bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A numerical study of partitioned fluid‐structure interaction applied to a cantilever in incompressible turbulent flow
Authors: Lorentzon Johan , Revstedt Johan
Published: October 2019

This study presents an approach for partitioned fluid‐structure interaction (FSI) applied to large structural deformations, where an incompressible turbulent solver is combined with a structural solver. The implementation is based upon two different open‐source libraries by using MPI as a parallel communication protocol, the packages and OpenFOAM. FSI is achieved through a strongly‐coupled scheme. The solver has been validated against cases with a submerged cantilever in a channel flow to which experiments, numerical calculations and theoretical solutions are available. The verification of the procedure is performed by using a solid‐solid interaction (SSI) study. The solver has proven to be robust and has the same parallel efficiency as the fluid and the solid solver stand‐alone.
Simulation of dynamic mechanical and viscoelastic behavior in polymer/clay nanocomposites
Authors: Asadian Hossein , Shelesh‐Nezhad Karim
Published: October 2019

Viscoelastic behavior of a polymer‐based composite displays the energy storage and damping capabilities of the composite. Simulation and numerical modeling of viscoelastic behavior can aid to estimate the viscoelastic data and optimize the formulations of composites. It is possible to simulate the viscoelastic behavior of a polymeric composite by using the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) data of pure polymeric matrix and elastic properties of reinforcement. In this study, three‐dimensional FE analysis was performed to study the viscoelastic behavior of poly(butylene terephthalate)(PBT)/polyurethane/clay nanocomposite by employing representative volumetric element and explicit dynamic analysis. A modified generalized Maxwell model was employed to express the viscoelastic behavior of polymer matrix. Experimental results of DMA for PBT/polyurethane and also elastic data of nanoclay were used in the finite element modeling, and subsequently, the storage and loss moduli of nanocomposite were predicted. The results of simulations were close to those of experiments particularly at low clay content (2 wt%). The aggregation of clays at higher content (4 wt%), increased the differences between experimental and FEM results.
Safety and Efficacy of Weight‐Loss Pharmacotherapy in Persons Living with HIV: A Review of the Literature and Potential Drug‐Drug Interactions with Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Cope Rebecca J. , Fischetti Briann S. , Kavanagh Rebecca K. , Lepa Trisha M. , Sorbera Maria A.
Published: October 2019

The prevalence of obesity among persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has increased significantly and may be linked to the use of antiretroviral therapy. Although weight‐loss medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are recommended as an adjunct to diet and exercise to treat obesity in the general population, little is known about the safety and efficacy of these drugs specifically in persons living with HIV. We review the available evidence regarding the effective use of weight‐loss pharmacotherapy in persons living with HIV and its potential to interact with antiretroviral therapy. Persons living with HIV are frequently not reported or included in clinical trials for weight‐loss medications; however, treatment efficacy is likely similar to the general population. Several important reported or theoretical drug‐drug interactions exist between antiobesity pharmacotherapy and antiretroviral therapy. Orlistat is a weight‐loss drug available in the United States without a prescription and was linked to HIV viral rebound in several case reports. Clinicians should be aware of the potential for loss of HIV viremia control when certain weight‐loss pharmacotherapies are used in combination with antiretrovirals.
Photooptical Properties of Polymethacrylates Having Cyanoazobenzene‐Containing Side Groups with Lateral Methyl Substituents and Different Spacer Length
Authors: Bobrovsky Alexey , Shibaev Valery , Cigl Martin , Hamplová Vĕra , Novotná Vladimíra
Published: October 2019

New photochromic polymethacrylates with different spacer length having azobenzene side groups and lateral methyl substituents were synthesized. The phase behavior of polymethacrylates and their photooptical properties were studied and compared with unsubstituted analogues. It is shown that an introduction of lateral methyl substituents results in almost complete suppression of liquid crystalline (LC) phase formation and strong decrease of photoinduced dichroism values. It is found that rates of the photoinduced E‐Z isomerization and back thermal Z‐E isomerization are almost independent on spacer lengths. Due to the presence of lateral substituents, the photoinduced azobenzene Z‐form shows remarkable long lifetime, and back thermal conversion at room temperature takes more than 10 days. Specific peculiarities of the photoorientation process in polymer films under the polarized UV and visible light action were studied and their mechanism is suggested. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019, 57, 1337–1342
CFD and Experimental Analysis of Swirl Type Single‐Fluid Atomizer for Optimization of Recrystallization Process to Make Ultrafine RDX Explosive
Authors: Goyal Varun , Gupta Shallu , Kumar Pal Dinesh , Jindal Deepika , Singh Gokul , Agarwal Arun , Lata Prem
Published: October 2019

In this research work, a novel idea of using a pressure swirl single‐fluid atomizer is used for the preparation of ultrafine 1,3,5‐Trinitro‐1,3,5‐triazinane or formally cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) explosive using the solvent/ anti‐solvent method with reaching a milestone development of a numerical model to determine the particle size. A theoretical analysis is performed and referred to compute the optimum dimensions of the atomizer and a detailed numerical and experimental investigation is presented. Computer‐Aided‐Design (CAD) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used to model and simulate the flow of solvent through the atomizers in order to determine the most important parameters like the Sauter Mean Diameter (SMD) of the droplets, Turbulent Dissipation Rate, Turbulent Kinetic Energy and the exit velocity through the atomizer. Ultrafine RDX explosive is recrystallized with a mean particle size of 4.99 μm and a standard deviation of 1.35 μm. The experimental process performed using the fabricated atomizer is a laboratory scale table‐top pilot plant which is simple, cost‐effective, and safe. It is then observed that this numerical model accurately predicts the particle size from the designed atomizer when compared to the experimentally obtained particle size with the difference lying between 1 % and 5 %.
Machine learning techniques for protein function prediction
Authors: Bonetta Rosalin , Valentino Gianluca
Published: October 2019

Proteins play important roles in living organisms, and their function is directly linked with their structure. Due to the growing gap between the number of proteins being discovered and their functional characterization (in particular as a result of experimental limitations), reliable prediction of protein function through computational means has become crucial. This paper reviews the machine learning techniques used in the literature, following their evolution from simple algorithms such as logistic regression to more advanced methods like support vector machines and modern deep neural networks. Hyperparameter optimization methods adopted to boost prediction performance are presented. In parallel, the metamorphosis in the features used by these algorithms from classical physicochemical properties and amino acid composition, up to text‐derived features from biomedical literature and learned feature representations using autoencoders, together with feature selection and dimensionality reduction techniques, are also reviewed. The success stories in the application of these techniques to both general and specific protein function prediction are discussed.
Auxetic Properties of Chiral Hexagonal Cosserat Lattices Composed of Finite‐Sized Particles
Authors: Vasiliev Aleksey Anatolyevich , Pavlov Igor Sergeevich
Published: October 2019

This article is devoted to the study of auxetic properties of Cosserat hexagonal lattices composed of finite‐sized particles with complex connections. The description of complex connections is given; their mathematical model is elaborated and the properties are studied. The introduction of complex connections enables one varying their structure and component parameters. Due to that there arise possibilities for both simulation of nonchiral lattices with symmetrical bonds and with a chiral microstructure and construction of lattices with desired properties. The discrete and micropolar equations of the lattice are obtained. As a result, the macroparameters are expressed in terms of the lattice microparameters. The dependence of the Poisson's ratio on the lattice microparameters is obtained. It allows finding and analyzing parameters, for which the lattice possesses auxetic properties. The importance of rotational degrees of freedom of particles and chirality for the appearance of auxetic properties is shown. For verification, the results of the calculation of the Poisson's ratio obtained on the basis of theoretically obtained relations are compared with the results of numerical simulation of the stretching of the lattice.
Effects of kampo medicine keishikashakuyakuto on large intestine disease in mice
Authors: Kimura Yoshiyuki
Published: October 2019

Aim

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of keishikashakuyakuto (KST) on large intestine diarrhea and inflammation in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) mouse models.

Methods

This study examined the effects of KST on diarrhea and inflammatory bowel syndrome using 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT)‐induced diarrhea and 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)‐treated colitis models.

Results

Keishikashakuyakuto (200 and/or 500 mg/kg) and ramosetron (5 μg/kg) prolonged the onset‐time of 5‐HT‐induced diarrhea in mice. KST and ramosetron prevented diarrhea and the stool score was decreased 60 min after 5‐HT treatment. The disease activity index in the 3% DSS‐treated mice was lower after oral KST than in mice given 3% DSS only. Furthermore, KST inhibited the decreases in red cells and platelets, and in hemoglobin and hematocrit that were observed in DSS‐treated mice. On colon histology using hematoxylin–eosin and direct fast scarlet staining, KST prevented the mucosa membrane ulceration and eosinophil infiltration of the mucosa membrane caused by DSS treatment. The increase in colonic monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, interleukin‐1β and tumor necrosis factor‐α in DSS‐treated mice was reduced by oral KST.

Conclusion

Keishikashakuyakuto may be effective for IBS and IBD.
Groundwater governance: Addressing core concepts and challenges
Authors: Closas Alvar , Villholth Karen G.
Published: October 2019

With decreasing aquifer levels, increasing groundwater pollution, inequitable access, and generally poor management outcomes, better groundwater governance has been put forward as a recipe to address these challenges worldwide. Existing recommendations focus on improved legal frameworks, monitoring and control of access and abstraction through permits or formal rights. In addition, decentralized water management, enforcement of regulations, and supply‐side technological solutions are seen as cornerstone components of good groundwater governance systems. However, until now, these approaches have generally failed to reconcile the fundamental dynamics and properties of groundwater as a natural resource and of governance as a social and political phenomenon. This has caused a disregard for local to planetary boundaries, power dynamics, and intra‐ and intergenerational inequalities in access to benefits from groundwater. As the current general notion of good groundwater governance is limited, solutions put forward are also partial and do not encompass the wider challenges affecting groundwater governance, in effect replacing sustainable management goals and policy for governance as a process. This paper takes a particular look at the Middle East and North Africa and agricultural groundwater use for irrigation to constructively redefine groundwater governance and fully address the multilayered and multifaceted core challenges of groundwater governance. Equally, the paper puts forward a new conceptual thinking that will help support the effective development of governance‐based solutions to achieve sustainable, socially acceptable, resilient and equitable resource use.

This article is categorized under:

Engineering Water > Planning Water

Human Water > Water Governance
O2 No Longer the Go2: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis Comparing the Effects of Giving Perioperative Oxygen Therapy of 30% FiO2 to 80% FiO2 on Surgical Site Infection and Mortality
Authors: Smith Brianna K. , Roberts Ross H. , Frizelle Frank A.
Published: October 2019

Objective

To determine the effects of perioperative high (80%) versus low (30%) fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) on surgical site infection (SSI) and mortality in adult surgical patients.

Background

The routine use of high fraction perioperative oxygen in patients is “standard of care” and recommended by the World Health Organisation; however, whether there is truly any benefit to this therapy has been challenged by some authors. Questions have also been raised about the possibility of harm from oxygen therapy.

Method

Randomised control trials comparing high‐to‐low FiO2 were located by searching MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL and Web of Science. The primary outcomes were SSI up to 15 days and up to any time point postoperatively and mortality up to 30 days. The data were analysed using random effects meta‐analysis.

Results

Twelve studies involving 10,212 participants were included. At 15 days postoperatively, and at the longest point of post‐operative follow‐up, there was no statistically significant reduction in the risk of SSI when comparing patients who received a perioperative FiO2 of 30% to those with an FiO2 of 80% (RR 1.41, 95% CI 1.00–2.01, p 0.05 and RR 1.23, 95% CI 1.00–1.51, p 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in mortality between the 30% FiO2 and the 80% FiO2 groups (RR 1.12, 95% CI 0.56–2.22, p 0.76).

Conclusion

This meta‐analysis showed no statistically significant difference in post‐operative SSI or mortality when comparing patients receiving an FiO2 of 80% to those receiving an FiO2 of 30%.
Exponential loss of memory for the 2-dimensional Allen–Cahn equation with small noise
Authors: Tsatsoulis Pavlos , Weber Hendrik
Published: October 2019

We prove an asymptotic coupling theorem for the 2-dimensional Allen–Cahn equation perturbed by a small space-time white noise. We show that with overwhelming probability two profiles that start close to the minimisers of the potential of the deterministic system contract exponentially fast in a suitable topology. In the 1-dimensional case a similar result was shown in Martinelli et al. (Commun Math Phys 120(1):25–69, 1988; J Stat Phys 55(3–4):477–504, 1989). It is well-known that in two or more dimensions solutions of this equation are distribution-valued, and the equation has to be interpreted in a renormalised sense. Formally, this renormalisation corresponds to moving the minima of the potential infinitely far apart and making them infinitely deep. We show that despite this renormalisation, solutions behave like perturbations of the deterministic system without renormalisation: they spend large stretches of time close to the minimisers of the (un-renormalised) potential and the exponential contraction rate of different profiles is given by the second derivative of the potential in these points. As an application we prove an Eyring–Kramers law for the transition times between the stable solutions of the deterministic system for fixed initial conditions.
The Missing Step of Pottery chaîne opératoire: Considering Post-firing Treatments on Ceramic Vessels Using Macro- and Microscopic Observation and Molecular Analysis
Authors: Drieu Léa , Lepère Cédric , Regert Martine
Published: October 2019

Post-firing treatments, produced by the interaction of an organic material with the hot surface of a ceramic, are frequently described in ethnographic literature, but have rarely been identified in archaeological ceramic assemblages. In order to address this question, this paper describes a methodology that combines macro- and microscopic observation and molecular analysis. The study of experimental ceramic vessels provided diagnostic tools to identify the type of substances, their liquid or solid state, and their mode of application and attested that the post-firing treatments do not completely waterproof the ceramics. The difficulty to observe macro- and microscopic evidence of post-firing treatments when pots are fired in reducing atmosphere suggests that these processes are probably underestimated in archaeological assemblages. Furthermore, the identification of molecular thermal transformation markers, such as ketones, calls into question their classical interpretation as markers for the cooking of fatty content. This pioneering work highlights the complexity of studying post-firing treatments, which leave small traces that are easily missed or misinterpreted. In order to address this issue, we propose a multi-analytical approach, which can serve as a basis for future studies to explore the full diversity of post-firing treatments mentioned in ethnoarchaeological literature.
“Location, Location, Location”: Effects of Neighborhood and House Attributes on Burglars’ Target Selection
Authors: Vandeviver Christophe , Bernasco Wim
Published: October 2019

Objectives

To empirically test whether offenders consider environmental features at multiple spatial scales when selecting a target and examine the simultaneous effect of neighborhood-level and residence-level attributes on residential burglars’ choice of residence to burglarize.

Methods

We combine data on 679 burglaries by 577 burglars committed between 2005 and 2014 with data on approximately 138,000 residences in 193 residential neighborhoods in Ghent, Belgium. Using a discrete spatial choice approach, we estimate the combined effect of neighborhood-level and residence-level attributes on burglars’ target choice in a conditional logit model.

Results

Burglars prefer burglarizing residences in neighborhoods with lower residential density. Burglars also favor burglarizing detached residences, residences in single-unit buildings, and renter-occupied residences. Furthermore, burglars are more likely to target residences in neighborhoods that they previously and recently targeted for burglary, and residences nearby their home. We find significant cross-level interactions between neighborhood and residence attributes in burglary target selection.

Conclusions

Both area-level and target-level attributes are found to affect burglars’ target choices. Our results offer support for theoretical accounts of burglary target selection that characterize it as being informed both by attributes of individual properties and attributes of the environment as well as combinations thereof. This spatial decision-making model implies that environmental information at multiple and increasingly finer scales of spatial resolution informs crime site selection.
Visualizing narrative patterns in online news media
Authors: Koivunen-Niemi Laura , Masoodian Masood
Published: October 2019

News media play an important role in shaping social reality, and their multimedia narrative content, in particular, can have widespread repercussions in the public’s perception of past and present phenomena. Being able to visually track changes in media coverage over time could offer the potential for aiding social change, as well as furthering accountability in journalism. In this paper, we explore how visualizations could be used to examine differences in online media narrative patterns over time and across publications. While there are existing means of visualizing such narrative patterns over time, few address the aspect of co-occurrence of variables in media content. Comparing co-occurrences of variables chronologically can be more useful in identifying patterns and possible biases in media coverage than simply counting the individual occurrences of those variables independently. Here, we present a visualization, called time-sets, which has been designed to support temporal comparisons of such co-occurrences. We also describe an interactive prototype tool we have developed based on time-sets for analysis of multimedia news datasets, using an illustrative case study of news articles published on three online sources over several years. We then report on a user study we have conducted to evaluate the time-sets visualization, and discuss its findings.
Liver graft rejection following immune checkpoint inhibitors treatment: a review
Authors: Hu Bo , Yang Xiao-Bo , Sang Xin-Ting
Published: October 2019

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in a variety of solid tumors; nonetheless, they have not been well investigated and are still recognized as a relative contraindication for patients with a liver transplantation (LT) history, since ICIs treatment might potentially lead to graft rejection. The program death-1 (PD-1) and the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) pathways are implicated in the tolerance of transplanted organ, as well as blockade of the pathways, which contribute to eliminating tumors and may inadvertently lead to peripheral transplant rejection. Currently, no guidelines are available regarding the treatment for ICIs patients with a prior LT history. Therefore, this study was carried out to review the recent studies, attempting to introduce the ICIs-related graft rejection after LT from various aspects. We believed that ICIs could be given for the well-informed patients receiving LT and developed recurrence in a controlled setting. Typically, these patients should be treated according to a clinical care path or a prospective clinical trial, so as obtain a persistent anti-tumor immune response in the meantime of avoiding graft rejection, adjust the immunosuppression, reduce the possibility of graft loss following rejection, and have the opportunity to develop biomarkers for tumor response and transplant rejection.
Construction of a novel brittleness index equation and analysis of anisotropic brittleness characteristics for unconventional shale formations
Authors: Qian Ke-Ran , Liu Tao , Liu Jun-Zhou , Liu Xi-Wu , He Zhi-Liang , Jiang Da-Jian
Published: October 2019

The brittleness prediction of shale formations is of interest to researchers nowadays. Conventional methods of brittleness prediction are usually based on isotropic models while shale is anisotropic. In order to obtain a better prediction of shale brittleness, our study firstly proposed a novel brittleness index equation based on the Voigt–Reuss–Hill average, which combines two classical isotropic methods. The proposed method introduces upper and lower brittleness bounds, which take the uncertainty of brittleness prediction into consideration. In addition, this method can give us acceptable predictions by using limited input values. Secondly, an anisotropic rock physics model was constructed. Two parameters were introduced into our model, which can be used to simulate the lamination of clay minerals and the dip angle of formation. In addition, rock physics templates have been built to analyze the sensitivity of brittleness parameters. Finally, the effects of kerogen, pore structure, clay lamination and shale formation dip have been investigated in terms of anisotropy. The prediction shows that the vertical/horizontal Young’s modulus is always below one while the vertical/horizontal Poisson’s ratio (PR) can be either greater or less than 1. Our study finds different degrees of shale lamination may be the explanation for the random distribution of Vani (the ratio of vertical PR to horizontal PR).
Numerical modeling on drilling fluid and cutter design effect on drilling bit cutter thermal wear and breakdown
Authors: Ayop Ahmad Zhafran , Bahruddin Ahmad Zafri , Maulianda Belladonna , Prakasan Aruvin , Dovletov Shamammet , Atdayev Eziz , Rani Ahmad Majdi Abdul , Elraies Khaled Abdalla , Ganat Tarek Al-arbi , Barati Reza , Wee Sia Chee
Published: October 2019

The unconventional reservoir geological complexity will reduce the drilling bit performance. The drill bit poor performance was the reduction in rate of penetration (ROP) due to bit balling and worn cutter and downhole vibrations that led to polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutter to break prematurely. These poor performances were caused by drilling the transitional formations (interbedded formations) that could create huge imbalance of forces, causing downhole vibration which led to PDC cutter breakage and thermal wear. These consequently caused worn cutter which lowered the ROP. This low performance required necessary improvements in drill bit cutter design. This research investigates thermal–mechanical wear of three specific PDC cutters: standard chamfered, ax, and stinger on the application of heat flux and cooling effect by different drilling fluids by using FEM. Based on simulation results, the best combination to be used was chamfered cutter geometry with OBM or stinger cutter geometry with SBM. Modeling studies require experimental validation of the results.
Toward the Baltic Sea Socioeconomic Action Plan
Authors: Ollikainen Markku , Hasler Berit , Elofsson Katarina , Iho Antti , Andersen Hans E. , Czajkowski Mikołaj , Peterson Kaja
Published: October 2019

This paper analyzes the main weaknesses and key avenues for improvement of nutrient policies in the Baltic Sea region. HELCOM’s Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP), accepted by the Baltic Sea countries in 2007, was based on an innovative ecological modeling of the Baltic Sea environment and addressed the impact of the combination of riverine loading and transfer of nutrients on the ecological status of the sea and its sub-basins. We argue, however, that the assigned country-specific targets of nutrient loading do not reach the same level of sophistication, because they are not based on careful economic and policy analysis. We show an increasing gap between the state-of-the-art policy alternatives and the existing command-and-control-based approaches to the protection of the Baltic Sea environment and outline the most important steps for a Baltic Sea Socioeconomic Action Plan. It is time to raise the socioeconomic design of nutrient policies to the same level of sophistication as the ecological foundations of the BSAP.
A modular approach for testable conservative reversible multiplexer circuit for nano-electronic confine application
Authors: Pathak Nirupma , Kumar Santosh , Misra Neeraj Kumar , Bhoi Bandan Kumar
Published: October 2019

Quantum technology has an attractive application nowadays for its minimizing the energy dissipation, which is a prominent part of any system-level design. In this article, the significant module of a multiplexer, an extended ton:1 is framed with prominent application in the control unit of the processor. The proposed multiplexer modules are framed by the algorithm, which is extended perspective based. Further, quantum cost and gate count are less to ensure the efficient quantum computing framed. In addition, the QCA computing framework is an attempt to synthesize the optimal primitives in conservative reversible multiplexer in nano-electronic confine application. The developed lemmas is framed to prove the optimal parameters in the reversible circuit. Compared with existing state-of-art-works, the proposed modular multiplexer, the gate count, quantum cost and unit delay are optimal.
Improving soil silicon and selected fertility status for rice production through rice-mill waste application in lowland sawah rice field of southeastern Nigeria
Authors: Nwite John Chukwu , Unagwu Benedict Onyebuchi , Okolo Chukwuebuka Christopher , Igwe Charles Arinze , Wakatsuki Toshiyuki
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Rice-mill wastes are generated in large amounts in Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. These wastes can potentially be utilized for rice production and in improving soil attributes. This study evaluated the effects of rice-mill wastes on soil chemical properties and rice yield in sawah rice management.

Methods

A sawah rice field in an inland valley of southeastern Nigeria was used in 2014 and 2015 cropping seasons for the study. Sawah refers to an Indo-Malaysian term for rice paddy. It involves the manipulation of some soil physical properties in form of ecological engineering works, by bunding, puddling and leveling of lowland rice field for water control and management. Two rice-mill wastes [rice husk ash (RHA) and rice husk dust (RHD) applied at 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 12.5 t ha−1] and the control were built into a split-plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications.

Results

Bio-waste application had significant (p < 0.05) improved effects on the soil organic carbon, available P, soil available Si and total N compared with the unamended (control) treatment. There was significant (p < 0.05) increase in rice grain yield from 5.05 to 5.80 t ha−1(for RHA) and 6.17–6.96 t/ha (for RHD) compared with 2.35–2.8 t ha−1(control treatment) in both cropping seasons.

Conclusion

RHD and RHA treatments had significantly higher rice grain yield compared with the control treatment. Overall, rice grain yield was higher under RHD treatment compared with RHA treatment. This result demonstrated that RHA and RHD are potential agricultural resource for rice production in the study area.
Prediction of Alzheimer's disease diagnosis within 14 years through Aβ misfolding in blood plasma compared to APOE4 status, and other risk factors
Authors: Stocker Hannah , Nabers Andreas , Perna Laura , Möllers Tobias , Rujescu Dan , Hartmann Annette , Holleczek Bernd , Schöttker Ben , Gerwert Klaus , Brenner Hermann
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has a long prodromal stage and identifying high‐risk individuals is critical. We aimed to investigate the ability of Aβ misfolding in blood plasma, APOE4 status, and dementia risk factors to predict diagnosis of AD.

Methods

Within a community‐based cohort, Aβ misfolding in plasma measured by immuno‐infrared sensor and APOE genotype were determined at baseline in 770 participants followed over 14 years. Associations between Aβ misfolding, APOE4, and other predictors with clinical AD, vascular dementia, and mixed dementia diagnoses were assessed.

Results

Aβ misfolding was associated with a 23‐fold increased odds of clinical AD diagnosis within 14 years. No association was observed with vascular dementia/mixed dementia diagnoses. APOE4‐positive participants had a 2.4‐fold increased odds of clinical AD diagnosis within 14 years.

Discussion

Aβ misfolding in blood plasma was a strong, specific risk prediction marker for clinical AD even many years before diagnosis in a community‐based setting.
RETURN TO SENDER: LET THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE JUSTIFY OR QUALIFY INTERNATIONAL-CRIMINAL-COURT EXCEPTIONALISM REGARDING PERSONAL IMMUNITIES
Authors: Nouwen Sarah M.H.
Published: October 2019

This article argues that it is important for the International Court of Justice to be given an opportunity, for instance through a request for an Advisory Opinion, to explain what exactly it meant when it suggested that the ordinarily applicable international law on immunities need not be an obstacle “before certain international criminal courts, where they have jurisdiction”. Two international criminal courts have built a structure of case law on this one obiter comment, which it seems unable to support.
Stellarator equilibria with reactor relevant energetic particle losses
Authors: Bader Aaron , Drevlak M. , Anderson D. T. , Faber B. J. , Hegna C. C. , Likin K. M. , Schmitt J. C. , Talmadge J. N.
Published: October 2019

Stellarator configurations with reactor relevant energetic particle losses are constructed by simultaneously optimizing for quasisymmetry and an analytically derived metric (

$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}_{c}$

), which attempts to align contours of the second adiabatic invariant,

$J_{\Vert }$

with magnetic surfaces. Results show that with this optimization scheme it is possible to generate quasihelically symmetric equilibria on the scale of ARIES-CS which completely eliminate all collisionless alpha particle losses within normalized radius

$r/a=0.3$

. We show that the best performance is obtained by reducing losses at the trapped–passing boundary. Energetic particle transport can be improved even when neoclassical transport, as calculated using the metric

$\unicode[STIX]{x1D716}_{\text{eff}}$

, is degraded. Several quasihelically symmetric equilibria with different aspect ratios are presented, all with excellent energetic particle confinement.
The role of carbon dioxide in nematode behaviour and physiology
Authors: Banerjee Navonil , Hallem Elissa A.
Published: October 2019

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an important sensory cue for many animals, including both parasitic and free-living nematodes. Many nematodes show context-dependent, experience-dependent and/or life-stage-dependent behavioural responses to CO2, suggesting that CO2 plays crucial roles throughout the nematode life cycle in multiple ethological contexts. Nematodes also show a wide range of physiological responses to CO2. Here, we review the diverse responses of parasitic and free-living nematodes to CO2. We also discuss the molecular, cellular and neural circuit mechanisms that mediate CO2 detection in nematodes, and that drive context-dependent and experience-dependent responses of nematodes to CO2.
A strictly American institution: Neil O'Brien, blackface minstrelsy, and the invention of white Catholic identity
Authors: Blake George K.
Published: October 2019

This article examines the politics of race, religion and nation in relation to blackface minstrelsy during the first decades of the twentieth century. Having been superseded by more modern amusements, minstrelsy was outdated as a performance genre, yet the minstrel show served as a forum for Neil O'Brien and the Knights of Columbus fraternal society to participate in the invention of a white American Catholic identity. For fraternal society members, estranged from national belonging by religious difference, these performances situated the group as proponents of an old-fashioned American tradition, structured around anti-blackness. At a time of anti-Catholic sentiment, Catholic fraternal society members gathered for minstrel performances, distancing themselves from black people and marking themselves as white Americans.
Effects of nutrient addition on polyphenol and nutrient concentrations in leaves of woody species of a savanna woodland in Central Brazil
Authors: Jacobson Tamiel Khan Baiocchi , Bustamante Mercedes Maria da Cunha
Published: October 2019

We investigated whether changes in nutrient availability affected N, P, S and polyphenol concentrations in different leaf-development stages of three brevideciduous and three evergreen dominant woody species in a nutrient-limited savanna woodland in Central Brazil. Treatments included eight years of annual fertilization with 100 kg ha−1of N, P, N plus P and control, each replicated in four randomized 15 × 15-m plots. All species increased S concentrations (minimum 28%) in young and mature leaves in fertilized plots.Dalbergia miscolobiumdecreased total phenol concentrations with P (−34.3%, −23.7%) and NP fertilization (−28.2%, −17.1%).Blepharocalyx salicifoliusincreased total phenol (27.6%, 18.8%) and tannin (46.3%; 43.5%) in P fertilized and increased total phenol (33.9%) and tannin (27.8%, 43.5%) in NP fertilized plots. Total phenol concentration decreased with leaf age inOuratea hexasperma,Styrax ferrugineusandBlepharocalyx salicifolius, which also decreased tannin concentration with leaf age. For all treatments, brevideciduous species had higher N, P, total phenols and tannin concentrations and lower S concentration than evergreens. These differences between phenological groups suggest that tropical ecosystems responses to environmental changes are more complex than anticipated by global vegetation models, with consequences for predictions in ecosystem functions and resilience.
The cross-linguistic performance of word segmentation models over time
Authors: CAINES Andrew , ALTMANN-RICHER Emma , BUTTERY Paula
Published: October 2019

We select three word segmentation models with psycholinguistic foundations – transitional probabilities, the diphone-based segmenter, and PUDDLE – which track phoneme co-occurrence and positional frequencies in input strings, and in the case of PUDDLE build lexical and diphone inventories. The models are evaluated on caregiver utterances in 132 CHILDES corpora representing 28 languages and 11.9 m words. PUDDLE shows the best performance overall, albeit with wide cross-linguistic variation. We explore the reasons for this variation, fitting regression models to performance scores with linguistic properties which capture lexico-phonological characteristics of the input: word length, utterance length, diversity in the lexicon, the frequency of one-word utterances, the regularity of phoneme patterns at word boundaries, and the distribution of diphones in each language. These properties together explain four-tenths of the observed variation in segmentation performance, a strong outcome and a solid foundation for studying further variables which make the segmentation task difficult.
The multifaceted architectural refinements in the Julio-Claudian Sebasteion at Aphrodisias
Authors: Stinson Philip T.
Published: October 2019

Building upon the previous work by F. Hueber and U. Outschar,1 this study offers new research on the Sebasteion’s significant architectural refinements, which can be defined as intentional design strategies resulting in minimal deviations from strict rectilinearity, verticality or squareness. The first part of this study identifies where the refinement of curvature is and is not used throughout the Sebasteion complex. A striking pattern of curvature corresponds to the well-documented shared patronage of the complex, demonstrating that the refinement was a choice, not an imperative, for its builders. We also report on a newly-excavated and remarkable example of curvature from the podium of the Sebasteion’s W façade, the Propylon, and for comparison’s sake, curvature in the earlier proskenion of the Theater. Using anastylosis, digital photogrammetry and 3D printing technology, the second part of this article presents new evidence for unprecedented refinements in the Propylon’s aedicular architecture. The plans of the two double-height aediculae and three internal staircases are not rigidly square or orthogonal, as previously thought, but deliberately deviate from having square corners using right angles. After detailed descriptions of these features, several options for their interpretation are presented. Overall, this work brings to light astonishing aspects of the architecture of the Sebasteion, a building already widely appreciated for its sculptures.
Response to a review by J. C. Donati (JRA 31 [2018] 893-906)
Authors: Dickenson Christopher P.
Published: October 2019

I am grateful to J. C. Donati for reviewing my book On the Agora. The evolution of a public space in Hellenistic and Roman Greece (c. 323 BC–267 AD). He gives compliments and raises valid points for further reflection, but the review also, in several ways, misrepresents my aims, my use of evidence and, most troublingly, my words. I am grateful for this chance to respond to the review and restrict myself to the most pressing issues.
Achieving Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals and Environmental Lessons for Malaysia
Authors: Tan Sarah
Published: October 2019

On September 2015, countries around the world pledged to end poverty, protect the planet, and hit specific developmental targets within fifteen years at the signing of th|e United Nations 2030 Agenda. Within the 2030 Agenda are seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Goal 16 of the SDG contains twelve targets; of these, Target 16.3 is aimed at ensuring equal access to justice for all and Target 16.10 at ensuring public access to information. Malaysia as a signatory has pledged its commitment to fulfilling these SDGs. This paper's primary focus is on the fulfilment of Targets 16.3 and 16.10 within Malaysia's legal environmental framework. At present, there are provisions that ensure equal access to justice and those that ensure public access to information; however, it is suggested that these are insufficient, uncommon, and limited. This paper proposes an amendment to the Federal Constitution to include the express right to a clean environment, and demonstrates, through comparative study, the success similar provisions have had on the environmental protection laws of other countries such as India, the Philippines, South Africa, Nepal, the Netherlands, and Nigeria. It then considers what possible lessons Malaysia could glean from these national experiences in fulfilling its goals for Targets 16.3 and 16.10 before concluding with the proposition that Malaysia should consider an express constitutional right to a clean environment if she intends to meet her SDG goals.
A Regularization Approach to Improve the Sequential Calibration of a Semidistributed Hydrological Model
Authors: de Lavenne A. , Andréassian V. , Thirel G. , Ramos M.‐H. , Perrin C.
Published: October 2019

In semidistributed hydrological modeling, sequential calibration usually refers to the calibration of a model by considering not only the flows observed at the outlet of a catchment but also the different gauging points inside the catchment from upstream to downstream. While sequential calibration aims to optimize the performance at these interior gauged points, we show that it generally fails to improve performance at ungauged points. In this paper, we propose a regularization approach for the sequential calibration of semidistributed hydrological models. It consists in adding a priori information on optimal parameter sets for each modeling unit of the semidistributed model. Calibration iterations are then performed by jointly maximizing simulation performance and minimizing drifts from the a priori parameter sets. The combination of these two sources of information is handled by a parameter k to which the method is quite sensitive. The method is applied to 1,305 catchments in France over 30 years. The leave‐one‐out validation shows that, at locations considered as ungauged, model simulations are significantly improved (over all the catchments, the median KGE criterion is increased from 0.75 to 0.83 and the first quartile from 0.35 to 0.66), while model performance at gauged points is not significantly impacted by the use of the regularization approach. Small catchments benefit most from this calibration strategy. These performances are, however, very similar to the performances obtained with a lumped model based on similar conceptualization.
On the Balance Equations and Error Estimators for Separating n Time Components of Runoff With One Stable Isotope Tracer
Authors: Hoeg Simon
Published: October 2019

Starting from their first applications in the late 1960s, the mass balance equations for separating storm hydrographs have been analyzed with respect to their solvability and sensitivity to errors. By changing them into a time perspective, it is shown how an iterative extension of the standard two‐component separation can lead to a system of balance equations that allows for separating n time components using one single stable isotope tracer. This new approach is tested for the case n=6 by using the experimental data of the Zastler catchment (18.4 km2, southern Black Forest, Germany). The behavior of several time components is demonstrated. By separating the event water of the last and next‐to‐last event, it is shown how the event water of a certain rainfall‐runoff event contributes to stream discharge over the next two subsequent events. The new separation model offers the possibility of tracing event water over a much longer period after the initial event.
Absolute band alignment at semiconductor-water interfaces using explicit and implicit descriptions for liquid water
Authors: Hörmann Nicolas G. , Guo Zhendong , Ambrosio Francesco , Andreussi Oliviero , Pasquarello Alfredo , Marzari Nicola
Published: October 2019

Quantum mechanical simulations that include the effects of the liquid environment are highly relevant for the characterization of solid-liquid interfaces, which is crucial for the design of a wide range of devices. In this work we present a rigorous and systematic study of the band alignment of semiconductors in aqueous solutions by contrasting a range of hybrid explicit/implicit models against explicit atomistic simulations based on density-functional theory. We find that consistent results are obtained provided that the first solvation shell is treated explicitly. Interestingly, the first molecular layer of explicit water is only relevant for the pristine surfaces without dissociatively adsorbed water, hinting at the importance of saturating the surface with quantum mechanical bonds. By referencing the averaged electrostatic potentials of explicit and implicit water against vacuum, we provide absolute alignments, finding maximal differences of only $$\sim$$
~
0.1–0.2 V. Furthermore, the implicit reference potential is shown to exhibit an intrinsic offset of −0.33 V with respect to vacuum, which is traced back to the absence of an explicit water surface in the implicit model. These results pave the way for accurate simulations of solid-liquid interfaces using minimalistic explicit/implicit models.
Role of hydrostatic pressure and wall effect in solidification of TC8 alloy
Authors: Luo Xinghong , Wang Yaya , Li Yang
Published: October 2019

The solidification experiments of TC8 alloy under both microgravity and normal gravity were conducted using a drop tube. The solidification microstructure were found composed of fine equiaxed grains formed at early stage and bigger elongated grains formed at later stage. Between the two kinds of grains a curved transition interface was observed in 1g sample, while that in μg sample was almost flat. Generally, the amounts and aspect ratios of the grains are larger, and the grain sizes are smaller in 1g sample. Besides, no visible element macrosegregation occurred in both samples. The results suggest that the solidification velocities of the samples were rapid, and consequently the convection effect and solute transport effect caused by gravity had little influence on the solidification microstructure. Therefore, the solidification process was mainly controlled by thermal diffusion, and hydrostatic pressure and wall effect played a great role in it.
An omnidirectional visualization model of personalized gene regulatory networks
Authors: Chen Chixiang , Jiang Libo , Fu Guifang , Wang Ming , Wang Yaqun , Shen Biyi , Liu Zhenqiu , Wang Zuoheng , Hou Wei , Berceli Scott A. , Wu Rongling
Published: October 2019

Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) have been widely used as a fundamental tool to reveal the genomic mechanisms that underlie the individual’s response to environmental and developmental cues. Standard approaches infer GRNs as holistic graphs of gene co-expression, but such graphs cannot quantify how gene–gene interactions vary among individuals and how they alter structurally across spatiotemporal gradients. Here, we develop a general framework for inferring informative, dynamic, omnidirectional, and personalized networks (idopNetworks) from routine transcriptional experiments. This framework is constructed by a system of quasi-dynamic ordinary differential equations (qdODEs) derived from the combination of ecological and evolutionary theories. We reconstruct idopNetworks using genomic data from a surgical experiment and illustrate how network structure is associated with surgical response to infrainguinal vein bypass grafting and the outcome of grafting. idopNetworks may shed light on genotype–phenotype relationships and provide valuable information for personalized medicine.