various moments. The V-2 missile was 14 meters long and weighed 12,700–13,200 kg at launching. It produces about 266 KN of thrust.

ANSYS modeler is used to model the V-2 missile, and the flow around the missile body has been evaluated using the ANSYS workbench. This paper carried out simulations for varying angles of attack and Mach numbers until the stall was observed. Effects due to density, pressure coefficient, temperature and Mach number on the missile is noted in order to undergo detailed flow analysis.
Atrial fibrillation and stroke prevention: state of the art—epidemiology and pathophysiology: new risk factors, concepts and controversies
Authors: Kodani Eitaro , Akao Masaharu
Published: December 2020

Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of thromboembolism, and risk assessment for thromboembolism is necessary for the management of AF patients. CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores have been adopted in international guidelines for AF management, but the significance of each risk factor included in these risk scores are sometimes controversial, and the performance of these scores is only modest. There are several other risk factors not included in the scores such as renal dysfunction, low body weight, type of AF (paroxysmal or non-paroxysmal) as well as echocardiographic parameters and blood biomarkers, and physicians should assess patients risk in an integrated manner.
Ten years of non-vitamin K antagonists oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: is warfarin obsolete?
Authors: Hammwöhner Matthias , Goette Andreas
Published: December 2020

Currently, four non-vitamin K antagonists oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are available for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF). These have been in clinical use for up to 10 years now. Besides data of the initial phase III clinical trials, now clinical data, several sub-studies, meta-analyses, and studies in special clinical settings and specific patient populations are available. This review shall give an overview on the history of NOAC development, sum up study data and ‘real-world’ clinical data as well as discuss several special clinical settings like NOAC treatment in patients that require coronary artery stenting or cardioversion (CV). Furthermore, treatment considerations in special patient populations like patients with renal impairment, obesity, or patients requiring NOACs for secondary prevention are discussed. The significance of NOAC treatment will be discussed under consideration of the recently published 2020 ESC/EACTS Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of AF.
Tomboys in Sarah Grand’s New Woman Fiction
Authors: Moon Jina
Published: December 2020

Sarah Grand’s The Beth Book (1897) and Babs the Impossible (1901) both feature overtly tomboyish protagonists, in what I argue is an effort to shift notions of femininity and gender identity and to adopt gender-neutral qualities as features of the New Woman – qualities such as independence, comradeship, and loyalty to other human beings. In this essay, I argue that Grand attempted to soften resistance to the New Woman by focusing on tomboyism in childhood (utilizing people’s tendency to feel favourably towards children) and then extending tomboy qualities to New Womanhood while providing the Victorian public with an exemplar of independent and robust femininity. The critical difference between a prototypical tomboy figure and the one in New Woman fiction is that the latter keeps their tomboyism after maturity, sublimating the trait into her inborn self, faithful to herself and her ideas. Beyond the trope of the childhood tomboy, Grand aimed to bolster and strengthen womanhood by adopting tomboyism as an extension of a inborn self and redefine notions of acceptable female behaviour, thereby expanding the scope of womanhood.
Comparison of calorie and nutrient intake among elderly with and without sarcopenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Santiago Emanuelle C S , Roriz Anna K C , Ramos Lílian B , Ferreira Andrêa J F , Oliveira Carolina C , Gomes-Neto Mansueto
Published: December 2020

Context

Sarcopenia, besides having an impact on functional capacity, has been associated with increased hospitalization and mortality, and stands out as an essential cause of disability among older people.

Objective

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies comparing the calories and nutrients ingested by elderly people with and without sarcopenia.

Data sources

MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, LILACS, Cochrane Library, and Scielo databases were searched.

Study Selection

Studies comparing calories and nutrient intake among elderly people diagnosed with sarcopenia and people without sarcopenia were included.

Data Analysis

Mean differences and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, and heterogeneity was assessed using I2 test.

Results

A total of 23 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The average number of calories and nutrients ingested were significantly lower in elderly study participants with sarcopenia compared with those without sarcopenia. The meta-analyses showed that the average number of calories ingested (n = 19 studies; mean difference, −156.7 kcal; 95%CI, −194.8 to −118.7) were significantly lower in those with sarcopenia than in elderly participants without sarcopenia. Compared to those without sarcopenia, elderly people with sarcopenia consumed lower amounts of proteins; carbohydrates; saturated fatty acids; vitamins A, B12, C, and D; and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, and selenium.

Conclusions

The evidence so far available suggests a difference in caloric, macronutrient (ie, proteins, carbohydrates, saturated fatty acids), and micronutrient (ie calcium, magnesium, sodium, selenium, and vitamins A, B12, C, and D) intake among the elderly with and without sarcopenia. Additional studies are needed to define the best interventions to improve the consumption of calories and nutrients by the aging population.
Urban collective garden participation and health: a systematic literature review of potential benefits for free-living adults
Authors: Tharrey Marion , Darmon Nicole
Published: December 2020

Context

Collective gardens are increasingly considered a tool to promote health and well-being.

Objective

In this systematic review, we critically appraise quantitative studies exploring the potential health benefits of urban collective garden participation.

Data Sources

Articles published between January 2000 and August 2020 were used.

Data Extraction

All original research studies reporting at least 1 health outcomes associated with urban collective gardening in free-living adults from Western and other high-income countries were included. Of 1261 articles identified, 15 were included in the systematic review. Methodological quality was assessed by applying the criteria of the Quantitative Study Quality Assessment Tool.

Analysis

A wide range of health indicators was used. Collective gardening was associated with higher fruit and vegetable consumption than was nongardening. Mixed results were found for physical activity and physiological health. A positive association was found in most studies with mental health and social health. However, the vast majority of included studies were cross-sectional and presented selection bias (n = 13 of 15 for both) and very few used objective measurement methods (n = 3 of 15).

Conclusions

Longitudinal studies allowing the exploration of causal relationships are needed before the health benefits of collective garden participation suggested by existing studies can be confirmed.
From Mobsters to Magnates: Shifting Blame for Modern Slavery in Australian Parliamentary Inquiries
Authors: O’Brien Erin
Published: December 2020

Policy problems are typically framed through a representation of those who have been harmed, and those who are to blame, with parliamentary inquiries playing a key role in setting the agenda by mediating between competing problematisations. In order to reveal the politics behind policy-making through inquiries, it is necessary to examine both the aspects of the issue that are problematised and those aspects that remain unproblematised. Adopting modern slavery policy in Australia as a case study, this article utilises Bacchi’s ‘what is the problem represented to be?’ framework for analysing discourse in parliamentary inquiries on modern slavery between 2003 and 2018. I argue that across three clear phases of policy-making, problematisation has shifted and evolved, though blame has consistently been deflected away from the role of the state in contributing to the conditions that cause modern slavery.
Hemophilia carriers and women with coagulopathies: challenges in the occupational arena
Authors: Pérez Lourdes
Published: December 2020

It is known that hemophilia carries have a higher incidence of abnormal bleeding in wounds, dental extractions, surgeries, epistaxis, but how does this symptomatology affect her in her daily life? In her family environment and works? This supplement outlines the importance of patient associations and the resources available to help women with bleeding disorders.
Comparison of breast ductal carcinoma in situ and ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion, and analysis of axillary lymph node metastasis
Authors: Zhang Geng , Li Chunxiao , Tian Guo , Cheng Xiaozhi , Li Yilun , Ma Li
Published: December 2020

To compare the clinicopathologic features and long-term outcomes for women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) vs DCIS with microinvasion (DCISM), to assess the impact of microinvasion on tumor size and determine relationships between the number of microinvasive lesions and clinicopathological factors.

A total of 493 patients with DCIS or DCISM from our database were analyzed to assess differences in clinicopathologic features and outcomes between the 2 cohorts.

The median follow-up was 3.9 years, 229 patients had DCIS and 264 had DCISM, and the mean age was 46.8 years for the entire group. A total of 208 patients underwent axillary operation in the DCIS cohort vs 246 in the DCISM cohort, and the number of lymph node metastasis cases was 0 vs 13 for the 2 groups. For the lymph node-positive cases, the proportion of patients with no less than 3 microinvasive legions was 61.5% (8/13), while in the lymph node-negative group, the proportion of patients was 31.1% (78/251) (P < .05). For the DCIS and DCISM groups, the relapse-free survival (RFS) values were 99.0% and 95.4% (P = .034), while the overall survival (OS) values were 96.2% and 99.2% (P = .032), respectively.

Our data imply that for breast DCIS patients, axillary lymph node operation can be avoided, but for DCISM patients, surgical evaluation of the axilla is necessary. In addition, having no less than 3 microinvasive lesions in DCISM indicates poor prognosis. In the pathological staging of DCISM, tumor size and number of microinvasive lesions should be considered.
Halomonas icarae sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from beach soil in India
Authors: Pandiyan Kuppusamy , Kushwaha Prity , Bagul Samadhan Y. , Chakdar Hillol , Madhaiyan Munusamy , Krishnamurthi Srinivasan , Kumar Pravin , Karthikeyan Nanjappan , Singh Arjun , Kumar Murugan , Singh Udai Bhan , Saxena Anil Kumar
Published: December 2020

A moderately halophilic, Gram-stain-negative, aerobic bacterium, strain D1-1T, belonging to the genus

Halomonas

, was isolated from soil sampled at Pentha beach, Odisha, India. Phylogenetic trees reconstructed based on 16S rRNA genes and multilocus sequence analysis of gyrB and rpoD genes revealed that strain D1-1T belonged to the genus

Halomonas

and was most closely related to

Halomonas alimentaria

YKJ-16T (98.1 %) followed by

Halomonas ventosae

Al12T (97.5 %),

Halomonas sediminicola

CPS11T (97.5 %),

Halomonas fontilapidosi

5CRT (97.4 %) and

Halomonas halodenitrificans

DSM 735T (97.2 %) on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Sequence identities with other species within the genus were lower than 97.0 %. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values of 22.4–30 % and 79.5–85.4 % with close relatives of

H. halodenitrificans

DSM 735T,

H

.

alimentaria

YKJ-16T,

H. ventosae

Al12T and

H. fontilapidosi

5CRT were lower than the threshold recommended for species delineation (70 % and 95–96 % for dDDH and ANI, respectively). Further, strain D1-1T formed yellow-coloured colonies; cells were rod-shaped, motile with optimum growth at 30 °C (range, 4–45 °C) and 2–8 % NaCl (w/v; grew up to 24 % NaCl). The major fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1
 ω7c/C18 : 1
 ω6c), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1
 ω7c/C16 : 1
 ω6c) and C16 : 0 and the main respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-9 in line with description of the genus. Based on its chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics and genome uniqueness, strain D1-1T represents a novel species in the genus

Halomonas

, for which we propose the name Halomonas icarae sp. nov., within the family

Halomonadaceae

. The type strain is D1-1T (=JCM 33602T=KACC 21317T=NAIMCC-B-2254T).
Targeted quantification of phosphorylation sites identifies STRIPAK-dependent phosphorylation of the Hippo pathway-related kinase SmKIN3
Authors: Stein Valentina , Blank-Landeshammer Bernhard , Märker Ramona , Sickmann Albert , Kück Ulrich
Published: December 2020

We showed recently that the germinalcentrekinase III (GCKIII) SmKIN3 from the fungusSordaria macrosporais involved in sexual development and hyphal septation. Our recent extensive global proteome and phosphoproteome analysis revealed that SmKIN3 is a target of thestriatininteractingphosphataseandkinase (STRIPAK) multi-subunit complex. Here, using protein samples from wild type and three STRIPAK mutants, we applied absolute quantification byparallelreactionmonitoring (PRM) to analyze phosphorylation site occupancy in SmKIN3 and otherseptationinitiationnetwork (SIN) components, such as CDC7 and DBF2, as well as BUD4, acting downstream of SIN. For SmKIN3, we show that phosphorylation of S668 and S686 is decreased in mutants lacking distinct subunits of STRIPAK, while a third phosphorylation site, S589, was not affected. We constructed SmKIN3 mutants carrying phospho-mimetic and phospho-deficient codons for phosphorylation sites S589, S668 and S686. Investigation of hyphae in a ΔSmKin3 strain complemented by the S668 and S686 mutants showed a hyper-septation phenotype, which was absent in the wild type, the ΔSmKin3 strain complemented with wild type gene, or the mutant S589. Furthermore, localization studies with SmKIN3 phosphorylation variants and STRIPAK mutants showed that SmKIN3 preferentially localizes at the terminal septa, which is distinctly different from the wild type strains. We conclude that STRIPAK-dependent phosphorylation of SmKIN3 has an impact on controlled septum formation and on the time-dependent localization of SmKIN3 on septa at the hyphal tip. Thus, STRIPAK seems to regulate SmKIN3, as well as DBF2 and BUD4 phosphorylation, affecting septum formation.
C57BL6 mouse substrains demonstrate differences in susceptibility to the demyelinating effects of Cuprizone toxin
Authors: O’Loughlin Elaine , Jacob Binod , Zeballos Gonzalo , Manfre Philip , McCullough Anjali , Gatto Nicholas Thomas , Tsuchiya Takayuki , Karkkainen Anna-Mari , Lehtimäki Kimmo , Kuosmanen Juha , Rosahl Thomas W. , Varty Geoffrey B. , Kennedy Matthew E. , Mirescu Christian , Bardehle Sophia
Published: December 2020

Advances in our understanding of cellular functions and phenotypes in the brain rely on technically robust experimentalin vivomodels with face validity towards human disease. The cuprizone toxin-induced demyelination model is widely used to investigate pathophysiological mechanisms of demyelinating and remyelinating phases of multiple sclerosis. The C57BL6 mouse is a common inbred strain used as the genetic background for genetically engineered and congenic mice. Substrains of C57BL6 mice sourced from distinct vendors are often treated as equivalent in research studies. Here, we demonstrated that an alternative dosing approach via oral gavage with a well-tolerated, lower dose of cuprizone resulted in significant differences in C57BL/6NTac (Taconic) over C57BL/6J (Jax) mice. With consistent dosing of cuprizone for 5 weeks, body weights were significantly affected in C57BL/6NTac versus C57BL/6J mice. DT-MRI showed significant demyelination in white matter regions in the C57BL/6NTac mice. Concomitantly, histology analysis illustrated increased microgliosis and proliferation in C57BL/6NTac compared with C57BL/6J mice. These observations suggest that the C57BL/6NTac substrain of C57BL6 mice is more vulnerable to cuprizone challenge. Genetic factors along with breeder source appear to influence susceptibility to cuprizone toxin. Thus, the awareness of the limitations ofin vivomodels in addition to informed decision making on the appropriate background substrain can greatly improve sensitivity and reproducibility of results and use for evaluating investigational therapeutics.
Forecasting daily confirmed COVID-19 cases in Algeria using ARIMA models
Authors: Abdelaziz Messis , Ahmed Adjebli , Riad Ayeche , Abderrezak Ghidouche , Djida Ait-Ali
Published: December 2020

Coronavirus disease has become a worldwide threat affecting almost every country in the world. The aim of this study is to identify the COVID-19 cases (positive, recovery and death) in Algeria using the Double Exponential Smoothing Method and an Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model for forecasting the COVID-19 cases.

The data for this study were obtained from March 21st, 2020 to November 26th, 2020. The daily Algerian COVID-19 confirmed cases were sourced from The Ministry of Health, Population and Hospital Reform of Algeria. Based on the results of PACF, ACF, and estimated parameters of the ARIMA model in the COVID-19 case in Algeria following the ARIMA model (0,1,1). Observed cases during the forecast period were accurately predicted and were placed within the prediction intervals generated by the fitted model. This study shows that ARIMA models with optimally selected covariates are useful tools for monitoring and predicting trends of COVID-19 cases in Algeria.
Alternative splicing of GluN1 gates glycine-primed internalization of NMDA receptors
Authors: Li Hongbin , Rajani Vishaal , Han Lu , Chung Danielle , Cooke James E. , Sengar Ameet S. , Salter Michael W.
Published: December 2020

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), a principal subtype of excitatory neurotransmitter receptor, are composed as tetrameric assemblies of two glycine-binding GluN1 subunits and two glutamate-binding GluN2 subunits. Gating of the NMDARs requires binding of four co-agonist molecules, but the receptors can signal non-ionotropically through binding of glycine, alone, to its cognate site on GluN1. A consequence of this signalling by glycine is that NMDARs are primed such that subsequent gating, produced by glycine and glutamate, drives receptor internalization. The GluN1 subunit is not a singular molecular species in the CNS, rather there are 8 alternatively spliced isoforms of this subunit produced by including or excluding the N1 and the C1, C2 or C2’ polypeptide cassettes. Whether alternative splicing affects glycine priming signalling is unknown. Here, using recombinant NMDARs expressed heterologously we discovered that glycine priming of NMDARs critically depends on alternative splicing: the four splice isoforms lacking the N1 cassette, encoded in exon 5, are primed by glycine whereas glycine priming is blocked in the four splice variants containing the N1 cassette. On the other hand, the C-terminal cassettes – C1, C2 or C2’ – had no effect on glycine priming signalling. Nor was glycine priming affected by the GluN2 subunit in the receptor. In wild-type mice we found that glycine primed internalization of synaptic NMDARs in CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons. With mice we engineered such that GluN1 obligatorily contained the N1 cassette, glycine did not prime synaptic NMDARs in pyramidal neurons. In contrast to pyramidal neurons, we discovered that in wild-type mice, synaptic NMDARs in CA1 inhibitory interneurons were resistant to glycine priming. But we recapitulated glycine priming in inhibitory interneurons in mice engineered such that GluN1 obligatorily lacked the N1 cassette. Our findings reveal a previously unsuspected molecular function for alternative splicing of GluN1 in controlling non-ionotropic signalling of NMDAR by glycine and the consequential cell surface dynamics of the receptors.
A higher burden of multiple sclerosis genetic risk confers an earlier onset
Authors: Misicka Elina , Davis Mary F. , Kim Woori , Brugger Steven W. , Beales Jeremy , Loomis Stephanie , Bronson Paola G. , Briggs Farren B.S.
Published: December 2020

Multiple sclerosis is a neurodegenerative, autoimmune disease characterized by inrreversible neurological disability. The age at onset of multiple sclerosis is an objective and influential predictor of the evolution of multiple sclerosis independent of disease duration. Little is known about the mechanisms contributing to variation in onset age of multiple sclerosis, thoughHLA-DRB1*15:01, the predominant risk variant, confers an earlier onset. Here we present an age at onset genome-wide association analysis for 9.2 million variants, including gene-based and pathway enrichment analyses, for 3,495 cases who were non-Latinx white with onset ≥18 years. We investigated whether a higher burden of multiple sclerosis risk variants conferred an earlier age at onset for combinations ofHLA-DRB1*15:01alleles and quintiles of a genetic risk score for 200 risk variants that reside outside the major histocompatibility complex. The study population had a mean age at onset of 32 years, 29% was male, and 46% wereHLA-DRB1*15:01carriers.HLA-DRB1*15:01carriers were on average one year younger at onset than non-carriers (p<0.001); a similar effect was observed for a 10-risk-allele increase in the genetic risk score (p<1×10-8). Those in the highest genetic risk score quintile (n=717) were on average 2.5 years younger at onset than those in the lowest quintile (n=698; p=1.2×10-7). For those with the greatest genetic risk burden (highest genetic risk score quintile with twoHLA-DRB1*15:01alleles) were on average five years younger at onset (p=0.002) than those with the lowest genetic risk burden (lowest genetic risk score quintile with noHLA-DRB1*15:01alleles). There was an apparent inverse relationship between the genetic multiple sclerosis risk burden and age at onset of multiple sclerosis (p<5×10-8). We did not observe any individual variants reaching genome-wide significance in the genome-wide association analysis of age at onset. The most significantly associated independent genic loci (p<5×10-6) were located withinHLA-DQB1, COL21A1, LINC01484, UBR3, andCSMD1. At the gene-level, the most significant associations (p<5×10-5) were forSSB, TRAFD1, HECTD2, MMP8, NAA25andUBR3. There was an enrichment of genes involved in adaptive and innate immunity, specifically genes in the complement pathway, and genes involved in synapses and collagen biosynthesis. In summary, we demonstrated a significant gradient between elevated genetic risk burden and an earlier onset of multiple sclerosis.
Massively parallel quantification of phenotypic heterogeneity in single cell drug responses
Authors: Yellen Benjamin B. , Zawistowski Jon S. , Czech Eric A. , Sanford Caleb I. , SoRelle Elliott D. , Luftig Micah A. , Forbes Zachary G. , Wood Kris C. , Hammerbacher Jeff
Published: December 2020

Single cell analysis tools have made significant advances in characterizing genomic heterogeneity, however tools for measuring phenotypic heterogeneity have lagged due to the increased difficulty of handling live biology. Here, we report a single cell phenotyping tool capable of measuring image-based clonal properties at scales approaching 100,000 clones per experiment. These advances are achieved by exploiting a novel flow regime in ladder microfluidic networks that, under appropriate conditions, yield a mathematically perfect cell trap. Machine learning and computer vision tools are used to control the imaging hardware and analyze the cellular phenotypic parameters within these images. Using this platform, we quantified the responses of tens of thousands of single cell-derived acute myeloid leukemia (AML) clones to targeted therapy, identifying rare resistance and morphological phenotypes at frequencies down to 0.05%. This approach can be extended to higher-level cellular architectures such as cell pairs and organoids and on-chip live-cell fluorescence assays.
Facilitating accountability in corporate sustainability reporting through Spotlight Accounting
Authors: Perkiss Stephanie , Bayerlein Leopold , Dean Bonnie Amelia
Published: December 2020

Purpose

It is difficult for corporate sustainability reporting (CSR) to provide accountability to stakeholders. This paper assesses whether accountability-based CSR systems can be created through the application of Spotlight Accounting and WikiRate as a hybrid forum.

Design/methodology/approach

The current paper explores the utility of Spotlight Accounting for CSR through assessing its application to a hybrid forum, WikiRate. This process involved engaging student researchers to collect CSR data from the United Nations Global Compact's (UNGC) corporate action group (CAG) and recording this information into the WikiRate platform. Aggregate analysis was conducted to assess the limitations and challenges of the data to inform decision-making.

Findings

Spotlight Accounting exposes challenges within traditional applications of CSR. These challenges impact comparability, decision usefulness and accountability of CSR data for stakeholders.

Practical implications

This paper provides recommendations to enhance the accessibility and relevance of company information to assist in the provision of Spotlight Accounting. In doing so, it highlights the usefulness of CSR to leverage greater accountability between corporations and society.

Originality/value

This paper applies the emerging practices of Spotlight Accounting and presents it as an alternative way to research and conceptualise external accounts, reporting and accountability. This form of accounting has the potential to enhance communications and partnerships between companies and society as well as challenge dominate power dynamics held by corporations.
Investigating consumer alienation toward broiler leading to food insecurity
Authors: Ayyub Rana Muhammad , Naeem Saira , Ahmed Shehzad , Jayawardhena Chanaka
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The main purpose of this paper is to study the changing consumer behavior toward broiler meat and apprise its consequences toward food insecurity.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a sequential exploratory mixed-method study in which qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews (n = 38) by snowball sampling. The quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire survey (n = 975) by convenience sampling. The qualitative data were analyzed through NVivo 10 software by using thematic analysis, i.e. the qualitative content analysis (QCA). The theory of consumer alienation provides the theoretical underpinning for a quantitative study. The established scales were adopted and adapted. The quantitative data was analyzed through AMOS 24 software by using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

It was found that people have many reservations regarding broiler meat. Thus, consumer alienation negatively (ß = −0.10) and the subjective norm positively (ß = 0.82) affects the intention to buy broiler meat.

Research limitations/implications

The ongoing consumer alienation toward broiler will force them to avoid using this cheapest protein and ultimately will lead to food insecurity in developing countries. It is recommended that people must be adequately educated about the real broiler business and its operations to counter their ongoing misperceptions.

Originality/value

It is the original empirical Research Work.
Temporary hearing threshold shift in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) due to one-sixth-octave noise bands centered at 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz
Authors: Kastelein Ronald A. , Helder-Hoek Lean , Cornelisse Suzanne A. , Defillet Linde N. , Huijser Léonie A. E. , Terhune John M.
Published: December 2020

This study concludes a larger project on the frequency-dependent susceptibility to noise-induced temporary hearing threshold shift (TTS) in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). Here, two seals were exposed to one-sixth-octave noise bands (NBs) centered at 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz at several sound exposure levels (SELs, in dB re 1 μPa2s). TTSs were quantified at the center frequency of each NB, half an octave above, and one octave above, at the earliest within 1–4 min after exposure. Generally, elicited TTSs were low, and the highest TTS1–4 occurred at half an octave above the center frequency of the fatiguing sound: after exposure to the 0.5-kHz NB at 210 dB SEL, the TTS1–4 at 0.71 kHz was 2.3 dB; after exposure to the 1-kHz NB at 207 dB SEL, the TTS1–4 at 1.4 kHz was 6.1 dB; and after exposure to the 2-kHz NB at 215 dB SEL, TTS1–4 at 2.8 kHz was 7.9 dB. Hearing always recovered within 60 min, and susceptibility to TTS was similar in both seals. The results show that, for the studied frequency range, the lower the center frequency of the fatiguing sound, the higher the SEL required to cause the same TTS.
Cross-Section Auger Analysis to Study the Bulk Organization/Structure of Mn-Co Nano-Composites for Hybrid Supercapacitors
Authors: Madec Lénaïc , Tang Céline , Ledeuil Jean-Bernard , Giaume Domitille , Guerlou-Demourgues Liliane , Martinez Hervé
Published: December 2020

Developing new methods to prepare pseudocapacitive materials with high pseudocapacitance/electronic conductivity is of great interest for hybrid supercapacitors. Recently, the exfoliation/restacking of manganese and cobalt layered transition metal oxides was proposed. Despite improved electrochemical performance of such Mn-Co composites, their bulk organization (i.e. the scale at which the stacking occurs) and structure (i.e. porosity…) remains to be elucidated so far. To tackle this issue, here, SEM and Auger analysis with a nanoscale resolution, coupled to cross-section preparation is proposed. A good correlation between the restacking method, the nanoscale organization/structure of composites and resulting electrochemical performance is obtained. Importantly, the combination of cross-section with Auger analysis allows revealing the nanoscale stacking of the Mn and Co phases. Also, the porosity of the nano-composites, revealed by the cross-section preparation, is correlated to the speed of the restacking process. A fast flocculation step forms aggregates with a porous bulk structure while a slow flocculation step leads to a dense and closed bulk structure of the aggregates. These results highlight that a better control/understanding of the organization/structure of such nano-composites can lead to further improvement. Overall, the innovative cross-section Auger approach proposed in this study should also benefit to the understanding of other nano-composites.
Polyacrylonitrile-Based Carbon Fiber as Anode for Manganese Electrowinning: Anode Slime Emission Reduction and Metal Dendrite Control
Authors: Xie Zinan , Chang Jun , Tao Changyuan , Li Li , Luan Jinhua , Liu Zuohua
Published: December 2020

The traditional lead-based anodes used in industrial electrolysis process trigger the high energy consumption, lead pollution and hazardous anode slime discharge. In this work, an original undecorated Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fiber was employed as anode material (CF anode) to evaluate its electrochemical performance and feasibility, aiming at fundamentally reducing the energy consumption and pollution emissions for the manganese electrolysis. The results shown that the CF anode exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity and delivered a current density of 350 A m–2 at an overpotential decreased by 112 mV for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) compared with commercial lead-based alloy anode (Pb anode). We also found CF anode exhibited favorable performance with average current efficiency increased by 4.30%, energy consumption decreased by 8.36%, and a noteworthy abatement of anode slime by 80% compared with Pb anode in MnSO4 electrolyte. Additionally, the growth of manganese dendrites on the cathode edge which directly affected the electrolytic efficiency has also been effectively controlled and the possible mechanisms were also discussed. This work displayed the excellent electrocatalytic effect of CF anode serviced as a promising candidate for green and efficient electrolysis process.
Monocyte Chemotactic Protein 1-Induced Protein 1 Is Highly Expressed in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Negatively Regulates Neutrophil Activities
Authors: Lin Jian , Li Gengfeng , Xu Chunjin , Lu Huiying , Zhang Cui , Pang Zhi , Liu Zhanju
Published: December 2020

Monocyte chemotactic protein 1-induced protein 1 (MCPIP-1) is highly expressed in activated immune cells and plays an important role in negatively regulating immune responses. However, its role in regulating neutrophil functions in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is still unclear. Here, we found that MCPIP-1 was markedly increased at both the transcriptional and translational levels in inflamed mucosa of IBD patients compared with healthy controls, which was mainly expressed in neutrophils. Interestingly, MG-132, a proteasome inhibitor reducing the degradation of MCPIP-1, further facilitated neutrophils to express MCPIP-1 in vitro. Importantly, MCPIP-1 markedly downregulated the production of ROS, MPO, and proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-8, and interferon-γ) and suppressed the migration of IBD neutrophils. Consistently, the same functional changes were observed in neutrophils from mice with myeloid-targeted overexpression of MCPIP-1 as MG-132 did. Altogether, these findings suggest that MCPIP-1 plays a negative role in regulating neutrophil activities through suppressing the production of ROS, MPO, and proinflammatory cytokines and inhibiting the migration. MG-132 may partially modulate the function of neutrophils via the induction of MCPIP-1. Therefore, targeting MCPIP-1 or exogenous supplementation of MG-132 may provide a therapeutic approach in the treatment of IBD.
Motion Prediction of Human Wearing Powered Exoskeleton
Authors: Jin Xin , Guo Jia , Li Zhong , Wang Ruihao
Published: December 2020

With the development of powered exoskeleton in recent years, one important limitation is the capability of collaborating with human. Human-machine interaction requires the exoskeleton to accurately predict the human motion of the upcoming movement. Many recent works implement neural network algorithms such as recurrent neural networks (RNN) in motion prediction. However, they are still insufficient in efficiency and accuracy. In this paper, a Gaussian process latent variable model (GPLVM) is employed to transform the high-dimensional data into low-dimensional data. Combining with the nonlinear autoregressive (NAR) neural network, the GPLVM-NAR method is proposed to predict human motions. Experiments with volunteers wearing powered exoskeleton performing different types of motion are conducted. Results validate that the proposed method can forecast the future human motion with relative error of 2%∼5% and average calculation time of 120 s∼155 s, depending on the type of different motions.
Position Control of Magnetic Levitation Ball Based on an Improved Adagrad Algorithm and Deep Neural Network Feedforward Compensation Control
Authors: Wei Zhouxiang , Huang Zhiwen , Zhu Jianmin
Published: December 2020

To control the position of the magnetic levitation ball more accurately, this paper proposes a deep neural network feedforward compensation controller based on an improved Adagrad optimization algorithm. The control structure of the controller consists of a deep neural network identifier, a deep neural network feedforward compensator, and a PID controller. First, the dynamic inverse model of the magnetic levitation ball is established by the deep neural network identifier which is trained online based on the improved Adagrad algorithm, and the trained network parameters are dynamically copied to the deep neural network feedforward compensator. Then, the position control of the magnetic levitation ball system is realized by the output of the feedforward compensator and the PID controller. Simulations and experiments illustrate that the accuracy of the deep network feedforward compensation control based on an improved Adagrad algorithm is higher, and its control system shows good dynamic and static performance and robustness to some extent.
Bernstein-Greene-Kruskal approach for the quantum Vlasov equation
Authors: Haas F.
Published: December 2020

The one-dimensional stationary quantum Vlasov equation is analyzed using the energy as one of the dynamical variables, similarly as in the solution of the Vlasov-Poisson system by means of the Bernstein-Greene-Kruskal method. In the semiclassical case where quantum tunneling effects are small, an infinite series solution is developed and shown to be immediately integrable up to a recursive chain of quadratures in position space only. As it stands, the treatment of the self-consistent, Wigner-Poisson system is beyond the scope of the method, which assumes a given smooth time-independent external potential. Accuracy tests for the series expansion are also provided. Examples of anharmonic potentials are worked out up to a high order on the quantum diffraction parameter.
The two-degree-of-freedom parametric oscillator: A mechanical experimental implementation
Authors: Hocquet Thierry , Devaud Martin
Published: December 2020

We report the observation and quantitative measurements of the parametric resonance of a two-degree-of-freedom harmonic oscillator made of two coupled pendula. When varying the length of one of the pendula, we parametrically excite the whole set. The frequency of this excitation can be tuned and its depth ajusted, enabling us to draw a frequency-depth Cartesian diagram in which the oscillation behaviour, namely finiteness or exponential divergence, can be plotted. As in the well-known case of the one-degree-of-freedom oscillator, the stability and instability domains are demarcated by a tongue centred at twice the oscillator's free frequency. But in the two-degree-of-freedom oscillator case, this tongue has a three-tip fine structure, two tips corresponding to the free oscillator's eigenfrequencies and an extra tip corresponding to the average of both eigenfrequencies. This situation is unravelled theoretically using a classical adaptation of a formalism introduced in quantum optics by Glauber.
Estimation of number of runaway electrons per avalanche in Earth's atmosphere
Authors: Khamitov T. , Nozik A. , Stadnichuk E. , Svechnikova E. , Zelenyi M.
Published: December 2020

The connection between thunderstorms and relativistic runaway electron avalanches is an important topic that has attracted the attention of many researchers. Among other things, there are a lot of various simulations of the dynamics of electron avalanches. This article was written mostly in response to the article The critical avalanche of runaway electrons by Evgeny Oreshkin (EPL, 124 (2018) 15001) which shows rather large numbers for an estimate of the number of runaway electrons. The results of our own simulation and comparison with other papers are presented.