bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preparation and Electro-thermal Properties of Low Voltage DC Driven Graphene Electro-thermal Film
Authors: Wang Shidong , Gu Baoshan , Sun Shiqing , Zou Weiwu , Yang Peiyan , Zhao Haoqi , Li Xin
Published: August 2019

Exfoliated graphene were prepared by supercritical carbon dioxide fluid stripping and electro-thermal film with graphite and exfoliated graphene ware prepared and then studied by SEM and Raman spectroscopy. The results show the graphene sheets are exfoliated from the graphite blocks with a size of 3-10μm after stripping. The graphene existed in sheet in the electro-thermal film while graphite was blocks, which caused the graphene oriented and the conductive network more abundant and effective. The power of graphene electro-thermal film reduced by 22.5% compared with graphite electro-thermal film to reach the same space temperature under 12V, and the film temperature decreased by 9.623 °C, the comprehensive heat transfer coefficient is 2.60×10-3 W·cm-2·°C-1, And the heating rate of the graphene electro-thermal film rapidly increase and the temperature rise time greatly decrease. The initial heating rate of graphene electro-thermal film is 19.3 times of that of the graphite electro-thermal film, and the temperature rise time decreased to 24.7%.
Inactivation of Cyanobacteria by Underwater Shock Wave
Authors: Liu Wen , Zhang Wanlin , Li Li , Wang Weiwei , Pan Kai , Wang Gongdao , Wang Ji , Wu Wei
Published: August 2019

A treatment of underwater shock wave was proposed to solve this problems which the harm caused by cyanobacteria blooms. Underwater shock wave technology has the features of energy saving, environmental protection, safe and efficient. The underwater shock wave technology effective performance for the removal of cyanobacteria was investigated. The results obtained from on-site algae water showed that the initial chlorophyll-a content of Taihu Lake wild algae is 216.22 μg/L, after applying with the optimum working conditions treatment, the chlorophyll-a of the treated group is only 3.84μg/L at the ninth day, while the concentration of chlorophyll-a was 209.87μg/L in control group after 9 days of culture, the average removal rate was 98.22%. The initial algal toxin level in the wild algae in Taihu Lake was 4.23 μg/L, after treatment with underwater shock wave, the concentration of algae toxin in the treatment group decrease below the limit of detection (0.1 μg/L) after 1 day of algae culture, meanwhile, the control group increased to 4.36 μg/L. The contents of TN, TP and COD in the treatment group were lower than the control group with the underwater shock wave treatment. The results indicated that the underwater shock wave cannot only inactivated the wild cyanobacteria, but also can improve water quality.
Band Gap Optimization for GHz Elastic Waves in Gold Phononic Crystals
Authors: Zhang Chi , Liu Qiang , Ouyang Zhengbiao
Published: August 2019

Elastic waves at GHz range have many interesting applications, such as microwave generation, hybrid-information processing and quantum routing. The phononic crystals (PhnCs) can help manipulate the propagation of elastic waves, due to their bandgap effect. In order to produce relatively broad phononic bandgap in the GHz range, here three types of PhnCs in gold are investigated. Phononic bandgaps are optimized in terms of tuning the shape and size of air holes. Results as provided by the finite element method show that the maximum of the gap ratio ~0.991 appears in the cross-shaped PhnCs. The proposed gold-based PhnCs may be useful for building optomechanical platform which can realize strong surface-plasmon-mechanical coupling.
Preparation and Ferroelectric Properties of Ba(1-x-y)CaxCe2y/3TiO3 Nanotubes
Authors: Chen Juntai , Zhou Qiqi , Liu Yang , Dong Youming , Ma Mengen , Deng Xiangyun
Published: August 2019

In this paper, the microstructure and ferroelectric properties of Ba(1-x-y)CaxCe2y/3TiO3 nanotubes were prepared by hydrothermal method using TiO2 nanotube as templates. Ba(1-x-y)CaxCe2y/3TiO3 nanotubes at different concentration of Ca(CH3COO)2•H2O and (CH3CO2)3Ce·xH2O were investigated. The experimental results show that increasing the concentration of (CH3CO2)3Ce·xH2O and Ca(CH3COO)2•H2O are beneficial to the transition of TiO2 nanotubes to Ba(1-x-y)CaxCe2y/3TiO3 nanotubes and improve ferroelectricity, and the results show that in the Ca(CH3COO)2•H2O, (CH3CO2)3Ce·xH2O doping concentration of 0.032mol/L,0.008mol/, respectively, the surface morphology of Ba(1-x-y)CaxCe2y/3TiO3 nanotubes is the best. Typical hysteresis loops with remanent polarization and coercive field are 0.33 μC/cm2, and 33 kV/cm, respectively.
Fibrous Orientation Effects on the Deformation and Stress of an Insect-like Flapping-wing Micro Aerial Vehicle Based on ACP
Authors: Shema Akther , Yu Chunjin , Wang Fang
Published: August 2019

This paper examines the effect of different orientation of composite material on the deformation and stress of dragonfly-like flapping-wing micro aerial vehicles (FWMAVs). After billions of years of evolution, insects employing flapping-wing tend to have excellent flight capabilities. To understand the bionic wings will be helpful to design high performance aircrafts. FEM analysis of flapping wing structure simulating dragonfly wings having three layers Epoxy carbon composite material and resin epoxy is glue for adhesive two layers. In the process, the flapping wing model was created in ANSYS Workbench ACP (pre), ACP (post) and then the loading of the flapping wing in each phase will be calculated. Finally, the graphs showing the changes of the maximum deformation displacement and maximum stress can be worked out. It can be known that for the first principle stress, -35° is the best performance because -35° stresses is lowest stress and +35° is the worst performance because this angle is the highest stress. For the second principle stress the -25° is the best performance because -25° have the lowest stress. For the third principle stress, -45° is the worst performance because -45° is the highest stress, +45° is the best performance because here stress is the lowest and 0° is the worst because here stress is the highest. The findings are helpful in answering why insect wings are so impeccable, thus providing possibility of improving the design of flapping wing aerial vehicles. This paper will found why insect wings are impeccable.
Sedimentary Characteristics and Source-sink Process of Fan Delta in Nantun Formation of Beixi Area in Baer Depression
Authors: Li Yue , Liu Chuntian , Feng Kexin , Qin Jia , Wang Jinkui
Published: August 2019

Fan delta is a very important oil and gas gathering place of continental faulted basin, to establish an accurate and reliable fan delta depositional model is of great value to predict dominant reservoir group. With the comprehensive application of core, earthquake and logging data, the typical fan delta depositional system developed in the Baer sag of the Nantun formation has been clearly defined by the fine depiction of the internal sedimentary units and phase marks of the fan. It can be subdivided into 3 subphases and 11 types of microfacies. The fan delta plain subfacies developed 3 kinds of microfacies, namely plain distributary channel microfacies, plain distributary channel microfacies, plain natural dyke microfacies. There are 6 types of microfacies developed in the fan delta front subfacies, namely, the main channel microfacies of the leading edge of the front, the microfacies of the subaqueous distributary channel in the front edge, the front edge mat microfacies, the sandstone microfacies of the estuarine dam, the sandstone microfacies of the far sand bar and the inter subaqueous microfacies of the leading edge. There are 2 kinds of microfacies in the delta facies, namely, the front delta siltstone microfacies and the front delta mudstone microfacies. The fan delta deposits in the Nantun formation of the Baer sag are mainly developed in the Beixi slope zone, the Huoduomoer tectonic belt, the Suderte tectonic belt, and so on, which are close to the steep slope of the basin margin or the control fault. According to the different characteristics, two sedimentary models of steep slope and steep slope are established.
Transversely Anisotropic Damage Characteristics of Loaded Rock under Freeze-thaw Cycles
Authors: Liu Xiangdong , Zhang Huimei
Published: August 2019

Flake metamorphic rocks and sedimentary rocks tend to show obvious transversely isotropic mechanical properties in deformation and strength because of the existence of weak structural surface or soft-hard interlayer structure. The rock in cold area is affected by load and freeze-thaw cycles, and the prevention and control of freeze-thaw disaster has become an urgent problem to be solved in the construction of cold area. Based on the strength of Rock Micro Element subjecting to Weibull random distribution and the macroscopic statistical damage model of rock, this paper used the transversely isotropic elastomer model to describe the damage evolution equation of freeze-thaw rocks in the whole process of the load deformation, and established the corresponding damage constitutive model. The results showed that this model more accurately describes the effect of freeze-thaw cycles on rock mechanical behavior, and had positive theoretical and practical significance for solving engineering problems in complex rock body.
Study on Characteristics of Ship Emissions from Surrounding China Seas
Authors: Wang Zheng , Liu Chunling , Zheng Wei , Peng Chuansheng , Liu Ying , Qin Cuihong
Published: August 2019

In order to analyse the characteristics of air pollutants emissions from coastal vessels in China, this study collects and analyses the static data and emission parameters of ships both at home and abroad based on the data of automatic identification system. Based on the actual navigation Data of ships, the paper also analyses the emission characteristics under the condition of five vessels including port, mooring, low speed and cruise in port, and statistics the emissions according to different sea areas, and gives the ship atmosphere of the three emission control areas In China Pollutant emissions. The results show that the SO2, NOX and PM10 produced in the vicinity of China’s coastal waters within a year are about 879,800 tons, 1,378,400 tons and 117,300 tons, respectively. Source of emission analysis shows that the host is the main source of emissions from the three main sources of emissions on the ship’s main engine, auxiliary engines and boilers. Spatial analysis of ship-borne pollutants shows that 90% of ship emissions occur within 96 nautical miles of the coastline to the baseline of the territorial sea.
A BP Neural Network Modeling Method Based on Global Error for the Hysteresis of Piezoelectric Actuator
Authors: Wang Yanyan , Guo Hai
Published: August 2019

Piezoelectric actuator (PZT) is used widely in nano positioning, nano measurement and nano mechanics. However, its hysteresis, creep and nonlinearity affect the positioning accuracy seriously, especially the hysteresis. The paper proposes a BP neural network modeling method based on global error to model the hysteresis of the PZT. The network contains input, hidden and output layers. Its training goal is based on global errors. And the network could adjust the connection weight of the network dynamically according to different inputs till the global errors reduce to the threshold. Experiments prove that the method could fit the hysteresis curves of the PZT well. And the training errors could be controlled under 0.05.
Indoor Position System Based on Improved TDOA Algorithm
Authors: Pan Dawei , Yu Yunhua
Published: August 2019

An indoor position system based on UWB modules is introduced in this paper. The time difference is obtained by the communication between the target node and the source node, and the time difference is sent to the upper computer to calculate the position of the target node with the improved TDOA algorithm and kalman filtering algorithm. The test shows that the system has the advantage of high precision and high stability.
Ion Distribution at Steel/Concrete Interface in Steel Reinforced CSA Concrete by Newly Updated Image Analysis Technique
Authors: Song Meimei , Wang Chuanlin
Published: August 2019

Calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement is potential low-carbon cement; therefore investigation on ion exchange property at the steel/concrete interface is of great importance to understand the corrosion resistance and long-term durability properties of steel reinforced CSA concrete. Moreover, there is still a lack of standard procedure for quantitative imaging analysis in the study of cementitious materials so far. In this study, we developed an updated imaging analysis technique to investigate the atomic information in steel reinforced CSA concrete by using quantified elemental mappings. Microstructure of steel reinforced CSA concretes were characterized by SEM/EDX. The results indicated that there was less active ion distribution at the steel/concrete interface in CSA concrete than that for OPC concrete. Al/Ca ratio decreased over the interfacial zone gradually with ageing period of up to 1.5 years, but Al still dominated in the CSA concrete compared to the OPC concrete.
Assessment Model of Ecosystem Service Value Based on Environmental Kuznets Curve
Authors: Liu Yuchen , Deng Zihe , Lin Qian , Wang Lei
Published: August 2019

As more and more land is developed, the environment is being destroyed more and more seriously, and the country and people begin to pay more attention to environmental degradation. However, the value of ecosystem services and the cost of environmental degradation are not taken into account when land projects are developed, and the impact of decisions on the biosphere is often overlooked. The real economic cost is often negative. In order to measure the real cost-benefit, we established our own measurement cost-benefit ratio model based on the value of ecosystem services and the cost of environmental degradation. In the modeling process, we first measured and counted the economic output of the land project, and then calculated the cost of environmental degradation based on its economic output according to the Kuznets curve formula. The use of these models can ensure the timeliness and applicability of our conclusions. Finally, we calculate the ecosystem service value of the whole region through the ecosystem service value of unit area and conduct evaluation and sensitivity analysis. In addition, we use RSEI to analyze the environmental quality of each part, and finally determine whether it exceeds or falls below the critical point by comparing the total value of ecosystem services with the total value of ecosystem services not included. So we can get a specific ratio to determine whether its real cost-effectiveness is positive or negative.
Formation and Controlling Factors of Effective Weat-hered Crust Carbonate Reservoirs-taking the Yingmaili-Yaha Area of Tarim Basin as an Example
Authors: Wang Huanhuan
Published: August 2019

In recent years, the marine oil and gas exploration in China has made great progress and lots of high quality carbonate reservoirs in deep strata have been found. As one of the most important carbonate reservoirs, the weathered crust reservoir has taken much more attention. Especially in the Tabei area of Tarim Basin, plenty of hydrocarbon resources are stored in the weathered crust reservoir, which arouses lots of concerns at present. In the Yingmaili-Yaha area of Tabei, the main accumulation spaces of the Cam-brian-Ordovician weathered crust are dissolved pores, fractures and caverns, and these reservoirs have good physical properties, great thickness and large distribution range. Research shows that the formation of the reservoir in this area is restricted by factors such as early stage sedimentary facies, weathering and leaching, fractures created by the tectonic movement and associated denudation. The Weathering crust karstification and the tectonic disruption has greatly improved the nature of the accommodation spaces, as a result, in the Yingmaili-Yaha area, even buried in the depth of about 6000m, high porosity and permeability weathering crust reservoirs are still well preserved. There are many controlling factors, such as paleogeomorphology, tectonic subsidence and uplifting, weathering and leaching time, paleoclimate, etc, thus forming lots of dissolved pores, fractures and caverns, and they are mainly distributed in the depth of 150m under the weathering front, and it is up to 200m in local areas.
Protection of Materials from Space Radiation Environments on Spacecraft
Authors: Shen Zicai , Xia Yan , Liu Yuming , Ding Yigang , Zhao Chunqing
Published: August 2019

Spacecraft in orbit will encounter space radiation environments such as electron, proton, heavy ions, gamma ray, etc; and results in the space radiation effects such as single event effects, total ionizing dose effects, displacement damage effects, surface charging and discharging or electrostatic discharging, internal charging effects. So protection from space radiation should be given to the spacecraft. The protection principle and validity from space environments on spacecraft is introduced firstly, and then mass shielding material, ESD protection material, and radiation hardening functional material, were discussed. At last, some development directions on protection material from space radiation environments are proposed.
Dynamics Problem of Mode III Crack Subjected to Superimpose Uniform Loads
Authors: Wang Yuntao , Lü Nianchun , Cheng Jin
Published: August 2019

The problem of the mode III flaw under superimpose uniform loads was studied by the means of the theory of complex variable functions. By the ways, the problems studyed can be fast transformed into R-H issuess and K-S mixed boundary value issues. The expression of stresses, displacement and stress intensity factor were gained on the theory of the theory of analytical functions.
Reservoir Types and Distribution Characteristics of Wurxun-beir Sag
Authors: Yang Liwei
Published: August 2019

The distribution of Cretaceous lithologic reservoirs in Wurxun-Beir sag of Hailaer Basin is mainly controlled by paleotopography, distribution range of effective reservoirs, and distribution range of effective source rocks, stratigraphic unconformity surface and structure. Oil and gas are mainly concentrated in the margin of sedimentary trough, large gentle slope break zone and low uplift in trough area. The abrupt slope break zone of the belt and the fault type is distributed in a circular shape around the depression trough. On the plane, there are many oil-generating troughs in the Wurxun-Beir depression, which provide abundant and high-quality resource basis for the formation of reservoirs. The hydrocarbon generated from the source bed migrates and accumulates to various types of traps around it through sand bodies, faults or unconformities. Various types of reservoirs, such as structure and lithology, coexist in the depression, forming a transverse superimposed contiguous sheet. The compound oil and gas accumulation zone is mainly distributed in the hydrocarbon generation depression trough or the surrounding fault structural belt. The large area hydrocarbon-generating troughs usually have large oil and gas reserves, such as Surenuoer, Wunan and Beizhong oilfields; the troughs developed in the middle of the depression are easy to form “full depression oil-bearing” oil-rich troughs, such as Beizhong sub-depression reservoirs. Exploration practice has proved that the discovered reservoirs are located in or around the source rock. Therefore, exploration and deployment around the source rock will be the key direction of exploration in the future.
Display Luminance Management Algorithm in Aviation Cockpit
Authors: Yang Ning , Zhao Chunling , Zhang Kezhi , Yao Xinbin
Published: August 2019

An effective and reasonable luminance control algorithm, with ambient and forward field of view illumination compensation, has been proposed. This paper analyses the airworthiness requirement and human eye characteristics in terms of visual sensitive and as the basis of luminance control research. This algorithm introduces the display luminance comparison method to maintain the luminance consistency among all the head-down displays. The relationship between display luminance and ambient light is realized by power function to approximate the eye logarithmic response. Based on Webber-Fechner law, the adaptive mismatch compensation is utilized for the eye adaptation for transitions from forward field of view luminance levels. Considering the compensation for the display aging and the individual preference, the log-linear manual adjustment could help the crew to achieve the comfortable visual effect.
Modeling Design on Horizontal Box
Authors: Chen Wei
Published: August 2019

We discuss the method of modelling design on horizontal box from five aspects: function, modelling, material, process and color. It is pointed out that in order to adapt to the market, it is necessary to design new products with a sense of the times.
Effect of Pouring Pressure on Typical Structure of ZL114A Lube Oil Pump Casting
Authors: Ding Minghui , Jiang Shanyao , Liu Hongjin , Yu Dongpeng , Zheng Hang
Published: August 2019

In this paper, a complex aluminum alloy lube oil pump casting with many interconnected oil pipes was produced by sand mould-type, low-pressure casting (LPC). The sand mould was designed as a monolithic structure and produced by selective laser sintering (SLS) technology. The impact of pouring pressure on casting defects was studied by the casting simulation software PROCAST. The optimal lifting pressure velocity was 0.65KPa/s and the filling pressure velocity was between 2.4KPa/s and 4.8KPa/s. Adopting optimal pouring pressure conditions, the casting with defect-free and high dimensional accuracy was successfully produced.
Ocean currents and coastal exposure to offshore releases of passively transported material in the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Duteil Olaf , Damien Pierre , Sheinbaum Julio , Spinner Marlene
Published: August 2019

The Gulf of Mexico (GoM) is heavily exploited by the oil industry. Incidental oil releases, such as the 2010 blowout of the Deepwater Horizon platform, lead to a large scale dispersion of pollutants by ocean currents, contaminating the coastline and damaging the ecosystems. In order to determine whether the ocean dynamics hampers or conversely fosters the landing of material in the coastal regions, we simulate more than 29 000 individual tracer releases in the offshore waters of the GoM. We assume that the tracers are not decaying and transported passively by the ocean currents. In a first part of our study we focus on the mean dispersion pattern of 80 releases occurring at the location of the Deepwater Horizon. In a second part, we generalize the metrics that we defined to the whole GoM. Our study shows that releases occurring in specific regions, i.e. the bay of Campeche, off the Mississipi-Alabama-Florida and the West Florida shelfs are associated with higher environmental costs as the ocean currents steer the released material toward the productive coastal ecosystems and foster landings. Conversely, the tracers released off the Louisiana-Texas-shelfs and the center of the Gulf of Mexico are less threatening for coastal regions as the material recirculates offshore. We show that the coastline of the southwest part of the Bay of Campeche, the Mississipi’s mouth and the Island of Cuba are particularly exposed as 70% of the landings occur in these 3 regions.
Functional niche occupation and species richness in herbaceous plant communities along experimental gradients of stress and disturbance
Authors: Li Yuanzhi , Shipley Bill
Published: August 2019

Background and Aims

The patterns of niche occupation in functional trait space have been widely studied to understand the processes of community assembly, but are rarely linked to environmental conditions (here, stress and disturbance). In this study, we investigate (1) how the pattern of functional niche occupation, incorporating intraspecific trait variation and covariation, varies along experimental gradients of stress and disturbance, (2) whether habitat filtering and/or limiting similarity modify the pattern, and (3) whether their strength varies as a function of species richness or levels of stress and disturbance.

Methods

We constructed an experimental system consisting of 24 herbaceous plant mesocosms under different levels of stress and disturbance, and measured ten traits on five individuals for each species in each mesocosm. We quantified the total functional niche volume occupied by an entire mesocosm, the functional niche overlap among species within a mesocosm and the average functional niche volume occupied per species, and investigated how these metrics varied from species-poor to species-rich mesocosms along gradients of stress and disturbance.

Key Results

Species richness and functional niche overlap correlated positively to disturbance at low and medium levels of stress, but peaked at the intermediate level of disturbance when stress was high. The total functional niche volume and average functional niche volume did not change significantly along these gradients. Compared to null models, each mesocosm occupied a smaller total functional niche volume (habitat filtering) and the species within each mesocosm overlapped less and were more functionally specialized (limiting similarity). Moreover, the standardized metrics (to the null expectations) did not change significantly under different levels of stress and disturbance.

Conclusions

This experimental evidence shows that both habitat filtering and limiting similarity determine the patterns of functional niche occupation and species richness, but their strength does not change along environmental gradients of stress and disturbance.
Vision in an abundant North American bird: The Red-winged Blackbird
Authors: Fernández-Juricic Esteban , Baumhardt Patrice E , Tyrrell Luke P , Elmore Amanda , DeLiberto Shelagh T , Werner Scott J
Published: August 2019

Avian vision is fundamentally different from human vision; however, even within birds there are substantial between-species differences in visual perception in terms of visual acuity, visual coverage, and color vision. However, there are not many species that have all these visual traits described, which can constrain our ability to study the evolution of visual systems in birds. To start addressing this gap, we characterized multiple traits of the visual system (visual coverage, visual acuity, centers of acute vision, and color vision) of the Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), one of the most abundant and studied birds in North America. We found that Red-winged Blackbirds have: wide visual coverage; one center of acute vision per eye (fovea) projecting fronto-laterally with high density of single and double cones, making it the center of both chromatic and achromatic vision; a wide binocular field that does not have the input of the centers of acute vision; and an ultraviolet sensitive visual system. With this information, we parameterized a Red-winged Blackbird-specific perceptual model considering different plumage patches. We found that the male red epaulet was chromatically conspicuous but with minimal achromatic signal, but the male yellow patch had a lower chromatic but a higher achromatic signal, which may be explained by the pigment composition of the feathers. However, the female epaulet was not visually conspicuous in both the chromatic and achromatic dimensions compared with other female feather patches. We discuss the implications of this visual system configuration relative to the foraging, antipredator, mate choice, and social behaviors of Red-winged Blackbirds. Our findings can be used for comparative studies as well as for making more species-specific predictions about different visual behaviors for future empirical testing.
Sex expression and genotypic sex ratio vary with region and environment in the wetland moss Drepanocladus lycopodioides
Authors: Bisang Irene , Ehrlén Johan , Hedenäs Lars
Published: August 2019

Sex ratio variation is common among organisms with separate sexes. In bryophytes, sex chromosome segregation at meiosis suggests a balanced progeny sex ratio. However, most bryophyte populations exhibit female-biased phenotypic sex ratios based on the presence of reproductive structures on gametophytes. Many bryophyte populations do not form sexual organs, and genotypic sex ratio variation in such populations is mostly unknown. We tested sex expression, and phenotypic and genotypic sex ratios against environmental parameters in natural populations of the unisexual wetland moss Drepanocladus lycopodiodes at 11 sites in each of three regions in southern Sweden. We identified sex in 660 individual ramets, based on sexual structures, when present, or with a specifically designed molecular marker, when absent. All regions exhibited a female bias in phenotypic and genotypic sex ratios. Sex ratio biases and sex expression differed between regions. Sex ratios were less female-biased in larger patches. Wetter patches exhibited a stronger female bias in genotypic sex ratio and lower sex expression. This is the first evidence of environmental effects on genotypic sex ratio in mosses. A higher frequency of females in wet patches could be due to higher female resource demands for sporophyte production or higher male sensitivity to wetness. A higher incidence of females than males in moister sites aligns with female flowering plants, but differs from reproductive bryophytes in drier environments. Taken together with previous results, our data indicate that sex ratio variation and its drivers differ among species, their life histories and environments.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Seropositivity and Early Syphilis Stage Associated With Ocular Syphilis Diagnosis: A Case-control Study in British Columbia, Canada, 2010–2018
Authors: Hamze Hasan , Ryan Venessa , Cumming Emma , Lukac Christine , Wong Jason , Muhammad Morshed , Grennan Troy
Published: August 2019

Background

The incidence of syphilis has been increasing worldwide in the last 20 years, disproportionately impacting those living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Alongside this increase, several jurisdictions have reported increasing incidences of syphilis-related complications, including ocular syphilis. We sought to characterize ocular syphilis cases in British Columbia (BC), Canada.

Methods

This case-control study compared ocular syphilis cases, matched (1:4) to syphilis controls, that were diagnosed in BC between January 2010 and December 2018. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify potential correlates of ocular syphilis, where variables were included in the final model if significant (P ≤ .05).

Results

During the study period, there were 6716 syphilis diagnoses, including 66 (0.98%) ocular syphilis cases. The median age of cases was 49.5 years (interquartile range 39–59). Most (87.8%) patients were male, where 54.6% identified as men who have sex with men. The most common ophthalmologic diagnosis was panuveitis (42.4%). Of ocular syphilis patients, 48.5% were living with HIV at the time of their syphilis diagnosis, compared to 26.4% of controls (P = .001). The proportion of syphilis cases with ocular syphilis increased from 0.48% in 2010 to 0.83% in 2018. The final multivariable model demonstrated correlates between ocular syphilis and early syphilis stage, including primary/secondary (odds ratio [OR] 4.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.86–13.24) and early latent (OR 4.29, 95% CI 1.62–11.34) stages, and HIV serostatus (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.14–4.09).

Conclusions

Ocular syphilis increased over the study period, both in absolute numbers and as a proportion of all syphilis cases, a finding consistent with other jurisdictions. These findings highlight the importance of vigilance for ocular syphilis, to avoid diagnostic and treatment delays.
Forecasting Spring Flight of Ips subelongatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Japanese larch Larix kaempferi (Pinales: Pinaceae) Forests in the Republic of Korea
Authors: Lee Cha Young , Nam Youngwoo , Park Chanwoo , Bae Yeon Jae , Choi Won Il
Published: August 2019

Ips subelongatus is a species of bark beetle experiencing population outbreaks in Korea. In this study, a predictive model and empirical prediction were used to forecast the spring flight of these beetles in Japanese larch forests. The number of beetles caught in pheromone traps was investigated in larch forests thinned in 2009, 2010, 2012, or 2013. Data from the sites thinned in 2009, 2010, or 2012 were used in the predictive model based on a degree-day model that was validated using data from the site thinned in 2013. The lower threshold temperature for flight (LTF) and a thermal sum for the spring flight of I. subelongatus were estimated. The empirical prediction that beetles initiate their flight when daily maximum temperatures reach 16 or 20°C was tested using daily maximum temperature and the beetles caught. The LTF was estimated as 5.97°C, with 42.95 degree-days required for initiation of spring flight. The median flight dates were estimated with a discrepancy from 1 to 3 d by the predictive model. Using the empirical prediction, differences between the day when daily maximum temperature reached 16 or 20°C and flight peak days ranged from 4 to 45 d. These results demonstrate that the predictive model is more suitable than the empirical prediction for predicting the spring flight of I. subelongatus. Overwintering I. subelongatus adults seem to need to gain a determined thermal sum before initiating spring flight rather than merely waiting for the daily maximum temperature to exceed a critical temperature.
Gene Flow in the Müllerian Mimicry Ring of a Poisonous Papuan Songbird Clade (Pitohui; Aves)
Authors: Garg Kritika M , Sam Katerina , Chattopadhyay Balaji , Sadanandan Keren R , Koane Bonny , Ericson Per G P , Rheindt Frank E
Published: August 2019

Müllerian mimicry rings are remarkable symbiotic species assemblages in which multiple members share a similar phenotype. However, their evolutionary origin remains poorly understood. Although gene flow among species has been shown to generate mimetic patterns in some Heliconius butterflies, mimicry is believed to be due to true convergence without gene flow in many other cases. We investigated the evolutionary history of multiple members of a passerine mimicry ring in the poisonous Papuan pitohuis. Previous phylogenetic evidence indicates that the aposematic coloration shared by many, but not all, members of this genus is ancestral and has only been retained by members of the mimicry ring. Using a newly assembled genome and thousands of genomic DNA markers, we demonstrate gene flow from the hooded pitohui (Pitohui dichrous) into the southern variable pitohui (Pitohui uropygialis), consistent with shared patterns of aposematic coloration. The vicinity of putatively introgressed loci is significantly enriched for genes that are important in melanin pigment expression and toxin resistance, suggesting that gene flow may have been instrumental in the sharing of plumage patterns and toxicity. These results indicate that interspecies gene flow may be a more general mechanism in generating mimicry rings than hitherto appreciated.
The effectiveness of workplace health promotion in low- and middle-income countries
Authors: Pham Cong Tuan , Phung Dung , Nguyen Thi Vinh , Chu Cordia
Published: August 2019

Although many literature reviews synthesize literature regarding workplace health promotion (WHP) interventions, systematic reviews on the effectiveness of and factors influencing the operation of WHP activities in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are scarce. Therefore, we systematically reviewed evaluation studies to examine the effectiveness and factors related to the implementation of WHP programmes in LMIC. Twenty-six peer-reviewed and grey evaluation studies, published before November 2017, were included from electronic databases (PubMed, The Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, EMBASE and Web of Science) and manual searching. The results revealed that WHP intervention in LMIC was effective in reducing health risks in a wide range of industries and settings, including in resource-poor contexts such as small enterprises and the manufacturing industry. The main factors positively influencing the effectiveness of the intervention are long intervention time period, and needs-based and active intervention strategies. In addition, commitment from workplace leaders, the involvement of workers and support from authorities and professionals are factors contributing to a successful WHP programme. However, the evidence regarding the effectiveness of WHP in LMIC regarding the health outcomes and business productivity is inconclusive due to the several remaining methodological limitations. Future developments of more rigorous methods of evaluating the effectiveness of WHP activities should be addressed to produce higher-quality evidence that would inform future practice.
Unwinding Retrogression: Examining the Practice of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights?
Authors: Warwick Ben T C
Published: August 2019

The doctrine of non-retrogression used by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is apt for the current moment of crisis and withdrawal from human rights standards. It addresses instances where the State is responsible for backwards steps in human rights protection. However, the doctrine has rarely been used by the Committee as it is paralysed within conceptual confusion and practical ambiguity. This article unravels those difficulties and highlights ways forward. It gives a brief history of non-retrogression and identifies what backwardness the doctrine seeks to regulate, which actions and inactions of the State it defines as culpable, how the multiple steps of the doctrine are to be proved and where the doctrine fits within the Committee’s processes of scrutiny. Overall, it is argued that the significant potential of the doctrine is constrained by its confusions and that urgent reforms are needed to ensure its use and effectiveness.
Hidden in Plain Sight: Identifying Women Living in the United States Who Could Benefit From HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis
Authors: Ojikutu B O , Mayer K H
Published: August 2019

HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with oral tenofovir/emtricitabine is an effective means of decreasing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition among women. However, few women are prescribed and are taking PrEP. This article offers perspectives on barriers to use and strategies to increase uptake among women.
Dietary patterns and breast cancer in Colombia: an ecological study
Authors: Herrán Oscar F , Álvarez Diana C , Quintero-Lesmes Doris C
Published: August 2019

Background

The role that diet plays in the development of breast cancer is unclear and breast cancer continues to increase in Colombia and worldwide. The objective of this study was to assess the association between patterns of dietary consumption and the incidence of breast cancer.

Methods

An ecological study was conducted in 24 geodemographic units in which 95% of the women of Colombia live. The association between breast cancer rate (dependent variable) and three dietary patterns established with factor analysis (traditional/starch, fiber/dairy and snack) was investigated using simple and multiple linear regression. The use of variables related to socioeconomic context and the duration of breastfeeding allowed for the control of possible confounding. All information was derived from concurrent national surveys or was obtained directly over a period of time close to the period during which the study was conducted.

Results

There is an inverse relationship between breast cancer rate and illiteracy rate (β=−2808.3), duration of breastfeeding (β=−3354.1), adherence to traditional/fiber dietary patterns (β=−30467) and adherence to the snack dietary pattern (β=−43612). The goodness of fit for the model was R2=84%.

Conclusions

Increasing the duration of breastfeeding, ensuring education to promote health and following traditional food consumption patterns, regardless of what foods are consumed, can protect against the development of breast cancer.
Human Rights versus National Interests: Shifting US Public Attitudes on the International Criminal Court
Authors: Zvobgo Kelebogile
Published: August 2019

The United States—an architect of international criminal tribunals in the twentieth century—has since moderated its involvement in international justice. Striking to many observers is the United States’ failure to join the International Criminal Court—the institutional successor to the tribunals the nation helped install in Germany, Japan, the Balkans, and Rwanda. Interestingly, the US public’s support of the ICC increases yearly despite the government’s ambivalence about, and even hostility toward, the Court. Drawing on the US foreign policy public opinion literature, I theorize that human rights frames increase support for joining the ICC among Americans, whereas national interest frames decrease support. I administer an online survey experiment to evaluate these expectations and find consistent support. I additionally test hypotheses from the framing literature in American politics regarding the effect of exposure to two competing frames. I find that participants exposed to competing frames hold more moderate positions than participants exposed to a single frame but differ appreciably from the control group. Crucially, I find that participants’ beliefs about international organizations’ effectiveness and impartiality are equally, if not more, salient than the treatments. Thus, the ICC may be able to mobilize support and pressure policy change by demonstrating effectiveness and impartiality.
Young doctors’ perspectives on antibiotic use and resistance: a multinational and inter-specialty cross-sectional European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) survey
Authors: Beović Bojana , Doušak May , Pulcini Céline , Béraud Guillaume , Paño Pardo Jose Ramon , Sánchez-Fabra David , Kofteridis Diamantis , Cortez Joana , Pagani Leonardo , Klešnik Maša , Nadrah Kristina , Hafner Fink Mitja , Nathwani Dilip , Uhan Samo
Published: August 2019

Background

Postgraduate training has the potential to shape the prescribing practices of young doctors.

Objectives

To investigate the practices, attitudes and beliefs on antibiotic use and resistance in young doctors of different specialties.

Methods

We performed an international web-based exploratory survey. Principal component analysis (PCA) and bivariate and multivariate [analysis of variance (ANOVA)] analyses were used to investigate differences between young doctors according to their country of specialization, specialty, year of training and gender.

Results

Of the 2366 participants from France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain, 54.2% of young doctors prescribed antibiotics predominantly as instructed by a mentor. Associations between the variability of answers and the country of training were observed across most questions, followed by variability according to the specialty. Very few differences were associated with the year of training and gender. PCA revealed five dimensions of antibiotic prescribing culture: self-assessment of knowledge, consideration of side effects, perception of prescription patterns, consideration of patient sickness and perception of antibiotic resistance. Only the country of specialization (partial η2 0.010–0.111) and the type of specialization (0.013–0.032) had a significant effect on all five identified dimensions (P < 0.01). The strongest effects were observed on self-assessed knowledge and in the perception of antibiotic resistance.

Conclusions

The country of specialization followed by the type of specialization are the most important determinants of young doctors’ perspectives on antibiotic use and resistance. The inclusion of competencies in antibiotic use in all specialty curricula and international harmonization of training should be considered.
A Novel Pathogenic CALR Exon 9 Mutation in a Patient with Essential Thrombocythemia
Authors: Lee Jee-Soo , Kim Ho Young , Kim Miyoung , Lee Young Kyung
Published: August 2019

The clinical phenotypes and prognoses of CALR-mutant myeloproliferative neoplasms depend on the mutation type. The 2 most common mutations, type 1 (52-bp deletion) and type 2 (5-bp insertion), account for 85% of CALR-mutated neoplasms. The former confers a myelofibrotic phenotype, and the latter is associated with a low risk of thrombosis and an indolent clinical course. Individual case reports for patients with novel pathogenic CALR mutations are rare. Herein, we present the first case in the literature, to our knowledge, of a 63-year old ethnic Korean man with essential thrombocythemia who was diagnosed with a novel +1-bp frameshift mutation in CALR, which was predicted to exhibit a type 2–like phenotype.
Artist: fast radiative transfer for large-scale simulations of the epoch of reionization
Authors: Molaro Margherita , Davé Romeel , Hassan Sultan , Santos Mario G , Finlator Kristian
Published: August 2019

We introduce the ‘Asymmetric Radiative Transfer In Shells Technique’ (artist), a new method for photon propagation on large scales that explicitly conserves photons, propagates photons at the speed of light, approximately accounts for photon directionality, and closely reproduces results of more detailed radiative transfer (RT) methods. Crucially, it is computationally fast enough to evolve the large cosmological volumes required to predict the 21cm power spectrum on scales that will be probed by future experiments targeting the epoch of reionization (EoR). Most seminumerical models aimed at predicting the EoR 21cm signal on these scales use an excursion set formalism (ESF) to model the gas ionization, which achieves computational viability by making a number of approximations. While artist is still roughly two orders of magnitude slower than ESF, it does allow to model the EoR without the need for such approximations. This is particularly important when considering a wide range of reionization scenarios for which artist would help limit the assumptions made. By implementing our RT method within the seminumerical code simfast21, we show that Artist predicts a significantly different evolution for the EoR ionization field compared to the code’s native ESF. In particular, artist predicts up to a factor of two difference in the power spectra, depending on the physical parameters assumed. Its application to large-scale EoR simulations will therefore allow more physically motivated constraints to be obtained for key EoR parameters. In particular, it will remove the need for the artificial rescaling of the escape fraction.
Superhump period of SDSS J214354.59+124457.8: First Z Cam star with superhumps in the standstill
Authors: Altan Metin , Kato Taichi , Ishioka Ryoko , Schmidtobreick Linda , Güver Tolga , Uemura Makoto , Ak Tansel , Bianchini Antonio , Ayyıldız Ömer , Matsumoto Katsura , Esenoğlu Hasan , Bektöre Emre , Ohshima Tomohito , Özkan Türker , Orakoğlu Önder , Nakata Chikako , Hori Takafumi , Masumoto Kazunari , Akazawa Hide , Kawabata Miho
Published: August 2019

The cataclysmic variable SDSS J214354.59+124457.8 (hereafter SDSS J214354) was observed photometrically on sixty one nights between 2012 July 28 and 2019 May 26. The long term variation of this object shows changes between two phases; a dwarf nova type and a novalike. This implies that the object belongs to the group of Z Cam type stars. The timing analysis of the light curve reveals a periodic signal at 0.13902(5) d, which we identify as the superhump period. However, the fractional superhump excess of 10 per cent longer than the orbital period is exceptionally large. We obtained a mass ratio of ∼0.4, which is above the accepted upper limit of q = 0.33 for the formation of superhumps. We suggest that the object contains a secondary with an evolved core. With an orbital period of 0.126 d, SDSS J214354 is situated at the upper border of the period gap. The long term light curve of SDSS J214354 is similar to those of Z Cam type stars which are characterized by recurring standstills, followed by short intervals with DN type outbursts. Therefore, we conclude that SDSS J214354 is a new member of the Z Cam type stars.