bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carbon accumulation in a bare fallow Chernozem soil with high carbon input rates
Authors: Franko Uwe , Schulz Elke
Published: January 2020

A multitude of models for soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics are available to predict management impacts on SOC dynamics in its interaction with environmental factors. Most models include one SOC pool that has no or a very slow, negligible turnover. For this pool of long‐term stabilized (LTS) organic matter, we assumed a dynamic physical protection, whereby organic matter is protected in micropores and exposed to microbial access due to soil structure dynamics. Dynamics of the LTS pool is of special interest because of its very long turnover time. Therefore, it is of special importance whether the size of this pool is unlimited or if it reaches a saturation state. We investigated this topic by applying the CCB (CANDY Carbon Balance) model on a dataset from a long‐term experiment that started in 1983 in Bad Lauchstädt, Germany on a Haplic Chernozem and includes bare fallow treatments with the application of farmyard manure at different rates from 5 to 20 kg m−2 year−1. Observations of SOC development over time supported our hypothesis about the existence of a saturation effect and were used to calibrate the CCB model with the hypothetical assumption of a limited LTS pool size. The model results suggest an upper limit of the LTS pool of 1.07 M% (percent of dry soil mass) SOC for the Bad Lauchstädt site. Furthermore, model calibration of LTS turnover revealed that organic matter in this pool is released from its protected state at a very low rate of 0.003 year−1.

Highlights

Long‐term bare fallow field experiment with FYM input rates up to 20 kg m−2

Predicted long‐term SOC dynamics reflect observations

Proof of non‐linear relationship between SOC storage and carbon input rate

Evidence for limited protection capacity for SOC (saturation effect)
Crystallization and phase transition of tobermorite synthesized by hydrothermal reaction from dicalcium silicate
Authors: Wu Yan , Pan Xiaolin , Li Qiwei , Yu Haiyan
Published: January 2020

In this paper, tobermorite was hydrothermally synthesized from the dicalcium silicate (C2S) in sodium silicate solution, and the crystallization and phase transition process were investigated in detail using XRD, Raman spectra, and SEM. The tobermorite is difficult to synthesize when the temperature is lower than 160°C because it gets converted into xonotlite (without Na2O) or pectolite (with Na2O) when the temperature is higher than 180°C. The crystallization process of tobermorite shows “S” trend with the increase in time, which can be divided into three stages: the nucleation stage, rapid crystal growth stage, and perfect crystal forming stage. During the crystallization, 90% of the crystallization of tobermorite is completed in the stage of rapid crystal growth. Raman spectra and SEM analysis show that with the increase in hydrothermal time, the C2S of monomer (Q0) is first converted into the calcium silicate hydrate of sheet (Q2 and Q3), and then continues to convert into tobermorite of chain (Q2).
Dissecting Between‐Plant and Within‐Plant Wage Dispersion: Evidence from Germany
Authors: Baumgarten Daniel , Felbermayr Gabriel , Lehwald Sybille
Published: January 2020

Using rich linked employer–employee data for (West) Germany between 1996 and 2014, we conduct a decomposition analysis based on recentered influence function (RIF) regressions to analyze the relative contributions of various plant and worker characteristics to the rise in German wage dispersion. Moreover, we separately investigate the sources of between‐plant and within‐plant wage dispersion. We find that industry effects and the collective bargaining regime contribute the most to rising wage inequality. In the case of collective bargaining, both the decline in collective bargaining coverage and the increase in wage dispersion among the group of covered plants have played important roles.
Metabolomics reveals metabolite changes of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension in China
Authors: Chen Chenyang , Luo Fei , Wu Panyun , Huang Yiyuan , Das Avash , Chen Shenglan , Chen Jingyuan , Hu Xinqun , Li Fei , Fang Zhenfei , Zhou Shenhua
Published: January 2020

The specific mechanism of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains elusive. The present study aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of PAH through the identity of novel biomarkers for PAH using metabolomics approach. Serum samples from 40 patients with idiopathic PAH (IPAH), 20 patients with congenital heart disease‐associated PAH (CHD‐PAH) and 20 healthy controls were collected and analysed by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with high‐resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC‐HRMS). Orthogonal partial least square‐discriminate analysis (OPLS‐DA) was applied to screen potential biomarkers. These results were validated in monocrotaline (MCT)‐induced PAH rat model. The OPLS‐DA model was successful in screening distinct metabolite signatures which distinguished IPAH and CHD‐PAH patients from healthy controls, respectively (26 and 15 metabolites). Unbiased analysis from OPLS‐DA identified 31 metabolites from PAH patients which were differentially regulated compared to the healthy controls. Our analysis showed dysregulation of the different metabolic pathways, including lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism, amino acid metabolism and phospholipid metabolism pathways in PAH patients compared to their healthy counterpart. Among these metabolites from dysregulated metabolic pathways, a panel of metabolites from lipid metabolism and fatty acid oxidation (lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylcholine, perillic acid, palmitoleic acid, N‐acetylcholine‐d‐sphingomyelin, oleic acid, palmitic acid and 2‐Octenoylcarnitine metabolites) were found to have a close association with PAH. The results from the analysis of both real‐time quantitative PCR and Western blot showed that expression of LDHA, CD36, FASN, PDK1 GLUT1 and CPT‐1 in right heart/lung were significantly up‐regulated in MCT group than the control group.
Behavior of Parents Seeking Care From Emergency Services Due to Fever in Children
Authors: Villarejo‐Rodríguez María Gloria , Rodríguez‐Martín Beatriz
Published: January 2020

Purpose

To explore the behavior of parents, with and without health training, seeking care from emergency services due to their child’s fever.

Design and Setting

A qualitative study based on Grounded Theory using a triangulated sample (theoretical sampling and snowball sampling) of parents of children 0 to 12 years old who received care for fever in the emergency primary care services of two Spanish municipalities.

Methods

Data saturation was achieved after eight focus groups segmented by gender, place of residence, and education (57 participants). Data analysis followed the constant comparative method and coding process.

Findings

The parents attended the emergency department when fever was high or persistent and to determine the cause. The reasons for avoiding the emergency department differed; whereas the health professional parents avoided consulting other colleagues as they felt questioned, for parents who were not healthcare professionals, there was a fear of acquiring an infection.

Conclusions

Parents’ search for healthcare differs according to their background and education.

Clinical Relevance

These results provide key information for the design of care plans to improve health care and patient satisfaction.
Partner Incarceration and Women's Substance Use
Authors: Bruns Angela , Lee Hedwig
Published: January 2020

Objective

This study examines whether the incarceration of women's partners is associated with their own drug, alcohol, and cigarette use.

Background

Partners of incarcerated men face a number of stressors, including deteriorating relationships and economic instability. These stressors may lead women to engage in coping strategies that can negatively impact health.

Methods

Data come from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 3,733), a cohort study of mostly low‐income mothers in 20 large U.S. cities. Using lagged dependent variable models and propensity score matching, the authors estimate women's alcohol, drug, and cigarette use as a function of partner incarceration. The authors also examine mediators (relationship instability, economic instability, and diminished mental health) and moderators (race/ethnicity, residential status) of these associations.

Results

Partner incarceration was significantly associated with drug use only, and this association was concentrated among Black women. There was no evidence that this association operated through the studied mediators.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that the social contexts in which Black women live can make those who experience partner incarceration particularly vulnerable to drug use. Although the findings leave questions regarding the pathways through which partner incarceration is linked to drug use, they suggest that incarceration compounds the disadvantages Black women already face in a social system that stratifies access to social goods based on skin color and ethnic origin, which may contribute to health disparities more broadly.
Which generative reproduction characteristics determine successful establishment of the subalpine shrub Pinus mugo?
Authors: Šenfeldr Martin , Treml Václav
Published: January 2020

Questions

Shrub expansion in arctic, alpine and subalpine areas has been occurring recently due to warming, land abandonment and increasing nitrogen deposition. However, shrub expansion is strongly affected by largely unknown site‐specific regeneration patterns. We evaluated the importance of seed production, suitable microsite availability and seedling survival for seedling establishment of the subalpine conifer shrub Pinus mugo.

Location

Hrubý Jeseník Mts., Czech Republic (50° N, 17° E).

Methods

We collected data on: (a) seed quantity and quality; (b) seedling microsite preferences; and (c) seedling survival during initial ontogenetic stages. From 2006 to 2016 we assessed cone production annually and tested seed viability every second year. Microsite preferences were analyzed for 650 seedlings at six sites. The following microsite characteristics were recorded for 1‐m2 around each seedling: percentage of bare surface; surrounding plant species cover; surface shape; and organic horizon thickness. Additionally, distance and direction to the nearest adult pine were recorded. Finally, we tested survival of 200 newly established seedlings in relation to microsite type.

Results

Seed source and viability were not critical factors for seedling establishment. Far more important was the presence of suitable bare‐surface microhabitats with thin or no organic layer near mature pine stands. Vegetation communities dominated by Avenella flexuosa and Nardus stricta facilitated seedling establishment; communities dominated by Vaccinium myrtillus showed strong competitive effects on seedlings. Vegetation's effect on seedling establishment was closely related to disturbance regime, which influences vegetation type. Seedling mortality was highest in the first year of life irrespective of microsite vegetation type. Highest mortality was associated with open mineral‐soil microsites, while microsites with dense herbaceous vegetation showed the lowest.

Conclusions

Potential Pinus mugo expansion will occur in close proximity to existing mature stands, and its intensity will be strongly modified by site‐specific density of suitable microsites and/or dominant species of host communities.
A bifunctional salvage pathway for two distinct S‐adenosylmethionine by‐products that is widespread in bacteria, including pathogenic Escherichia coli
Authors: North Justin A. , Wildenthal John A. , Erb Tobias J. , Evans Bradley S. , Byerly Kathryn M. , Gerlt John A. , Tabita Fred R.
Published: January 2020

S‐adenosyl‐l‐methionine (SAM) is a necessary cosubstrate for numerous essential enzymatic reactions including protein and nucleotide methylations, secondary metabolite synthesis and radical‐mediated processes. Radical SAM enzymes produce 5ʹ‐deoxyadenosine, and SAM‐dependent enzymes for polyamine, neurotransmitter and quorum sensing compound synthesis produce 5ʹ‐methylthioadenosine as by‐products. Both are inhibitory and must be addressed by all cells. This work establishes a bifunctional oxygen‐independent salvage pathway for 5ʹ‐deoxyadenosine and 5ʹ‐methylthioadenosine in both Rhodospirillum rubrum and Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli. Homologous genes for this pathway are widespread in bacteria, notably pathogenic strains within several families. A phosphorylase (Rhodospirillum rubrum) or separate nucleoside and kinase (Escherichia coli) followed by an isomerase and aldolase sequentially function to salvage these two wasteful and inhibitory compounds into adenine, dihydroxyacetone phosphate and acetaldehyde or (2‐methylthio)acetaldehyde during both aerobic and anaerobic growth. Both SAM by‐products are metabolized with equal affinity during aerobic and anaerobic growth conditions, suggesting that the dual‐purpose salvage pathway plays a central role in numerous environments, notably the human body during infection. Our newly discovered bifunctional oxygen‐independent pathway, widespread in bacteria, salvages at least two by‐products of SAM‐dependent enzymes for carbon and sulfur salvage, contributing to cell growth.
The effect of peer counseling on breastfeeding behavior of primiparous mothers: A randomized controlled field trial
Authors: Azimi Nasimeh , Nasiri Ahmad
Published: January 2020

Objective

To assess the impact of peer counseling on breastfeeding behavior of primiparous mothers.

Design and Sample

A randomized controlled field trial was conducted with 80 mother—child pairs, who referred to health centers in 2018. The samples were recruited via convenience sampling method and were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups.

Measurements

World Health Organization B‐R‐E‐A‐S‐T‐Feed Observation form was used at baseline, immediately, 1, 2, and 3 months after the intervention.

Intervention

The experimental group received support during the first 3 months after childbirth from 10 peers with successful breastfeeding experiences and similar characteristics to those of the participants, while the controls benefited from the routine education provided by their health centers.

Results

Baseline breastfeeding behavior mean scores were not different in the two groups (p > .05). Mean score changes after the intervention were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group at different time points, including immediately after the intervention (p < .001), 1 month (p < .001), 2 months (p < .001), and 3 months after the intervention (p < .001).

Conclusion

Use of peer counseling program to correct the breastfeeding behaviors of primiparous mothers can improve their performance of breastfeeding techniques.
Preoperative prognostic nutritional index predicts postoperative delirium in elderly patients after hip fracture surgery
Authors: Xing Hailin , Xiang Dong , Li Yunxiang , Ji Xiaoli , Xie Guozhu
Published: January 2020

Background

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a very common complication in elderly patients after hip fracture surgery, which has poorly understood pathophysiology. This study aimed to investigate potential risk factors for POD.

Methods

Elderly patients (aged ≥65 years) scheduled to undergo selective surgery in our hospital were consecutively recruited. Patient characteristics, preoperative laboratory tests and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) levels were compared between patients with or without POD. The risk factors for POD were evaluated by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive value of PNI and age for POD.

Results

Fifty‐seven of the 163 enrolled patient had suffered POD within postoperative day 7 with an incidence of 35.0%. Multivariate logistic analyses revealed that an advanced age (cut‐off value: 71.5 years, sensitivity: 48.1%, specificity: 75.4%, odds ratio (OR): 3.24, 95% CI: 1.16–8.69, P = 0.026) and lower PNI level (cut‐off value: 47.45, sensitivity: 86.0%, specificity: 51.9%, OR: 2.88, 95% CI: 1.25–6.64, P = 0.012) were two independent predictive factors associated with POD. According to the ROC curve analysis, preoperative PNI level was a predictor for POD with an area under the curve of 0.686 (95% CI: 0.604–0.767, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Advanced age and lower preoperative PNI level were significantly associated with POD in elderly patients after hip fracture surgery.
Tween girls' dressing: Shifts, implications, and future directions in Singapore
Authors: Loh Bernice
Published: January 2020

This article traces the changes in research on tween girls' dress. Traditionally, girls' adult‐like dressing has been predominantly understood through the discourse of sexualization. Girls are seen to be prematurely sexualized when they fashion themselves after adults. This is a cause for concern as the young girl subject is seen as an unknowing victim, who is vulnerable to a range of physical, sexual, and psychological harm when she fashions herself after adults. Recent scholarship, however, have begun to pay more attention to girls' agency and viewpoints when it comes to what they want to wear. Scholars have begun to work with (rather than on) girls, situating girls' perspectives at the center of their research. Such studies acknowledge that girls are not passive recipients of an adult culture or the types of messages that they receive about what to wear. Nonetheless, in outlining the shifts in research on girls' dressing, this article highlights how scholarship on girls' young femininities remains Western‐centric. There is a need for more research on girlhood and girls' cultural identities outside the West, and especially in the context of Singapore. Much of the research on youth within this region has focused on girls' roles and identities as students.
Towards a balanced multiculturalism? Immigrant integration policies and immigrant children's educational performance
Authors: Ham Seung‐Hwan , Song Hyojune , Yang Kyung‐Eun
Published: January 2020

The present study examines whether a host country's institutional environment of immigrant integration influences immigrant youth's integration into its educational system. Ensuring immigrant youth are well integrated into the educational system bears paramount societal significance because the educational pathways of these youth will determine not only their own life trajectories but also the future of society as an integrated whole. Based on a dataset that links PISA 2015 with MIPEX 2010, a series of cross‐national multilevel analyses has been conducted for 227,028 children in 34 OECD countries. Two important patterns stand out in the results. First, the academic performance of immigrant children tends to be more comparable to that of their non‐immigrant peers in countries characterized by a more egalitarian distribution of civic rights. Second, the performance gap for immigrant children appears smallest in countries characterized by a medium level of sociopolitical promotion of group‐based cultural rights. These patterns suggest that policy efforts toward balancing between diversity and unity combined with systemic levers for egalitarian civic rights may contribute to the macro‐level institutional environment in which social disadvantages of immigrant students can be mitigated.
HLA‐E genotyping and its relevance in kidney transplantation outcome
Authors: de Miranda Bruna L. M. , Gelmini Geórgia F. , Risti Matilde , Hauer Vanessa , da Silva José Samuel , Roxo Valéria M. M. S. , Bicalho Maria da Graça , Malheiros Danielle
Published: January 2020

HLA‐E, a class I nonclassical HLA molecule, is expressed in all tissues and is involved in the regulation of both innate (by interaction with the CD94/NKG2 receptor expressed mainly in NK cells) and adaptive immunity (by interaction with T CD8+ cells), suggesting a possible role in the solid organ transplantation context. Transplanted patients with chronic kidney disease and their respective donors (N = 107 pairs) were genotyped for exons 2 and 3 of the HLA‐E locus by sequence‐based typing (SBT). Groups' genotype frequencies were compared regarding episodes of clinical rejection by global G test, and binary logistic regression was made to demonstrate the contribution of genetic variables vs epidemiological variables. Comparisons of donors' genotype frequencies showed significant differences (P = .0230), revealing a protective profile of E*01:01/*01:01 compared to the other genotypes (P = .0099; OR = 0.3088; CI [95%] = 0.1333‐0.7157). The same happened when the aforementioned genotype was combined with the E*01:01/*01:01 recipients' genotype (P = .0065; OR = 0.1760; CI [95%] = 0.0517‐0.5987). A binary logistic regression analysis was performed, and, of all variables considered, only two were included in the resulting model (P = .007; R2 Cox and Snell = 0.243; R2 Nagelkerke = 0.328)— “End‐Stage Renal Disease” and “HLA class II Mismatches.” A protective profile (E*01:01/*01:01) was observed between the recipients and donors, suggesting a possible impact of the HLA‐E genotype in rejection episodes.
The effect of serum pretreatment regimens for the detection of HLA class I antibodies in platelet‐refractory patients
Authors: Tumer Gizem , Gniadek Thomas , Baye Jennifer , Pena Ryan , Warner Paul , Fung Mark , Beaudin Lynette , Dunckley Heather , Gandhi Manish , Gathof Birgit , Hsu Susan , Klohe Ellen , Marcus Nalaja , Bamert Roberta , Sims Shona , Takanashi Minoko , Wendel Silvano , Cohn Claudia S. ,   on behalf of the Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST) Collaborative
Published: January 2020

BACKGROUND

Single antigen bead (SAB) assays are used to identify human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies in patients with platelet refractoriness due to HLA Class I alloimmunization. Some laboratories use serum pretreatment regimens to eliminate interference from immunoglobulin M antibodies and complement. These modifications may contribute to interlaboratory variability, which is a recognized problem with the SAB assay.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Five patientsʼ sera were overnight shipped to 12 laboratories in the United States and internationally. Recipients used their labʼs SAB procedure to identify HLA Class I antibodies. The resultant mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) data were compared by instrumentation, bead lot, and pretreatment regimens. Laboratory‐specific cutoffs for positive antibodies were applied to the results.

RESULTS

Interlaboratory variability for MFI values appears to be associated with different pretreatment regimens. The coefficient of variation (CV) of MFI from samples pretreated with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, dithiothreitol, or heat inactivation (EDHI) were similar, ranging from 14% to 56% (mean, 22%). For samples with no pretreatment, the CVs were significantly higher than EDHI‐treated samples, ranging from 25% to 74% (mean, 39%; 95% confidence interval, 12.10‐21.90; p < 0.0001). An intralaboratory comparison of pretreatment regimens confirmed these findings. Some positive antibody specificities present in EDHI‐treated samples were negative in corresponding samples with no pretreatment when laboratory‐specific cutoffs for positive antibodies were applied.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that greater interlaboratory precision can be achieved when samples are pretreated with EDHI as opposed to no pretreatment, likely because these pretreatments eliminate interference from inhibitors. Inhibitors may mask antibodies, leading to missed (or uncalled) specificities when no pretreatment is used.
Formation of Plastic Creases in Thin Polyimide Films
Authors: Dharmadasa B. Yasara , McCallum Matthew W. , Mierunalan Seyon , Dassanayake Sahangi P. , Mallikarachchi Chinthaka H. M. Y. , López Jiménez Francisco
Published: January 2020

We present a combined experimental and analytical approach to study the formation of creases in tightly folded Kapton polyimide films. In the experiments, we have developed a robust procedure to create creases with repeatable residual fold angle by compressing initially bent coupons. We then use it to explore the influence of different control parameters, such as the force applied, and the time the film is being pressed. The experimental results are compared with a simplified one-dimensional elastica model, as well as a high fidelity finite element model; both models take into account the elasto-plastic behavior of the film. The models are able to predict the force required to create the crease, as well as the trend in the residual angle of the fold once the force is removed. We non-dimensionalize our results to rationalize the effect of plasticity, and we find robust scalings that extend our findings to other geometries and material properties.
Experimental Study on Combustion and Performance of a Natural Gas-Diesel Dual-Fuel Engine at Different Pilot Diesel Injection Timing
Authors: Song Jiantong , Feng Zhixin , Lv Jiangyi , Zhang Hualei
Published: January 2020

The pilot diesel injection timing (θ) significantly affects the combustion and performance of dual-fuel (DF) engines. In order to optimize the θ of a natural gas-diesel DF engine, the influence of θ on combustion, cyclic variation, and performance of a diesel engine fueled with natural gas piloted by diesel under full load at 1200 rpm was investigated. The results indicate that, with the advance in θ, the cylinder pressure, rate of pressure rise (ROPR), and heat release rate (HRR) increase first and then decrease. The mean value of peak cylinder pressure (pmax) rises and the standard deviation increases first and then decreases. The distribution of the crank angle of peak cylinder pressure (φ(pmax)) scatters and approaches the top dead center. The coefficient of variation (COV) in pmax decreases first and then increases while the COV in φ(pmax) obviously increases. The brake power increases first and then decreases while the brake specific fuel consumption (b.s.f.c.) reduces first and then rises. The CO2 and NOx emissions rise first and then reduce while smoke emission decreases first and then increases, but the CO and HC rise.
Experimental Investigations on the Tribological Performance of Electric Discharge Alloyed Ti–6Al–4V at 200–600 °C
Authors: Philip Jibin T. , Kumar Deepak , Mathew Jose , Kuriachen Basil
Published: January 2020

Nowadays, the titanium alloys observe broad applicability in aerospace, marine, automobile, and bio-medical industries due to their lightweight, bio-compatibility, good fatigue strength, and corrosion resistance. However, it possesses poor tribological behavior characterized by a high coefficient of friction (CoF) and the specific wear rate (SWR). In this paper, the impact of the electrical discharge machining on the tribological properties of Ti6Al4V (Ti64) was compared before and after electrical discharge machining (EDM) using a pin-on-disk tribometer under un-lubricated and ambient temperature. Besides, ex-situ analysis was performed on the distinct pin surfaces using (i) scanning electron microscopy (SEM), (ii) energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and (iii) X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) techniques to elucidate the associated wear mechanisms. The mechanical properties such as nano-hardness and elastic modulus of the test surfaces were also determined using a nano-indenter. Significant improvement in SWR (65.44% reduction) with a passable compromise for CoF (22.5% increment) occurred during experimentation (before and after EDM) at 100 N. Besides, the wear behavior of the electrical discharge alloyed Ti64 (ETi64) was evaluated at 200 °C, 400 °C, and 600 °C under the applied loads of 50–150 N. At 400 °C and 600 °C, the SWR initially decreased and then increased with variation in load from 50–100 N and 100–150 N, respectively. The enhanced tribo-behavior at 100 N was due to the protective influence of tribo-oxides, viz., TiO2 and Ti8O15 assisted by the hard Ti24C15 carbides in the recast layer (RL).
A Numerical Investigation on Fluid Dynamics and Heating Characteristics of Co-and-Counterrotating Multiple Swirling Impinging Flames Arranged in 3 × 3 Inline Array
Authors: Singh Parampreet , Velamati Ratna Kishore , Chander Subhash
Published: January 2020

Swirling impinging flame jets possess the potential of uniformly heating the target surface. Numerical simulations have been carried out for multiple reacting swirling flows arranged in square 3 × 3 array. The turbulence chemistry interactions in the flow field are modeled using RNG based k-ε/ eddy dissipation model (EDM) framework. Co-and-counterrotating configurations have been compared for interactions and spent gas release mechanism at fixed inter-jet spacing and separation distance. Multiple swirling impinging flames undergo strong interactions resulting in distortions of recirculation zones (RCZs) for all the surrounding but central flame. Co-swirling flames result in development of higher turbulence in the interaction regions as compared with counter-swirl case. Tilted heat flux contours have been noticed for co-swirling impinging flames, whereas heat flux impressions are straight for counter-swirl case. Effect of inter-jet spacing (C/Dh = 5, 7, and 9) and separation distance (H/Dh = 3, 5, 7, and 9) studied for co-swirl case revealed that peak heat fluxes decreased with increasing inter-jet spacing and separation distance. With increase in inter-jet spacing, the width of central flame increased due to increased suppression effect induced by the recirculating gases. Increase in separation distance resulted in decrease of width of central flame and thermal dilution taking place led to decrease in heat flux magnitudes.
The impact of speaking style on speech recognition in quiet and multi-talker babble in adult cochlear implant users
Authors: Rodman Cole , Moberly Aaron C. , Janse Esther , Başkent Deniz , Tamati Terrin N.
Published: January 2020

The current study examined sentence recognition across speaking styles (conversational, neutral, and clear) in quiet and multi-talker babble (MTB) for cochlear implant (CI) users and normal-hearing listeners under CI simulations. Listeners demonstrated poorer recognition accuracy in MTB than in quiet, but were relatively more accurate with clear speech overall. Within CI users, higher-performing participants were also more accurate in MTB when listening to clear speech. Lower performing users' accuracy was not impacted by speaking style. Clear speech may facilitate recognition in MTB for high-performing users, who may be better able to take advantage of clear speech cues.
Dipole-based beamforming method for locating dipole sources with unknown orientations in three-dimensional domains
Authors: Gao Jianzheng , Wu Haijun , Jiang Weikang
Published: January 2020

In conventional delay-and-sum beamforming, the monopole source assumption may cause a dipole source to be misinterpreted, leading to incorrect mapping results. A dipole-based beamforming method is proposed that is an extension of monopole-based conventional beamforming. The dipole sources could be located with no prior knowledge of the source orientation, and the unknown orientation is arbitrary in a three-dimensional domain. The location of a dipole source is determined by calculating the beamforming results at predefined orientations and positions using a dipole-based propagation function, and the final beamforming result at each scanning point is determined by the maximum value at the predefined orientations. Numerical simulations and experiments are performed on rotating dipole sources, and satisfactory results for the location of these dipole sources are obtained with different orientations.
A comparison of four vowel overlap measures
Authors: Kelley Matthew C. , Tucker Benjamin V.
Published: January 2020

Multiple measures of vowel overlap have been proposed that use F1, F2, and duration to calculate the degree of overlap between vowel categories. The present study assesses four of these measures: the spectral overlap assessment metric [SOAM; Wassink (2006). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 119(4), 2334–2350], the a posteriori probability (APP)-based metric [Morrison (2008). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 123(1), 37–40], the vowel overlap analysis with convex hulls method [VOACH; Haynes and Taylor, (2014). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 136(2), 883–891], and the Pillai score as first used for vowel overlap by Hay, Warren, and Drager [(2006). J. Phonetics 34(4), 458–484]. Summaries of the measures are presented, and theoretical critiques of them are performed, concluding that the APP-based metric and Pillai score are theoretically preferable to SOAM and VOACH. The measures are empirically assessed using accuracy and precision criteria with Monte Carlo simulations. The Pillai score demonstrates the best overall performance in these tests. The potential applications of vowel overlap measures to research scenarios are discussed, including comparisons of vowel productions between different social groups, as well as acoustic investigations into vowel formant trajectories.
The Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation on the Decline in Gross Efficiency During a 2000-m Cycling Time Trial
Authors: Voskamp Anna E. , van den Bos Senna , Foster Carl , de Koning Jos J. , Noordhof Dionne A.
Published: January 2020

Background: Gross efficiency (GE) declines during high-intensity exercise. Increasing extracellular buffer capacity might diminish the decline in GE and thereby improve performance. Purpose: To examine if sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) supplementation diminishes the decline in GE during a 2000-m cycling time trial. Methods: Sixteen male cyclists and 16 female cyclists completed 4 testing sessions including a maximal incremental test, a familiarization trial, and two 2000-m GE tests. The 2000-m GE tests were performed after ingestion of either NaHCO3 supplements (0.3 g/kg body mass) or placebo supplements (amylum solani, magnesium stearate, and sunflower oil capsules). The GE tests were conducted using a double-blind, randomized, crossover design. Power output, gas exchange, and time to complete the 2000-m time trials were recorded. Capillary blood samples were analyzed for blood bicarbonate, pH, and lactate concentration. Data were analyzed using magnitude-based inference. Results: The decrement in GE found after the 2000-m time trial was possibly smaller in the male and female groups after NaHCO3 than with placebo ingestion, with the effect in both groups combined being unclear. The effect on performance was likely trivial for males (placebo 164.2 [5.0] s, NaHCO3 164.3 [5.0] s; Δ0.1; ±0.6%), unclear for females (placebo 178.6 [4.8] s, NaHCO3 178.0 [4.3] s; Δ−0.3; ±0.5%), and very likely trivial when effects were combined. Blood bicarbonate, pH, and lactate concentration were substantially elevated from rest to pretest after NaHCO3 ingestion. Conclusions: NaHCO3 supplementation results in an unclear effect on the decrease in GE during high-intensity exercise and in a very likely trivial effect on performance.
Physical Activity Frequency Among Older Adults With Diabetes or Prediabetes: Associations With Sociodemographics, Comorbidity, and Medical Advice
Authors: Choi Namkee G. , DiNitto Diana M. , Sullivan John E. , Choi Bryan Y.
Published: January 2020

To examine the differences in physical activity (PA) between older adults with and without diabetes/prediabetes and the correlates of PA frequency and associations between medical advice on PA and/or diet/weight loss and increasing PA among those with diabetes/prediabetes. Multinomial and binary logistic regression models using 2016–2017 National Health Interview Survey data (N = 4,860 aged 65+ years with diabetes/prediabetes). About 44.2% of those with diabetes/prediabetes, compared with 48.1% of a matched sample without, engaged in any PA three plus times a week. The low PA group (PA frequency was zero to two times a week) was more socioeconomically disadvantaged and had more chronic illnesses than the medium (three to four times a week) or high (five plus times a week) PA groups. Any PA and/or diet/weight loss medical advice was associated with two to three times higher odds of increasing PA. Health care providers should consider prescribing PA and/or diet/weight loss for patients with diabetes/prediabetes.
The Donors Supporting Charity Sport Event Participants: An Exploration of the Factors Driving Donations
Authors: Filo Kevin , Fechner David , Inoue Yuhei
Published: January 2020

Fundraising for a charity sport event (CSE) is a critical and challenging aspect of the event experience. CSE participants (i.e., CSE fundraisers) must engage with their network of friends, family, and colleagues (i.e., CSE donors) to solicit donations. A better understanding of CSE donor motives can translate to more effective fundraising among participants, which could be applicable to other peer-to-peer and sport-based fundraising initiatives. The researchers explored the factors driving CSE donors to contribute on behalf of CSE participants. Eight mechanisms driving charitable giving provided the theoretical framework. Semistructured interviews (N = 24) were conducted with individuals who had donated to a CSE participant within the previous 12 months. Four themes emerged: feel good factor, perceived efficacy of donations, inspired by youth, and affinity for the participant. With these themes in mind, CSE managers may implement school outreach programs and testimonials from donors to achieve positive fundraising outcomes.
Electron-Ion Collider would lay bare the proton's innards
Authors: Cho Adrian
Published: January 2020

Department of Energy picks site for billion-dollar machine.
New front emerges in battle to build giant telescope in Hawaii
Authors: Clery Daniel
Published: January 2020

TMT opponents try to win over other astronomers in priority-setting decadal survey.
N
6
-methyladenosine of chromosome-associated regulatory RNA regulates chromatin state and transcription
Authors: Liu Jun , Dou Xiaoyang , Chen Chuanyuan , Chen Chuan , Liu Chang , Xu Meng Michelle , Zhao Siqi , Shen Bin , Gao Yawei , Han Dali , He Chuan
Published: January 2020

A new layer of transcriptional control

N
6
-methyladenosine (m
6
A) is the most abundant messenger RNA modification in almost all eukaryotes. Liu
et al.
now show that m
6
A is also cotranscriptionally added onto various chromosome-associated regulatory RNAs (carRNAs) in mammalian cells. Disruption of m
6
A modification of these RNAs increases their abundance and promotes gene transcription by increasing the chromatin accessibility. Thus, m
6
A serves as a switch to regulate carRNA levels by tuning nearby chromatin state and downstream transcription.

Science
, this issue p.
580
Fluorination of arylboronic esters enabled by bismuth redox catalysis
Authors: Planas Oriol , Wang Feng , Leutzsch Markus , Cornella Josep
Published: January 2020

Teaching bismuth to make and break bonds

One major reason why transition metals are good catalysts is that they can shuttle between oxidation states. This flexibility lets them slide in and out of chemical bonds; so, for instance, they can snip a bond between carbon and boron and then stitch a carbonfluorine bond in its place. Planas
et al.
now report that bismuth can also orchestrate such bond-swapping events. They implement a fully catalytic cycle for fluorination of aryl boronates, in which bismuth hops between its +3 and +5 oxidation states.

Science
, this issue p.
313
Phonon hydrodynamics and ultrahigh–room-temperature thermal conductivity in thin graphite
Authors: Machida Yo , Matsumoto Nayuta , Isono Takayuki , Behnia Kamran
Published: January 2020

Thin graphite gets cool fast

In nonmetallic solids, heat is transported primarily through crystal vibrations called phonons. These phonons can have wavelike properties under certain conditions, which increases the thermal conductivity of the material. Machida
et al.
found that making graphite samples thin expands the hydrodynamic regime from cryogenic to room temperatures. The researchers measured an extremely high thermal conductivity in the very thin graphite samples, which may be important for a variety of electronics applications.

Science
, this issue p.
309
Mobile protected areas for biodiversity on the high seas
Authors: Maxwell Sara M. , Gjerde Kristina M. , Conners Melinda G. , Crowder Larry B.
Published: January 2020

Protecting mobile marine species and habitats under climate change will require innovative and dynamic tools
A Pathway for Degradation of Uracil to Acetyl Coenzyme A in Bacillus megaterium
Authors: Zhu Di , Wei Yifeng , Yin Jinyu , Liu Dazhi , Ang Ee Lui , Zhao Huimin , Zhang Yan
Published: January 2020

Pyrimidine has wide occurrence in natural environments, where bacteria use it as a nitrogen and carbon source for growth. Detailed biochemical pathways have been investigated with focus mainly on nitrogen assimilation in the past decades. Here, we report the discovery and characterization of two important enzymes, PydD2 and MSDH, which constitute an extension for the reductive pyrimidine catabolic pathway. These two enzymes, prevalent in
Bacillales
based on our bioinformatics studies, allow stepwise conversion of β-alanine, a previous “end product” of the reductive pyrimidine degradation pathway, to acetyl-CoA as carbon and energy source.
Fast cooling of normal-fault footwalls: Rapid fault slip or thermal relaxation?
Authors: Wolff Reinhard , Hetzel Ralf , Dunkl István , Anczkiewicz Aneta A. , Pomella Hannah
Published: January 2020

Rapid rock exhumation in mountain belts is commonly associated with crustal-scale normal faulting during late-orogenic extension. The process of normal faulting advects hot footwall rocks toward Earth’s surface, which shifts isotherms upwards and increases the geothermal gradient. When faulting stops, this process is reversed and isotherms move downwards during thermal relaxation. Owing to these temporal changes of the geothermal gradient, it is not straightforward to derive the history of faulting from mineral cooling ages. Here, we combine thermochronological data with thermokinematic modeling to illustrate the importance of syntectonic heat advection and posttectonic thermal relaxation for a crustal-scale normal fault in the European Alps. The north-south–trending Brenner fault defines the western margin of the Tauern window (Austria) and caused the exhumation of medium-grade metamorphic rocks during Miocene orogen-parallel extension of the Alps. We analyzed samples from a 2-km-thick crustal section, including a 1000-m-long drill core. Zircon and apatite (U-Th)/He ages along this transect increase with elevation from ca. 8 to ca. 10 Ma and from ca. 7 to ca. 9 Ma, respectively, but differ by only ∼1 m.y. in individual samples. Thermokinematic modeling of the ages indicates that the Brenner fault became active at 19 ± 2 Ma and caused 35 ± 10 km of crustal extension, which is consistent with independent geological constraints. The model results further suggest that the fault slipped at a total rate of 4.2 ± 0.9 km/m.y. and became inactive at 8.8 ± 0.4 Ma. Our findings demonstrate that both syntectonic heat advection and posttectonic thermal relaxation are responsible for the cooling pattern observed in the footwall of the Brenner normal fault.
Resonance energy transfer at percolation transition
Authors: Abrantes P. P. , Szilard D. , Rosa F. S. S. , Farina C.
Published: January 2020

We compute the resonance energy transfer (RET) in a system composed of two quantum emitters near a host dielectric matrix in which metallic inclusions are inserted until the medium undergoes a dielectric-metal transition at percolation. We show that there is no peak in the RET rate at percolation, in contrast to what happens with the spontaneous emission rate of an emitter near the same critical medium. This result suggests that RET does not strongly correlate with the local density of states.
Simple non-perturbative resummation schemes beyond mean-field II: Thermodynamics of scalar ϕ4 theory in 1 + 1 dimensions at arbitrary coupling
Authors: Romatschke Paul
Published: January 2020

Recently, non-perturbative approximate solutions were presented that go beyond the well-known mean-field resummation. In this work, these non-perturbative approximations are used to calculate finite-temperature equilibrium properties for scalar [Formula: see text] theory in two dimensions such as the pressure, entropy density and speed of sound. Unlike traditional approaches, it is found that results are well-behaved for arbitrary temperature/coupling strength, are independent of the choice of the renormalization scale [Formula: see text], and are apparently converging as the resummation level is increased. Results also suggest the presence of a possible analytic cross-over from the high-temperature to the low-temperature regime based on the change in the thermal entropy density.
Some mixed trigonometric complex soliton solutions to the perturbed nonlinear Schrödinger equation
Authors: Gao Wei , Ghanbari Behzad , Günerhan Hatira , Baskonus Haci Mehmet
Published: January 2020

This work deals with finding new complex solitons to the perturbed nonlinear Schrödinger model with the help of an analytical method. Using several computation programs, we gain entirely new solitons to the considering model. Under the choice of suitable values of the parameters, density graphs to the reported solutions, such as complex, hyperbolic, trigonometric and exponential, are successfully presented. Simulations in various dimensions are also plotted by using package programs.
创痛记忆： 新马两地有关日占时期的旧体诗
Authors: 林 立
Published: January 2020

笔者此前曾对《血海》和《兰花集》两部关于新加坡沦陷时期的旧体诗集作过研究，本文则进一步探讨其他诗人对该段历史的创痛记忆。他们仍秉承中国的“诗史”写作传统，从个人和群体的角度记录战时惨痛的经历和内心感受。透过旧体诗创作，他们承担了现代学者所说的“记忆的责任”，并警醒后人不要重蹈过往的错误。
Rock-magnetic and archaeomagnetic investigations on archaeological artefacts from Maharashtra, India
Authors: Deenadayalan K. , Gawali P. B. , Lakshmi B. V. , Rai Manish
Published: January 2020

Archaeointensity and rock-magnetic studies were undertaken on 49 baked clay artefacts from four archaeological sites (Ter, Junnar, Nalasopara and Kanheri) in Maharashtra, India. Rock-magnetic properties, including bulk magnetic susceptibility, magnetic remanence and thermomagnetic analysis, indicate the presence of a low-coercivity magnetite in fine (superparamagnetic, single domain) grain-sizes. The ratio of anhysteretic remanent magnetization to saturation isothermal remanent magnetization, the reversible high-temperature susceptibility curves and the 3-axes isothermal remanent magnetization tests also indicate that the artefacts dominantly possess fine-grained magnetic particles, carrying a stable thermoremanent magnetization (TRM). Archaeointensity was estimated using Coe's modified Thellier method corresponding to the linear behaviour of natural remanent magnetization loss and TRM gained plots, which were evaluated with ThellierTool4.0 software. Cooling rate and anisotropy of the TRM corrections were applied and the corrected intensities were used to calculate a mean archaeointensity value for each one of the four sites. The new archaeointensity values were plotted along the existing Indian archaeointensity values derived only from archaeological artefacts, and were compared with the SHA.DIF.14k and ARCH10k.1 global models’ predictions. The present study aims to improve the overall understanding of Indian geomagnetic field variation in the past by providing new high-quality archaeointensity results. However, still more archaeointensity values are required to develop a reliable secular variation curve for India.