bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Isolated DC/DC converter with three‐level high‐frequency link and bidirectional power flow ability for electric vehicles
Authors: Zhang Chao , Gao Zhigang , Chen Te , Yang Jie
Published: March 2019

A high‐frequency isolated bidirectional DC/DC converter based on the combination of an H‐bridge, a three‐level half‐bridge and a three‐phase full bridge topology is proposed for electric vehicle applications. The 24 V low‐voltage battery pack is the power supply of the converter and it is raised to about 144 V, which is then converted to three‐phase AC voltage to drive the induction motor. A multilevel high‐frequency link is proposed to implement the conversion from the low voltage side (LVS) to the high voltage side (HVS). The switching patterns and single‐phase three‐level pulse width modulation is proposed to maintain the voltage on HVS and to control the power flowing out of the battery. The zero voltage switching characteristics of the low rating‐voltage metal‐oxide‐semiconductor field‐effect transistors on LVS and HVS are analyzed. The algorithms to suppress DC bias of magnetising current and to equalise the capacitor voltages are also introduced. The effectiveness and the control strategy of the proposed converter are verified by simulation and experimental results.
Improved DInSAR time‐series reconstruction in the presence of phase unwrapping errors using Huber‐norm
Authors: Khwaja Ahmed Shaharyar , Cetin Mujdat
Published: March 2019

Time‐series reconstruction in differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (DInSAR)requires solving a regression problem and can be used to monitor surfacedeformation. In this study, the authors present an improved time‐seriesreconstruction for DInSAR using Huber‐norm minimisation. The Huber‐norm combinesl2‐norm and l1‐normbased on a threshold retaining features of both norms. Unlike existingtechniques based on either l2‐norm orl1‐norm minimisation, their proposed techniquehas better reconstruction performance in the presence of both outlier‐like phaseunwrapping errors and additive Gaussian noise, as a Huber density can modelthese errors. They first validate the proposed technique using real EuropeanRemote Sensing satellite data. To further analyse the performance, they simulatephase data according to different deformation models with phase unwrappingerrors and additive Gaussian noise. They show via Monte‐Carlo simulations thattheir method has superior performance, compared to the existing approaches. Theyfurther verify the performance of the proposed technique with respect to thethreshold parameter and for a varying percentage of phase unwrapping errors.
Deep CNNs as a method to classify rotating objects based on monostatic RCS
Authors: Wengrowski Eric , Purri Matthew , Dana Kristin , Huston Andrew
Published: March 2019

Radar systems emit a time‐varying signal and measure the response of a radar‐reflecting surface. In the case of narrowband, monostatic radar signal domain, all spatial information is projected into a radar cross‐section (RCS) scalar. The authors address the challenging problem of determining shape class using monostatic RCS estimates collected as a time series from a rotating object tumbling with unknown motion parameters under detectability limitations and signal noise. Previous shape classification methods have relied on image‐like synthetic aperture radar or multistatic (multiview) radar configurations with known geometry. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have revolutionised learning tasks in the computer vision domain by leveraging images and video rich with high‐resolution two‐dimensional (2D) or 3D spatial information. They show that a feed‐forward CNN can be trained to successfully classify object shape using only noisy monostatic RCS signals with unknown motion. They construct datasets containing over 100,000 simulated RCS signals belonging to different shape classes. They introduce deep neural network architectures that produce 2% classification error on testing data. They also introduce a refinement network that transforms simulated signals to appear more realistic and improve training utility. The results are a pioneering step toward the recognition of more complex targets using narrowband, monostatic radar.
High density of active galactic nuclei in the outskirts of distant galaxy clusters
Authors: Koulouridis E. , Bartalucci I.
Published: March 2019

We present a study of the distribution of X-ray detected active galactic nuclei (AGN) in the five most massive, M500SZ > 1014 M⊙, and distant, z ∼ 1, galaxy clusters in the Planck and South Pole Telescope (SPT) surveys. The spatial and thermodynamic individual properties of each cluster have been defined with unprecedented accuracy at this redshift using deep X-ray observations. This is an essential property of our sample in order to precisely determine the R500Yx radius of the clusters. For our purposes, we computed the X-ray point-like source surface density in 0.5 R500Yx wide annuli up to a clustercentric distance of 4 R500Yx, statistically subtracting the background and accounting for the respective average density of optical galaxies. We found a significant excess of X-ray point sources between 2 and 2.5 R500Yx at the 99.9% confidence level. The results clearly display for the first time strong observational evidence of AGN triggering in the outskirts of high-redshift massive clusters with such a high statistical significance. We argue that the particular conditions at this distance from the cluster centre increase the galaxy merging rate, which is probably the dominant mechanism of AGN triggering in the outskirts of massive clusters.
A Sb ± Au mineralizing peak at 360 Ma in the Variscan belt
Authors: Pochon Anthony , Branquet Yannick , Gloaguen Eric , Ruffet Gilles , Poujol Marc , Boulvais Philippe , Gumiaux Charles , Cagnard Florence , Baele Jean-Marc , Kéré Inoussa , Gapais Denis
Published: March 2019

40Ar/39Ar absolute dating on tobelite (an ammonium-rich white mica) has been performed in order to provide geochronological constraints on the Sb ± Au mineralization and hydrothermalism at the Saint-Aubin-des-Châteaux base metal-Sb ± Au occurrence (Variscan Central Armorican Domain, France). The results show that the Sb ± Au deposition occurred atca.360 Ma. Coupled with recent results obtained in neighboring areas, this occurrence seems to belong to a large-scale Early Carboniferous economic Sb ± Au mineralizing peak in the southeastern part of the Central Armorican Domain. The emplacement of a coeval widespread mafic magmatism in the region appears to represent a major trigger for this mineralizing system at shallow depths (less than 3 km). In the light of these new data, this Early Carboniferous mafic magmatic event must be considered for the overall understanding of the genesis of mineralizing systems at the scale of the whole Variscan belt. Finally, at Saint-Aubin-des-Châteaux, evidence of an Early Permian hydrothermal event is also reported through LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of fluorapatite, arguing for the re-use and re-opening of Early Carboniferous mineralizing plumbing system by late (i.e.Permian) fluid flow pulses although no metal mobilization was associated with this event.
Atherosklerose als inflammatorische Erkrankung – Pathophysiologie, klinische Relevanz und therapeutische Implikationen
Authors: Arnold Natalie , Koenig Wolfgang
Published: March 2019

Since the early 1990 s, both experimental and clinical data have clearly demonstrated that inflammatory processes accompany atherosclerotic disease from its initiation to the development of clinical complications. Numerous biomarkers involved at various levels of the inflammation cascade have been shown to be associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Among them, the classical acute phase reactant C-reactive protein (CRP) has been most intensively investigated. Recent research in this field has been driven by the observation that despite low LDL-cholesterol levels, a remarkably high number of patients are still at increased risk for recurrent cardiovascular events. This is argued to be attributable to the presence of a prolonged inflammatory response (reflected by a persistently elevated hsCRP), a concept, which is currently known as “residual inflammatory risk”. The unequivocal proof that the inflammatory process is not only a simple bystander but is also causally involved in atherogenesis, came from the recent CANTOS trial, showing a 15 % reduction of primary MACE outcomes despite aggressive statin therapy and lower LDL-cholesterol levels. Thus, an anti-inflammatory treatment strategy might represent a promising tool to improve the outcome of this still deadly disease.
Sclerostin-Antikörper als neue Therapieoption der
Osteoporose
Authors: Sebastian Simon , Resch Heinrich
Published: March 2019

Romosozumab ist ein humanisierter monoklonaler Antikörper gegen Sclerostin, der
inhibierend auf die Osteogenese in Osteoblasten wirkt. Der Antikörper hat sowohl
anabole als auch antiresorptive Eigenschaften. Bei postmenopausalen Frauen mit
Osteoporose senkt Romosozumab die Inzidenz sowohl von vertebralen, als auch von
non-vertebralen Frakturen und erhöht nicht nur die Knochenmineraldichte und die
Parameter der Knochenneubildung, sondern senkt ebenfalls die Parameter der
Knochenresorption. Auch bei Männern kann biochemisch eine gesteigerte
Knochenneubildung und eine Zunahme der Knochenmineraldichte beobachtet werden.
Obwohl in rezenten Publikationen Romosozumab gut toleriert wird, sollte das
Risikoprofil und die Einsetzbarkeit in weiteren Studien diskutiert werden.
Diagnostik bewegungsspezifischer Besonderheiten bei Adipositas und Magersucht: Wie zutreffend beurteilen fallführende Therapeuten und Patienten selbst Ruhe- und Aktivitätszeiten?
Authors: Oberste Max , Läuger Sandra , Hartig Philipp , Alexandridis Katharina
Published: March 2019

Die Regulierung von Inaktivität bzw. exzessiver körperlicher Aktivität ist ein wichtiges Ziel der Bewegungstherapie mit Adipositas-Patienten bzw. mit anorektischen Patienten. Um zu untersuchen, inwieweit dieses Ziel tatsächlich erreicht wird, bedarf es valider Erfassungsmethoden der körperlichen Aktivität der Patienten. In der vorliegenden Studie wurden die Fremdbeurteilung der körperlichen Aktivität adipöser und anorektischer Patienten durch ihre fallführenden Therapeuten und die Selbstbeurteilung auf ihre Gültigkeit hin untersucht. Als Kriteriumsmaß diente die Akzelerometrie. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass sowohl die Angaben der Therapeuten als auch die der Patienten selbst deutlich von den Akzelerometrieergebnissen abweichen. Auch wenn die Angaben der Therapeuten bzw. der Patienten lediglich kategorial ausgewertet werden (inaktiv vs. nicht inaktiv bzw. exzessiv aktiv vs. nicht exzessiv aktiv), zeigt sich keine zufriedenstellende Genauigkeit. Die Ergebnisse werfen die Frage nach alternativen Erfassungsmöglichkeiten körperlicher Aktivität adipöser bzw. anorektischer Patienten in Wissenschaft und Klinik auf. Objektive Messinstrumente wie die Akzelerometrie könnten hierfür geeignet sein.
Leukämie durch Kollision mit Wildschwein?
Authors: Zimmermann Maximilian , Bendas Gerd , Feldmann Georg
Published: March 2019

Anamnese Eine 23-jährige Patientin wurde wegen Fiebers in Neutropenie unter der Verdachtsdiagnose einer akuten Leukämie in unsere Klinik verlegt. Vor einigen Tagen sei ein Wildschweinkadaver auf die Patientin gestürzt, anschließend seien starke Rückenschmerzen aufgetreten.

Untersuchungen und Diagnose Im Blutbild wurden eine Thrombozytopenie und Neutropenie mit 0,04G/L nachgewiesen. Labordiagnostisch zeigten sich erhöhte Transaminasen, derangierte Gerinnungsparameter sowie erhöhte CRP-, Procalcitonin- und Kreatininwerte im Serum.

Therapie und Verlauf Eine antiinfektive Therapie wurde unverzüglich eingeleitet. Im Verlauf entwickelte die Patientin Zeichen einer akuten Cholezystitis, die konservativ behandelt wurde. Erst auf nochmalige explizite Nachfrage und Ausschluss einer malignen hämatologischen Grunderkrankung gab die Patientin eine einmalige Einnahme von 1 g Metamizol als Eigenmedikation nachträglich an. Im Verlauf normalisierten sich sämtliche Laborparameter und die Patientin konnte nach sieben Tagen entlassen werden.

Folgerung Im Nachhinein ist die beschriebene Symptomatik als Ausdruck einer Infektkomplikation unter einer Agranulozytose nach einmaliger Einnahme von Metamizol zu werten und belegt eindrucksvoll die Notwendigkeit einer strengen Indikationsstellung bei Einsatz dieser Substanz.
Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Involvement in Two Different Localizations: A Case Report
Authors: Bulut Nilufer , Arslan Hılal , Ozaydın Ipek
Published: March 2019

The genital system and skin involvement of diffuse B-cell lymphomas are quite rare. The appearance of these rare types in the same patient and the same period makes the treatment of the disease difficult. But both types respond well to anthracyclines and immunotherapies. A 74-year-old woman was treated with R-CHOP (Rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicine, vincristine, prednisolone) without surgery and/or radiotherapy, and no recurrence at 2 years follow-up. Despite the poor prognosis of these types of lymphomas, treatment responses are quite good as they are in other subtypes.
Year in Review: Synopsis of Selected Articles in Neuroanesthesia and Neurocritical Care from 2018
Authors: Rogan Kyle J. , Chowdhury Tumul , Venkatraghavan Lakshmikumar
Published: March 2019

This review is a synopsis of selected articles from neuroscience, neuroanesthesia, and neurocritical care from the year 2018 (January–October 2018). The journals reviewed included anesthesia journals, critical care medicine journals, neurosurgical journals as well as high-impact factor medical journals such as Lancet, Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), and Stroke. This summary of important articles will serve to update the knowledge of anesthesiologists and other perioperative physicians who provide care to neurosurgical and neurocritical patients.
Early-Term Outcomes of Off-Pump versus On-Pump Beating-Heart Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
Authors: Velioglu Yusuf , Isik Mehmet
Published: March 2019

Background The current study analyzed and compared early-term outcomes of off-pump versus on-pump beating heart coronary artery bypass surgery.

Methods From January 2011 to January 2018, a total of 736 patients underwent isolated first-time elective beating-heart coronary artery bypass surgery without the use of aortic cross-clamping and cardioplegic arrest at our institution, and they were included in this study. Data of patients were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the use of cardiopulmonary bypass during the operation, as off-pump group (n = 399) and on-pump beating-heart group (n = 337). Both groups were compared with each other in terms of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data.

Results Groups were statistically similar with regard to baseline clinical characteristics and demographics. When compared with off-pump group, on-pump beating-heart group had a greater number of distal bypass, longer length of hospital stay, and lower postoperative hematocrit level, and received more blood product transfusion. No statistically significant differences were detected between the groups with respect to mortality and postoperative complications except for atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation was significantly frequent in on-pump beating-heart group.

Conclusion Our study suggested that off-pump and on-pump beating-heart coronary artery bypass procedures had similar early mortality and major complication rates except for atrial fibrillation. However, it seemed that off-pump procedure was superior to on-pump beating-heart procedure with regard to length of hospital stay, blood product transfusion, and atrial fibrillation development. Further prospective randomized studies with larger patient series are needed to support our research and attain more accurate data.
Intermittent Antegrade Warm Blood Cardioplegia: What Is Next?
Authors: Calafiore Antonio Maria , Pelini Piero , Foschi Massimilliano , Di Mauro Michele
Published: March 2019

The introduction of warm heart surgery was a radical change in the concept of myocardial protection. In 1992, we applied a protocol for intermittent antegrade warm blood cardioplegia (CPL), which acquired some popularity for its simplicity and effectiveness. The possibility to deliver the warm blood CPL intermittently using the antegrade route attracted the attention of the scientific world, as the surgical procedure was less complicated. In this report, our aim is to focus on the changes that the protocol underwent over time and the reasons why these changes were made.
Evaluation of Postoperative Deficits following Motor Cortex Tumor Resection using Small Craniotomy
Authors: Paiva Wellingson , Fonoff Erich , Beer-Furlan André , Morais Bárbara , Neville Iuri , Ramos-Filho Rogério , Teixeira Manoel
Published: March 2019

Introduction Surgical treatment of brain tumors in eloquent areas has always been considered a major challenge because removal-related cortical damage can cause serious functional impairment. However, few studies have investigated the association between small craniotomies and the higher risk of incidence of motor deficits and prolonged recovery time. Here, we analyzed neurologic deficits and the prognostic variables after surgery guided by navigation for motor cortex tumors under general anesthesia.

Methods This was a prospective study that included 47 patients with tumors in the precentral gyrus. All surgeries were performed with neuronavigation and cortical mapping, with direct electrical stimulation of the motor cortex. We evaluated the prognostic evolution of patients with pre- and postoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale using the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group scale.

Results Complete resection was verified in all 18 cases of metastasis, 13 patients with glioblastoma multiforme, and 5 patients with low-grade gliomas. An analysis of the motor deficits revealed that 11 patients experienced worsening of the deficit on the first day after surgery. Only four patients developed new deficits in the immediate postoperative period, and these improved after 3 weeks. After 3 months, only two patients had deficits that were worse those experienced prior to surgery; both patients had glioblastoma multiforme.

Conclusion In our series, motor deficits prior to surgery were the most important factors associated with persistent postoperative deficits. Small craniotomy with navigation associated with intraoperative brain mapping allowed a safe resection and motor preservation in patients with motor cortex brain tumor.
Finding Understudied Disorders Potentially Associated with Maternal Morbidity and Mortality
Authors: Rodriguez Laritza , Fushman Dina
Published: March 2019

Objective Clinical research literature focuses primarily on the most common causes of maternal morbidity and mortality (MMM). We explore sections of the discharge summaries of pregnant or postpartum women admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) to identify associated disorders and mine the literature to identify knowledge gaps in clinical research.

Methods Data for the study were discharge summaries in the MIMIC (Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care) database. We extracted a control cohort to study if there is a difference in comorbidities between pregnant and not pregnant patients with similar reasons for admission. We identified comorbidities of the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) semantic types disease or syndrome, Mental or behavioral dysfunction, and injury, or poisoning. We used Entrez programming utilities (E-utilities) to query PubMed®.

Results We identified 246 pregnant and postpartum patients. A control group of 587 not pregnancy related admissions matched on age and admit diagnosis. We found overlap of 24.3% discharge diagnoses between the two groups, and 7.5% of the codes exclusively in the pregnancy group. We identified 33 disease mentions not included in the most common reported causes of MMM.

Conclusion Our results demonstrate that clinical text provides additional comorbidities associated with maternal complications that need further clinical research.
Ultrasound-Guided Thrombin Injection for Iliopsoas Pseudoaneurysm
Authors: Weissmann Jonathan , Griton Yigal , Mahajna Shadi , Ajaj Moanis , Fajer Simone
Published: March 2019

Bilateral iliopsoas hematoma is an uncommon phenomenon, which has been described in individuals receiving anticoagulation therapy. The hematoma is caused by bleeding of arteries to the muscle. In rare cases, pseudoaneurysms can also be formed. We present a case of an adolescent, with partial factor XI deficiency, who experienced a mild fall. Imaging studies revealed large bilateral iliopsoas hematomas and bilateral iliopsoas pseudoaneurysms. One pseudoaneurysm was demonstrated by angiography and was embolized with micro coils. The second, more persistent one, was sealed via ultrasound-guided thrombin injection, with excellent morphological and clinical results.
Magnetic-field-induced incommensurate to collinear spin order transition in NiBr2
Authors: Babu S. , Prokeš K. , Huang Y. K. , Radu F. , Mishra S. K.
Published: March 2019

The triangular spin lattice of NiBr2 is a canonical example of the frustrated helimagnet that shows a collinear commensurate antiferromagnetic to an incommensurate spin helix phase transition on cooling. Herein, we have studied a self-flux grown NiBr2 single crystal by neutron diffraction and low temperature magnetization measurements at fields up to 14 T. Experimental findings enable the deduction of the driving force responsible for the spin spiral ordering. The neutron diffraction data reveal satellite peaks representing characteristic features of an incommensurate magnetic state. The satellites develop symmetrically below TN=44.0(1)K, replacing the main magnetic reflections. Interestingly, a field-induced incommensurate to commensurate spin phase transition has been successfully demonstrated, which enforces the spin helix to restore the high temperature compensated antiferromagnetic structure. This reorientation can be described by a spin-flop in the (a–b) basal plane of a triangular spin lattice system. The findings offer a novel way for spin helix control of incommensurate phases, having immense scientific and technological implications in the next-generation data storage devices.
Sawtooth oscillation behavior with varying amounts of applied stellarator rotational transform
Authors: Herfindal J. L. , Maurer D. A. , Hartwell G. J. , Ennis D. A. , Hanson J. D. , Knowlton S. F. , Ma X. , Pandya M. D. , Roberds N. A. , Traverso P. J.
Published: March 2019

Tokamak-like sawtooth oscillations are observed in the Compact Toroidal Hybrid (CTH), a current-carrying stellarator. CTH has the unique ability to change the amount of the applied vacuum rotational transform from external stellarator coils relative to the rotational transform generated by the internal plasma current to investigate the effects of strong three-dimensional magnetic shaping on sawtooth behavior. The observed sawteeth in CTH, for plasmas with monotonically decreasing rotational transform profiles dominated by the plasma current, have characteristics of those observed on tokamaks including (1) a central emissivity rise and then a sudden crash with a well-defined inversion radius, (2) the presence of an m = 1 emissivity fluctuation, and (3) the normalized inversion surface radius scales with the total edge rotational transform. We explore the properties of an ensemble of discharges in CTH in which the fractional rotational transform, defined as the vacuum rotational transform divided by the total rotational transform, is systematically varied from 0.04 to 0.42 to observe changes in sawtooth oscillation dynamics. Over this range of the fractional rotational transform, the measured sawtooth period decreased by a factor of two. At a high fractional rotational transform, the sawtooth amplitude is observed to consist of only low-amplitude oscillations while the measured crash time of the sawtooth oscillation does not appear to have a strong dependence on the amount of the fractional transform applied. Experimental results indicate that the low-amplitude sawteeth are accompanied by a decrease in the sawtooth period and predominantly correlated with the mean elongation (due to the increasing fractional rotational transform) of the non-axisymmetric plasmas within CTH rather than other global equilibrium parameters.
Challenges of x-ray spectroscopy in investigations of matter under extreme conditions
Authors: Renner O. , Rosmej F. B.
Published: March 2019

Advanced X-ray spectroscopic methods provide unique and critical data to study matter under extreme environmental conditions induced by high-intensity and high-energy lasers. The aim of this paper is to contribute to a contemporary discussion of the role of X-ray spectroscopy in the investigation of radiative properties of strongly coupled, highly correlated, and frequently weakly emissive plasma systems formed in matter irradiated by sub-petawatt and petawatt class lasers. After reviewing the properties of different X-ray crystal spectrometers, high-resolution X-ray diagnostic methods are surveyed with respect to their potential to study plasma-induced and externally induced radiation fields, suprathermal electrons, and strong electromagnetic field effects. Atomic physics in dense plasmas is reviewed with emphasis on non-Maxwellian non-LTE atomic kinetics, quasi-stationary and highly-transient conditions, hollow ion X-ray emission, and field-perturbed atoms and ions. Finally, we discuss the role of X-ray free electron lasers with respect to supplementary investigations of matter under extreme conditions via the use of controlled high-intensity radiation fields.
Fabrication of one-dimensional magic cluster arrays using a vicinal surface as a template
Authors: Franz Martin , Schmermbeck Julia , Dähne Mario
Published: March 2019

One-dimensional arrays of magic In clusters were grown using the Si(557) surface as a template. We find that magic clusters with an In6Si3 stoichiometry grow on the (111) terraces of the Si(557) surface, which are identical to those formed on the planar Si(111)7 × 7 surface. A preferential formation of the clusters on faulted half unit cells of the 7 × 7 reconstruction enables the growth of two different types of one-dimensional arrays with different cluster-cluster distances. A delayed onset of the cluster growth with an initial formation of atomic wires is found, in contrast to magic In clusters on the planar Si(111) surface.
Flow-related migration, juvenile dispersal and gonad development in two co-occurring mullet species, Mugil cephalus and Trachystoma petardi, in a regulated river system
Authors: Harding D. J. , Roberts D. T. , Sternberg D. , Mullins T. M. , Kennard M. J. , Dwyer R. G.
Published: March 2019

Catadromous fish species often use elevated flows to migrate from freshwater to downstream spawning grounds. However, in regulated river systems, artificial barriers and flow alteration can disrupt movement cues, affecting fish migration. Using a combination of acoustic telemetry, passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags and gonad maturity data, we assessed the migratory timing and flow requirements for downstream spawning migrations and upstream dispersal in two co-occurring mullet species in the Logan River, eastern Australia. Over 4 years, 141 adult sea mullet (Mugil cephalus) and 28 adult pinkeye mullet (Trachystoma petardi) were implanted with acoustic transmitters and broad-scale movements tracked using an array of 49 acoustic receivers. Juvenile upstream dispersal was monitored using implanted PIT tags and readers deployed in weir fishways. Sea mullet and pinkeye mullet undertook large-scale downstream migrations from February to March. Movements past weirs only occurred once sufficient flow had occurred and, in the case of pinkeye mullet, when gonads were mature. In contrast, juvenile dispersal into upstream habitats occurred primarily between November and April on low flows. This study advances our understanding of bidirectional movement ecology and flow requirements of two co-occurring mullet species to inform environmental flow management (e.g. to facilitate fish passage) in a regulated river system.
CD36- and obesity-associated granulosa cells dysfunction
Authors: Wu Ru-xing , Dong Ying-ying , Yang Pei-wen , Wang Lan , Deng Yun-hua , Zhang Han-wang , Huang Xiao-yuan
Published: March 2019

Emerging evidence indicates that obesity impairs granulosa cell (GC) function, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Gene expression profiles in GC of non-polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) obese (NPO), PCOS obese (PO), PCOS normal weight (PN) and non-PCOS normal weight (NPN) patients were analysed by microarray analysis. Compared with the NPN group, there were 16, 545 and 416 differently expressed genes in the NPO, PO and PN groups respectively. CD36 was the only intersecting gene, with greater than two fold changes in expression between the NPO versus NPN and PO versus NPN comparisons, and was not present in the PN versus NPN comparison. In addition, levels of CD36 protein were higher in GC from obese than normal weight patients. Furthermore, CD36 overexpression in a GC line inhibited cell proliferation, as determined by the cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) test, promoted cell apoptosis, as determined by flow cytometry, and inhibited the secretion of oestradiol by depositing triglyceride in cells and increasing cellular lipid peroxide levels. These adverse effects were reduced by sulfo-N-succinimidyloleate, a specific inhibitor of CD36. Together, the findings of this study suggest that obesity with and without PCOS should be regarded as separate entities, and that CD36 overexpression in GC of obese patients is one of the mechanisms by which obesity impairs GC function.
Symbolic labeling in 5-month-old human infants
Authors: Kabdebon Claire , Dehaene-Lambertz Ghislaine
Published: March 2019

Significance

Humans naturally entertain complex representations of the world based on various symbolic systems, from natural language to mathematical or musical notation. They recode the input into abstract symbolic representations that can be internally manipulated and projected back onto the external world. We show that preverbal infants can redescribe complex percepts into abstract mental variables, which they can readily map onto arbitrary labels. Importantly, we show that, beyond associative learning, infants can readily infer a bidirectional relation between the abstracted representations and the associated labels, a capacity that animals do not spontaneously exhibit. Our findings buttress the hypothesis of symbolic representations in preverbal infants, which may serve as a foundation for our distinctively human learning abilities.
American geography of opportunity reveals European origins
Authors: Berger Thor , Engzell Per
Published: March 2019

A large literature documents how intergenerational mobility—the degree to which (dis)advantage is passed on from parents to children—varies across and within countries. Less is known about the origin or persistence of such differences. We show that US areas populated by descendants to European immigrants have similar levels of income equality and mobility as the countries their forebears came from: highest in areas dominated by descendants to Scandinavian and German immigrants, lower in places with French or Italian heritage, and lower still in areas with British roots. Similar variation in mobility is found for the black population and when analyzing causal place effects, suggesting that mobility differences arise at the community level and extend beyond descendants of European immigrant groups. Our findings indicate that the geography of US opportunity may have deeper historical roots than previously recognized.
Chloroplast competition is controlled by lipid biosynthesis in evening primroses
Authors: Sobanski Johanna , Giavalisco Patrick , Fischer Axel , Kreiner Julia M. , Walther Dirk , Schöttler Mark Aurel , Pellizzer Tommaso , Golczyk Hieronim , Obata Toshihiro , Bock Ralph , Sears Barbara B. , Greiner Stephan
Published: March 2019

In most eukaryotes, organellar genomes are transmitted preferentially by the mother, but molecular mechanisms and evolutionary forces underlying this fundamental biological principle are far from understood. It is believed that biparental inheritance promotes competition between the cytoplasmic organelles and allows the spread of so-called selfish cytoplasmic elements. Those can be, for example, fast-replicating or aggressive chloroplasts (plastids) that are incompatible with the hybrid nuclear genome and therefore maladaptive. Here we show that the ability of plastids to compete against each other is a metabolic phenotype determined by extremely rapidly evolving genes in the plastid genome of the evening primroseOenothera. Repeats in the regulatory region ofaccD(the plastid-encoded subunit of the acetyl-CoA carboxylase, which catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step of lipid biosynthesis), as well as inycf2(a giant reading frame of still unknown function), are responsible for the differences in competitive behavior of plastid genotypes. Polymorphisms in these genes influence lipid synthesis and most likely profiles of the plastid envelope membrane. These in turn determine plastid division and/or turnover rates and hence competitiveness. This work uncovers cytoplasmic drive loci controlling the outcome of biparental chloroplast transmission. Here, they define the mode of chloroplast inheritance, as plastid competitiveness can result in uniparental inheritance (through elimination of the “weak” plastid) or biparental inheritance (when two similarly “strong” plastids are transmitted).
Almost partition identities
Authors: Andrews George E. , Ballantine Cristina
Published: March 2019

Significance

In the past, what we call “almost partition identities” were immediate corollaries of classical theta series identities, such as Jacobi’s triple product. Consequently, they were always of this form: “The number of partitions of
n
from a certain class with a given partition statistic even” equals “the number of partitions of
n
from the same class with the given partitions statistic odd.” This paper opens possibilities for research in this area, relying on subtle results in basic hypergeometric series and mock modular forms.
A review of close-range and screening technologies for mitigating fugitive methane emissions in upstream oil and gas
Authors: Fox Thomas A , Barchyn Thomas E , Risk David , Ravikumar Arvind P , Hugenholtz Chris H
Published: March 2019

Fugitive methane emissions from the oil and gas industry are targeted using leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs. Until recently, only a limited number of measurement standards have been permitted by most regulators, with emphasis on close-range methods (e.g. Method-21, optical gas imaging). Although close-range methods are essential for source identification, they can be labor-intensive. To improve LDAR efficiency, there has been a policy shift in Canada and the United States towards incorporating alternative technologies. However, the suitability of these technologies for LDAR remains unclear. In this paper, we systematically review and compare six technology classes for use in LDAR: handheld instruments, fixed sensors, mobile ground labs (MGLs), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), aircraft, and satellites. These technologies encompass broad spatial and temporal scales of measurement. Minimum detection limits for technology classes range from <1 g h−1 for Method 21 instruments to 7.1 × 106 g h−1 for the GOSAT satellite, and uncertainties are poorly constrained. To leverage the diverse capabilities of these technologies, we introduce a hybrid screening-confirmation approach to LDAR called a comprehensive monitoring program. Here, a screening technology is used to rapidly tag high-emitting sites to direct close-range source identification. Currently, fixed sensors, MGLs, UAVs, and aircraft could be used as screening technologies, but their performances must be evaluated under a range of environmental and operational conditions to better constrain detection effectiveness. Methane-sensing satellites are improving rapidly and may soon be ready for facility-scale screening. We conclude with a speculative discussion of the future of LDAR, touching on integration, analytics, incentivization, and regulatory pathways.
The microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg2B2O5 whisker-reinforced ZK60 composites fabricated by powder metallurgy
Authors: Li Shangpeng , Zhu Yunpeng , Li Xiaoqiang , Liu Fulai , Ma Guojun , Wang Jinhui , Zhang Chang , Jin Peipeng
Published: March 2019

ZK60 magnesium matrix composites were prepared by a powder metallurgy method which including ball milling, hot pressing sintering and hot extrusion and reinforced with varied mass fractions of Mg2B2O5 whiskers (3%, 5%, 7%, 9%, and 15%). The effects of the precipitated phase, reinforcement and texture on the mechanical properties of the as-extruded Mg2B2O5w/ZK60 magnesium matrix composites were investigated. The results show that the 7 wt% Mg2B2O5 whiskers were uniformly distributed in the matrix, and the average grain size of α-Mg in the composites was finer than that in the as-extruded ZK60 alloy. The transmission electron microscopy images show no obvious defect although the interfacial bonding between the Mg2B2O5 whisker and the matrix was mechanical bonding. Versus the as-extruded ZK60 alloy, the texture is enhanced by the addition of Mg2B2O5 whisker into the magnesium matrix. In addition, the tensile yield strength (TYS) and the compression yield strength (CYS) of the 7 wt% Mg2B2O5 whisker-reinforced ZK60 composites increased by 14.1% and 40.3%, respectively. Hall-Petch strengthening and load transfer are the main mechanisms for 7 wt% Mg2B2O5 whisker-reinforced ZK60 composites in the composites.
Identifying psychiatric disorder-associated gut microbiota using microbiota-related gene set enrichment analysis
Authors: Cheng Shiqiang , Han Bei , Ding Miao , Wen Yan , Ma Mei , Zhang Lu , Qi Xin , Cheng Bolun , Li Ping , Kafle Om Prakash , Liang Xiao , Liu Li , Du Yanan , Zhao Yan , Zhang Feng
Published: March 2019

Psychiatric disorders are a group of complex psychological syndromes with high prevalence. It has been reported that gut microbiota has a dominant influence on the risks of psychiatric disorders through gut microbiota–brain axis. We extended the classic gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) approach to detect the association between gut microbiota and complex diseases using published genome-wide association study (GWAS) and GWAS of gut microbiota summary data. We applied our approach to real GWAS data sets of five psychiatric disorders, including attention deficiency/hyperactive disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (AUT), bipolar disorder (BD), schizophrenia (SCZ) and major depressive disorder (MDD). To evaluate the performance of our approach, we also tested the genetic correlations of obesity and type 2 diabetes with gut microbiota. We identified several significant associations between psychiatric disorders and gut microbiota, such as ADHD and genus Desulfovibrio (P = 0.031), order Clostridiales (P = 0.034). For AUT, association signals were observed for genera Bacteroides (P = 0.012) and Desulfovibrio (P = 0.033). Genus Desulfovibrio (P = 0.005) appeared to be associated with BD. For MDD, association signals were observed for genus Desulfovibrio (P = 0.003), order Clostridiales (P = 0.004), family Lachnospiraceae (P = 0.007) and genus Bacteroides (P = 0.007). Genus Desulfovibrio (P = 0.012) and genus Bacteroides (P = 0.038) appeared to be associated with SCZ. Our study results provide novel clues for revealing the roles of gut microbiota in psychiatric disorders. This study also illustrated the good performance of GSEA approach for exploring the relationships between gut microbiota and complex diseases.
Patent foramen ovale closure for secondary stroke prevention
Authors: Alkhouli Mohamad , Sievert Horst , Holmes David R
Published: March 2019

Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in patients with cryptogenic stroke is gaining momentum after the recent publication of four randomized clinical trials suggesting its benefit. This article provides a contemporary overview of the anatomy and pathophysiology of PFO, the available diagnostic tools for the assessment and risk stratification of PFO, and the current and future landscape of PFO closure devices and their optimal utilization. It also summarizes the current data on PFO closure for stroke prevention, and discusses the remaining open issues in the field of PFO closure.
What Fish Can Teach Us about the Feeding Functions of Postcranial Muscles and Joints
Authors: Camp Ariel L
Published: March 2019

Studies of vertebrate feeding have predominantly focused on the bones and muscles of the head, not the body. Yet, postcranial musculoskeletal structures like the spine and pectoral girdle are anatomically linked to the head, and may also have mechanical connections through which they can contribute to feeding. The feeding roles of postcranial structures have been best studied in ray-finned fishes, where the body muscles, vertebral column, and pectoral girdle attach directly to the head and help expand the mouth during suction feeding. Therefore, I use the anatomy and motion of the head–body interface in these fishes to develop a mechanical framework for studying postcranial functions during feeding. In fish the head and body are linked by the vertebral column, the pectoral girdle, and the body muscles that actuate these skeletal systems. The morphology of the joints and muscles of the cranio-vertebral and hyo-pectoral interfaces may determine the mobility of the head relative to the body, and ultimately the role of these interfaces during feeding. The postcranial interfaces can function as anchors during feeding: the body muscles and joints minimize motion between the head and body to stabilize the head or transmit forces from the body. Alternatively, the postcranial interfaces can be motors: body muscles actuate motion between the head and body to generate power for feeding motions. The motor function is likely important for many suction-feeding fishes, while the anchor function may be key for bite- or ram-feeding fishes. This framework can be used to examine the role of the postcranial interface in other vertebrate groups, and how that role changes (or not) with morphology and feeding behaviors. Such studies can expand our understanding of muscle function, as well as the evolution of vertebrate feeding behaviors across major transitions such as the invasion of land and the emergence of jaws.
Informational Lobbying and Pareto-Improving Agenda Constraint
Authors: Dellis Arnaud , Oak Mandar
Published: March 2019

Interest groups (IGs) lobby policymaker (PM) by offering verifiable, policy-relevant information. The PM is limited in (1) his ability to verify the information offered by the IGs (access constraint) and (2) the number of issues he can implement reform on (agenda constraint). We show that when there exists an access constraint but no agenda constraint, the equilibrium exhibits “overlobbying,” that is, an IG with unfavorable information may lobby hoping that, the PM, unable to verify the information, may take the costly act of lobbying as a signal of favorable information and therefore implement reform on its issue. We then show that the presence of an agenda constraint can improve information transmission by curbing overlobbying. We identify circumstances under which an agenda constraint improves the ex ante expected welfare of both the PM and of each IG, thereby generating a Pareto improvement. (JEL D72, D78, D83)
Integrable Complex Structures on Twistor Spaces
Authors: Gindi Steven
Published: March 2019

We introduce integrable complex structures on twistor spaces fibered over complex manifolds. We then show, in particular, that the twistor spaces associated with generalized Kahler, SKT and strong HKT manifolds all naturally admit complex structures. Moreover, in the strong HKT case, we construct a metric and three compatible complex structures on the twistor space that have equal torsions.
A computational study of mental health awareness campaigns on social media
Authors: Saha Koustuv , Torous John , Ernala Sindhu Kiranmai , Rizuto Conor , Stafford Amanda , De Choudhury Munmun
Published: March 2019

Social media data like that from Twitter can offer new information about how groups of people perceive their medications, share benefits, and report side effects.
Symbiotic Allegory as Innovative Indigenous Research Methodology
Authors: Charbonneau-Dahlen Barbara
Published: March 2019

This article introduces symbiotic allegory, an innovative research method designed by the researcher, an American Indian Chippewa. Symbiotic allegory incorporates traditional methods (storytelling, the Dream Catcher–Medicine Wheel, traditional grounding ceremonies) with Western interview methodology to evoke trust and candor among Plains Indians who had never voiced the traumatic stories of their childhood boarding school experiences. Implications reflect the importance of creating methodologies that incorporate the ways of knowing of the group being studied, which is best accomplished by a researcher who comes from within the ranks of the population being studied.
Nuclear morphometric analysis in tissue as an objective tool with potential use to improve melanoma staging
Authors: Nunes Tatiana W.N. , Filippi-Chiela Eduardo C. , Callegari-Jacques Sídia M. , da Silva Vinicius D. , Sansonowicz Tatiana , Lenz Guido , Roehe Adriana V.
Published: March 2019

Alterations in nuclear size and shape are commonly observed in cancers, and its objective evaluation may provide valuable clinical information about the outcome of the disease. Here, we applied the nuclear morphometric analysis in tissues in hematoxylin and eosin-digitized slides of nevi and melanoma, to objectively contribute to the prognostic evaluation of these tumors. To this, we analyzed the nuclear morphometry of 34 melanomas classified according to the TNM stage. Eight cases of melanocytic nevi were used as non-neoplastic tissues to set the non-neoplastic parameters of nuclear morphology. Our samples were set as G1 (control, nevi), G2 (T1T2N0M0), G3 (T3T4N0M0), G4 (T1T2N1M1), and G5 (T3T4N1M1). Image-Pro Plus 6.0 software was used to acquire measurements related to nuclear size (variable: Area) and shape (variables: Aspect, AreaBox, Roundness, and RadiusRatio, which were used to generate the Nuclear Irregularity Index). From these primary variables, a set of secondary variables were generated. All the seven primary and secondary variables related to the nuclear area were different among groups (Pillai’s trace P<0.001), whereas Nuclear Irregularity Index, which is the variable related to nuclear shape, did not differ among groups. The secondary variable ‘Average Area of Large Nuclei’ was able to differ all pairwise comparisons, including thin nonmetastatic from thin metastatic tumors. In conclusion, the objective quantification of nuclear area in hematoxylin and eosin slides may provide objective information about the risk stratification of these tumors and has the potential to be used as an additional method in clinical decision making.