bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving the k–ω–γ–Ar transition model by the field inversion and machine learning framework
Authors: Yang Muchen , Xiao Zhixiang
Published: June 2020

Accurate simulation of transition from the laminar to the turbulent flow is of great importance in industrial applications. In the present work, the framework of field inversion and machine learning has been applied to improve the four-equation k–ω–γ–Ar transition model. The low-speed transitional flows past two airfoils were numerically simulated. Based on the experimental transition locations, the regularizing ensemble Kalman filtering (EnKF) was performed to obtain the distributions of space-varied correction terms for the first mode time scale in the transitional flows over a natural-laminar-flow (NLF) airfoil, NLF(1)-0416. Then, two machine learning methods, random forest (RF) and artificial neutral network (NN), were adopted to construct the mapping from the mean flow variables to the correction terms. Finally, the learned models were embedded into the original solver. The results show that the regularizing EnKF can efficiently obtain the posterior distribution of the correction terms only by the transition locations. Meanwhile, both the RF- and NN-augmented transition models can predict more accurate transition locations past NLF(1)-0416 at both interpolated and extrapolated angles of attack. Moreover, the RF-augmented model can predict more accurate transitional flows on both the windward and leeward sides of NACA0012 at the same angle of attack. It indicates that the discrepancies within the model are learned and reduced. The modified model has good applicability and generalization ability. Furthermore, by analyzing the relative importance of the features in the RF model, it is found that the streamwise pressure gradient plays the most important role in the physical information and interpretation of the learned model.
Ab initio analysis of structural and electronic properties and excitonic optical responses of eight Ge-based 2D materials
Authors: Ghojavand Ali , Hashemifar S. Javad , Tarighi Ahmadpour Mahdi , Shapeev Alexander V. , Alhaji Amir , Hassanzada Qaem
Published: June 2020

The structural, electronic, dynamical, and optical properties of a group of 2D germanium-based compounds, including GeC, GeN, GeO, GeSi, GeS, GeSe, and germanene, are investigated by employing first-principles calculations. The most stable structure of each of these systems is identified after considering the most probable configurations and performing accurate phonon calculations. We introduce a new phase of germanene, which we name the tile germanene, which is significantly more stable than the known hexagonal germanene. We apply the modern modified Becke–Johnson and DFT1/2 schemes to obtain an accurate band structure for the selected 2D materials. It is seen that GeO and GeC exhibit the highest bandgaps of >3 eV in this group of nanomaterials. Moreover, we argue that, in contrast to the semi-metallic nature of hexagonal germanene, tile germanene is a very good conductor. The band edges of our semiconducting 2D materials are accurately aligned to the vacuum level to address the potential photocatalytic application of these systems for water splitting and carbon dioxide reduction. The optical properties, including dielectric functions, refractive index, reflectivity, and loss function of the samples, in the presence of excitonic effects, are investigated in the framework of the Bethe–Salpeter approach.
Ultrathin porous NiMnO3 nanosheets on carbon cloth for use as supercapacitor electrode
Authors: Mu Fan , Zhao Jianwei , Gu Chunxia
Published: June 2020

NiMnO3 nanosheets with high specific capacitance were fabricated on carbon cloth (CC) substrates using a facile hydrothermal method. The composition, morphology, and structure of the products were characterized using x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, cyclic voltammetry and constant current charge–discharge tests revealed that NiMnO3@CC electrodes presented excellent capacitive properties, and the specific capacitance reached 2330 F/g at the current density of 1 A/g. Moreover, after 1000 charge–discharge cycles at the current density of 10 A/g, the composites still maintained 67.8% of their initial capacity. Our results indicated that the NiMnO3@CC electrodes presented good electrochemical properties with potential application in the energy storage field.
Dynamics of the passive pulsation of a surface-attached air bubble subjected to a nearby oscillating spark-generated bubble
Authors: Wang Jiaxia , Liu Kun , Yuan Shijie , Jiang Mingzuo , Wang Zili
Published: June 2020

The dynamics of a spark-generated bubble (a discharge short circuit) generated in proximity to a stationary air bubble attached to a plate is experimentally investigated by high-speed photography. Numerous interesting and complex interactions occur during the two bubble coupling pulsation owing to the deformation properties or “free surface” characteristics supplied to the plate by the attached air bubble. Complex bubble jetting behaviors, such as bubble splitting, jets away from the plate, variable directional jets, and multidirectional jets are observed. Passive pulsation of the air bubble is observed in response to the spark bubble. Moreover, five types of bubble behaviors are summarized: bubble coalescence, the air bubble skirt phenomenon, the “mountain”-shaped bubble, and the “cup cover”-shaped air bubble with or without splitting. To develop a better understanding of the coupling interactions between the two bubbles during their oscillations, four types of bubble volume–time curves are summarized using the image outline identification code established to obtain information regarding the bubble shape. The complex phenomena during the two-bubble interactions, such as the bubble jetting direction, air bubble shapes, and volume–time curves, are summarized as graphs and are highly dependent on the bubble size ratio, dimensionless cavitation bubble oscillation time, and initial displacement parameter.
Accelerator experiments are closing in on neutrino CP violation
Authors: Miller Johanna L.
Published: June 2020

It’s starting to look like neutrinos and antineutrinos aren’t exact mirror images of each other.
Majorana qubits for topological quantum computing
Authors: Aguado Ramón , Kouwenhoven Leo P.
Published: June 2020

Researchers are trying to store robust quantum information in Majorana particles and are generating quantum gates by exploiting the bizarre non-abelian statistics of Majorana zero modes bound to topological defects.
Carving up Australia's arid zone: a review of the bioregionalisation of the Eremaean and Eyrean biogeographic regions
Authors: Ebach M. C. , Murphy D. J.
Published: June 2020

The Eremaean region, Australia’s arid biome and biogeographic region, has been discussed by botanists (and as the Eyrean, its counterpart for zoogeographers) for over 150 years, yet little progress was made in defining it as an area of endemism until the 2000s. As Australia’s largest biome and biogeographic region, the Eremaean has been defined in a climate sense, but is a historically composite biogeographic area. Taxa that inhabit the Eremaean (Eyrean) tend to display sister relationships to those outside the biome in temperate and monsoonal biome areas, indicating that two or more temporally discordant distributional patterns exist in the Australian flora and fauna. The future of Eremean and Eyrean bioregionalisation will need to incorporate these temporal patterns when constructing new bioregionalisations and historical and climate-based biogeographic models.
Climate change projected to reduce prescribed burning opportunities in the south-eastern United States
Authors: Kupfer John A. , Terando Adam J. , Gao Peng , Teske Casey , Hiers J. Kevin
Published: June 2020

Prescribed burning is a critical tool for managing wildfire risks and meeting ecological objectives, but its safe and effective application requires that specific meteorological criteria (a ‘burn window’) are met. Here, we evaluate the potential impacts of projected climatic change on prescribed burning in the south-eastern United States by applying a set of burn window criteria that capture temperature, relative humidity and wind speed to projections from an ensemble of Global Climate Models under two greenhouse gas emission scenarios. Regionally, the percentage of suitable days for burning changes little during winter but decreases substantially in summer owing to rising temperatures by the end of the 21st century compared with historical conditions. Management implications of such changes for six representative land management units include seasonal shifts in burning opportunities from summer to cool-season months, but with considerable regional variation. We contend that the practical constraints of rising temperatures on prescribed fire activities represent a significant future challenge and show that even meeting basic burn criteria (as defined today) will become increasingly difficult over time, which speaks to the need for adaptive management strategies to prepare for such changes.
Abiotic hydrogen (H
2
) sources and sinks near the Mid-Ocean Ridge (MOR) with implications for the subseafloor biosphere
Authors: Worman Stacey L. , Pratson Lincoln F. , Karson Jeffrey A. , Schlesinger William H.
Published: June 2020

Significance

This paper estimates natural hydrogen production by various geological processes and its ultimate fate in young oceanic crust near the Mid-Ocean Ridge (MOR). Hydrogen is an important source of energy for microbes living beneath the seafloor. Knowing how much is available to support these biological communities is therefore key to understanding the size and significance of this biome, one of the potential first environments for life on Earth and a potential environment for life on other planets.
Cognitive-functional principles and Chinese linear order
Authors: Morbiato Anna
Published: June 2020

In Modern Standard Chinese, word order patterns and constructions are motivated by factors and restrictions connected to different levels of linguistic organization, including not only semantics and syntax, but also pragmatics, information-structure, and the conceptual domain. The functional and the cognitive paradigms have offered distinct but complementary perspectives capable of accounting for word order patterns and regularities related to either the topic-prominent nature of Chinese or the iconic dimension of its grammar. This article shows how cognitive and functional aspects are in fact tightly intertwined and display significant and not yet fully explored parallelisms. Specifically, it looks into the notions of ‘frame’, ‘scope’, and ‘part’, features shared by both functional accounts of topic-comment structures and conceptually motivated word order principles. It proposes a qualitative corpus analysis of such notions and shows that first, Chinese topics are better defined in terms of frames; second, a number of word order regularities can be accounted for with a single cognitive-functional schema, which I refer to asframe-part, orframe-participant,which is connected to the image schema ofcontainment. This article hopes to contribute to bridging the gap between functional studies on information structure in Chinese and perspectives offered by the cognitive approach to linguistic structures, and to offer effective tools for Chinese as a second language acquisition.
Sentence-initial time adverbials in English
Authors: Mišić Ilić Biljana
Published: June 2020

The article deals with sentence-initial time adverbials in English declarative sentences. Theoretically, it is grounded in functionally-oriented and discourse-based studies, trying to combine the study of syntactic structure, information structure, information flow, and cognitive-pragmatic aspects of discourse construction and interpretation. The aim is to examine some regularities regarding the interplay of their syntactic and pragmatic characteristics and their textual and pragmatic discourse functions. The corpus-based research includes several parameters: (1) syntactic – the form and functional subtype of initial time adverbials, and the syntactic structure of the sentences containing them; (2) pragmatic – related to the information status of initial time adverbials; (3) textual – dealing with semantic, formal and functional similarities between the initial time adverbials and the sentences containing them, and other adverbials and structures in the relevant language segment, as well as with the position of the initial time adverbials in the text. The identified discourse functions (textual and pragmatic) of the initial placement of time adverbials include linking with the previous and following text, rearranging the functional elements within a sentence, temporal scene-setting, creating two especially prominent positions in a sentence, signaling segment boundaries of textual units, etc. It is suggested that particular discourse functions, rather than being associated with one of the parameters examined, actually depend on the interrelatedness of several of them.
On the formation of a conjecturing clause-taking predicate in Modern Chinese
Authors: Long Haiping , Wu Fang , Ursini Francesco , Qin Zhijun
Published: June 2020

This article claims that the conjecturing clause-taking huaiyi predicate in Modern Chinese (e.g.
Renmen huaiyi zheming taoyi de jingcha hen keneng canyu le zheqi anjian. ‘People
conjecture that the escaped policeman had probably been involved in the case.’) is actually a parenthetical
structure. Diachronically, it does not develop from an NP-taking huaiyi predicate (e.g. Wo hen
huaiyi zhe ge shuofa. ‘I doubt the statement a lot.’) or a doubting clause-taking
huaiyi predicate (e.g. Du Yifu changchang huaiyi ta yu erzi you guo nazhong ge’ermen
yiqi de shiguang. ‘Du Yifu often doubted that he had had times of buddy loyalty with his son.’). Rather,
it develops from a prosodically separated conjecturing huaiyi predicate. The goal of this paper is to show that
its formation did not follow the commonly accepted matrix clause pathway, whereby a parenthetical clause-taking predicate develops
from a corresponding matrix clause structure. Instead, it followed a hypothesized conjoining pathway, which involves the loss of a
phonetic gap between a prosodically separated huaiyi predicate and the clause with which it occurs.
Organic models for measuring Spanish learners’ linguistic complexity
Authors: Collentine Joseph , Collentine Karina
Published: June 2020

Second language acquisition (SLA) researchers measure linguistic complexity to assess pedagogical effectiveness and depict development (Norris & Ortega, 2009). Yet, from linguistic and cognitive perspectives, commonly used approaches oversimplify complexity. Furthermore, such approaches do not consider the morphological complexities of a highly inflected L2 like Spanish. Norris and Ortega (2009) encourage SLA researchers to develop empirically and theoretically valid measures of linguistic complexity through an organic (i.e., iterative and data-driven) investigative process; resulting models should be multidimensional and developmentally sensitive. This study delineates three multidimensional models of Spanish L2 linguistic complexity based on a principal component analysis of a corpus of learners participating in a task-based activity at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels of university instruction.
Degree, time and focus
Authors: Escalona Torres Juan M.
Published: June 2020

This paper applies theories from historical pragmatics to trace the syntactic and semantic changes of a poco (today meaning ‘in a short time’) from the thirteenth to twentieth centuries. The data shows that during this period the structure shifts from being a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun phrase to being an autonomous adverb. In its adverbial form, it gains wider scope, modifying structures beyond the noun phrase. Along with this syntactic change, a poco retains its degree modification properties over the centuries. However, the scales a poco evaluates extend from objectively measurable concepts such as time and space to subjective concepts such as time elapsed between events, approximation to completion of an event or minimization of focus among alternatives.
Neural evidence for the processing of referential ambiguity and referential failure in Spanish
Authors: Feroce Nick , Fiorentino Robert , Covey Lauren , Gabriele Alison
Published: June 2020

The present study uses event-related potentials (ERPs) to examine how native Spanish speakers comprehend overt pronouns in two referentially challenging contexts: sentences in which a pronoun has two gender-matching antecedents (referential ambiguity), and sentences in which there are no gender-matching antecedents (referential failure). Participants read these sentences for comprehension while their brain activity was recorded. Results revealed a sustained positivity for referentially ambiguous pronouns, in contrast to a sustained negativity observed in previous studies of English and Dutch, and a positivity (P600) for referential failure, in line with previous studies. There was no relationship between ERPs and working memory measures. These results suggest that speakers of different languages may differ in how they process referential ambiguity, but not referential failure.
Surviving Limburg and Hollandic dialect features and what they have in common
Authors: Hinskens Frans
Published: June 2020

Two studies of processes of dialect levelling are presented. The first one concerns a divergent local Limburg dialect of Dutch. The second study concerns 15 local Hollandic dialects, spoken in the northwestern corner of the country. Whereas the Limburg study is based on data from the author’s fieldwork recordings, the Hollandic investigation is based on questionnaire data from two huge (equally fieldwork-based) projects. The Limburg study focusses on 20 dialect features (in the phonological, morphological and syntactic modules) and allows for apparent time comparisons, while the Hollandic research permits real time comparisons of the variation in 7 features in the phonological and morphosyntactic components. For both studies the data were elicited from individual speakers. The dialects in both areas appear to arrive at their own unique selection of non-standard features. Despite the many differences and despite the fact that the dialect situations differ in several respects, the findings of both studies converge in the sense that the resistant phenomena share properties pertaining to their relative geographical distribution, their socio-emblematic nature and, internally, to the architecture of language components, the conditioning/regularity of the phenomena as well as their mutual coherence, both structurally and statistically.
German regiolects and socio-cultural identity
Authors: Kehrein Roland
Published: June 2020

Dynamic linguistic processes between the old German local dialects and the much younger German standard language are currently being studied intensely, revealing some clear results: The structures of the vertical variation spaces differ according to the dialect area. These different shapes can basically be explained by a linguistic factor, the relationship between Standard German and the different dialects. This relationship determines the type and number of non-standard variants remaining in the speakers’ best attempts to pronounce Standard German. These variants form the basic linguistic inventory of the intermediate regiolect varieties. On the basis of further studies reciprocal effects between variety use and other forms of social action can be observed, resulting in a high amount of stability of the intermediate regiolect varieties.
From dialect to standard: Facilitating and constraining factors
Authors: Cerruti Massimo
Published: June 2020

This paper deals with the selection of morphosyntactic features in Italo-Romance. Firstly, a brief overview will be provided of the language space between traditional dialects and the standard variety of Italian, with particular emphasis on how this space is shaped differently across Italo-Romance. Next, the main dynamics underlying the inclusion of dialect features within the standard will be considered through the analysis of a representative case, i.e. the behaviour of the Italian negative particle mica (< Latin MICAM ‘crumb’) in declarative clauses. Drawing on both previous literature and corpus-based data, the focus will fall on the reasons why some uses of mica are selected as standard and others are not. Special attention will be paid to the role of salience as both a facilitating and a constraining factor.
Language variation and maintenance in Cypriot Romeika
Authors: Ioannidou Elena , Christodoulou Charalambos , Neokleous Theoni
Published: June 2020

This paper adopts a social networks approach to investigate language variation and maintenance in Cypriot Romeika, a Greek variety spoken by an enclave community of Turkish Cypriots situated in the north of Cyprus. The variety, which has been in isolation for many decades due to political reasons, did not undergo the koineisation processes that took place in Cypriot Greek and thus not only has it preserved “archaic” phenomena that are unavailable in the Cypriot Greek koine, but it also includes several intradialectal geographical isoglosses that were available prior to koineisation. This paper presents the history of the community and its language and discusses why this linguistic situation has voided the processes of koineisation at work in the rest of the Greek-speaking parts of the island. It further explores the sociolinguistic factors involved in language maintenance, including the strong ties between language and identity, and the use of Cypriot Romeika as the language of the home, as well as the attitudes of its speakers towards the Cypriot Greek koine.
Nucleobindin-1 regulates ECM degradation by promoting intra-Golgi trafficking of MMPs
Authors: Pacheco-Fernandez Natalia , Pakdel Mehrshad , Blank Birgit , Sanchez-Gonzalez Ismael , Weber Kathrin , Tran Mai Ly , Hecht Tobias Karl-Heinz , Gautsch Renate , Beck Gisela , Perez Franck , Hausser Angelika , Linder Stefan , von Blume Julia
Published: June 2020

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) degrade several ECM components and are crucial modulators of cell invasion and tissue organization. Although much has been reported about their function in remodeling ECM in health and disease, their trafficking across the Golgi apparatus remains poorly understood. Here we report that the cis-Golgi protein nucleobindin-1 (NUCB1) is critical for MMP2 and MT1-MMP trafficking along the Golgi apparatus. This process is Ca2+-dependent and is required for invasive MDA-MB-231 cell migration as well as for gelatin degradation in primary human macrophages. Our findings emphasize the importance of NUCB1 as an essential component of MMP transport and its overall impact on ECM remodeling.
A criterion for covariance in complex sequential growth models
Authors: Surya Sumati , Zalel Stav
Published: June 2020

The classical sequential growth model for causal sets provides a template for the dynamics in the deep quantum regime. This growth dynamics is intrinsically temporal and causal, with each new element being added to the existing causal set without disturbing its past. In the quantum version, the probability measure on the event algebra is replaced by a quantum measure, which is Hilbert space valued. Because of the temporality of the growth process, in this approach, covariant events (or observables) are measurable only if the quantum measure extends to the associated sigma algebra of events. This is not always guaranteed. In this work we find a criterion for extension (and thence covariance) in complex sequential growth models for causal sets. We find a large family of models in which the measure extends, so that all covariant events/observables are measurable.
Calibration of the laser displacement sensor and integration of on-site scanned points
Authors: Kou Meng , Wang Gang , Jiang Cheng , Li Wen-long , Mao Jin-cheng
Published: June 2020

On-site inspection with a laser displacement sensor installed on the spindle of a three-axis machine tool has found a wide range of applications in industrial processes. The calibration of the beam direction and the integration of the on-site scanned points are crucial for the measurement of free-form surfaces. This paper presents a method to calibrate the unit direction vector of the laser beam and integrate the on-site scanned points based on a standard ball. By scanning the fixed ball, a group of nonlinear equations is constructed. The nonlinear equations are solved by the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm to get the unit direction vector of the laser beam and the center position of the standard ball. Then the coordinate transformation parameters between the world coordinate system and the sensor coordinate system are calculated. The scanned points from different coordinate systems are transformed into the world coordinate system by the coordinate transformation. The method simplifies the traditional calibration process and realizes the integration of the multi-angle scanned points on a three-axis machine tool. The feasibility and effectiveness of this method are verified through simulation and practical experiment. By comparing fitting value under different measuring conditions with the nominal, the measurement parameters including the incident angle and the scan depth are optimized. In the experiment, the measurement accuracy of this method reaches 0.02 mm.
Climate change alters flood magnitudes and mechanisms in climatically-diverse headwaters across the northwestern United States
Authors: S Chegwidden Oriana , Rupp David E , Nijssen Bart
Published: June 2020

Flooding caused by high streamflow events poses great risk around the world and is projected to increase under climate change. This paper assesses how climate change will alter high streamflow events by changing both the prevalence of different driving mechanisms (i.e. ‘flood generating processes’) and the magnitude of differently generated floods. We present an analysis of simulated changes in high streamflow events in selected basins in the hydroclimatically diverse Pacific Northwestern United States, classifying the events according to their mechanism. We then compare how the different classes of events respond to changes in climate at the annual scale. In a warmer future, high flow events will be caused less frequently by snowmelt and more frequently by precipitation events. Also, precipitation-driven high flow events are more sensitive to increases in precipitation than are snowmelt-driven high flow events, so the combination of the increase in both frequency and magnitude of precipitation-driven high flow events leads to higher flood likelihood than under each change alone. Our comparison of the results from two emissions pathways shows that a reduction in global emissions will limit the increase in magnitude and prevalence of these precipitation-driven events.
Near-infrared emission in Er:ZnO thin films with embedded Si nanoparticles synthesized by ion implantation
Authors: Li Kaikai , Yu Shuang , Ma Changsheng , Lu Fei , Liu Kaijing , Xu Yuhang , Ma Changdong
Published: June 2020

Er-doped ZnO thin films on a SiO2/Si substrate were fabricated by radio frequency magnetron sputtering, in which embedded Si nanoparticles (NPs) were formed by ion implantation and subsequent thermal annealing. The effects of Si NPs on the Er photoluminescence (PL) at 1.54 μm were investigated. In addition to the typical emission at 1.54 μm from Er3+, a new 1.16-μm emission peak was also observed after a thermal treatment. Further annealing resulted in shift of emission intensity between the 1.16- and 1.54-μm luminescence features. The observed Si nanoparticles (NPs) were ∼4 nm in diameter. The formation of new components Zn2SiO4 and Er2Si2O7 was also presented in this study. The 1.16-μm luminescence is attributed to the Si NPs, and the suppression of Si NPs related emission is caused by consumption of Si in the formation of Er silicate and zinc silicide and the energy transfer between Si NPs and Er3+. The intensity of Er3+ related 1.54-μm PL can be modulated by the Si NPs fabricated by implantation and optimizing the annealing condition.
Analytical modelling of quantum capacitance and carrier concentration in Archimedean zigzag SiC nanoscrolls
Authors: Hassanzadazar Mina , Hadidi Khayrollah
Published: June 2020

Considering the ongoing miniaturization of electronic devices using new categories of nanomaterials, particular importance should be given to the quantum confinement effects in advanced fabrication processes. This paper presents a new analytical model of the quantum capacitance for zigzag silicon doped graphene nanscrolls,SiCNSs. Although, studying the electronic properties and synthesis methods of SiC-based nanostructures has drawn great research attention in recent years, no analytical model or numerical simulation for quantum capacitance and carrier concentration has been conducted concerning the SiC nanoscrolls so far. In this study, the quantum capacitance model of zigzag SiCNSs is presented for both degenerate and non-degenerate regimes considering the effects of different structural parameters. In the degenerate regime, the zigzag SiCNS shows a constant quantum capacitance value of 4.75 × 10–11 F m−1 (47.5 pF m−1) while for non-degenerate regime it follows exponential behaviour. The dominancy of the quantum capacitance of SiCNSs at different levels of concentration is compared in this study. The investigation also highlights the variations of the density of states and carrier concentration with respect to the length and chirality. Presented results suggest that synthesis of SiCNSs possesses a range of potential technological applications as supercapacitors and the channel or interconnections in transistors in the new generation of the nanodevices.
Physical Work Demands of Childcare Workers in Denmark: Device-Based Measurements and Workplace Observations Among 199 Childcare Workers from 16 Day Nurseries
Authors: Holtermann Andreas , Fjeldstad Hendriksen Peter , Greby Schmidt Kathrine , Jagd Svendsen Malene , Nørregaard Rasmussen Charlotte Diana
Published: June 2020

Objectives

Childcare workers in Denmark have high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain (MSP) and sickness absence, but the existing knowledge of their physical work demands is limited, hampering preventive initiatives. This study aimed to assess the physical work demands with accelerometers and workplace observations of childcare workers handling children age 0–3.

Methods

Data collection consisted of an electronic survey, anthropometric measurements, accelerometer measurements providing information of physical activity types and postures with Acti4 software from five consecutive workdays, as well as 4-h visual workplace observation per childcare worker from 16 Danish nurseries.

Results

In total, 199 childcare workers were enrolled in the study. A total of 4181 working hours of accelerometer measurements and 722 h of workplace observations were carried out. Accelerometer measurements showed that they spent about half of the working day (44.8%) in sedentary postures, and the rest standing (22.8%), moving (13.0%), walking (14.6%), running (0.1%), and climbing stairs (0.7%), with 4.1% in knee straining postures (kneeling and squatting) and 4.3% forward trunk inclination >60°. Workplace observations showed that they carried children 1.8% of the working hours.

Conclusions

Physical work demands of Danish childcare workers are characterized by about half of the workday being sedentary, and the remaining of the workday being quite evenly distributed between standing and dynamic activities, with low exposures to carrying children. Their exposure to forward bending of the trunk and knee straining postures could impose a risk for MSP and sickness absence, and preventive initiatives should be considered.
Can post-mortem MRI be used as a proxy for in vivo? A case study
Authors: Boon Baayla D C , Pouwels Petra J W , Jonkman Laura E , Keijzer Matthijs J , Preziosa Paolo , van de Berg Wilma D J , Geurts Jeroen J G , Scheltens Philip , Barkhof Frederik , Rozemuller Annemieke J M , Bouwman Femke H , Steenwijk Martijn D
Published: June 2020

Post-mortem in situ MRI has been used as an intermediate between brain histo(patho)logy and in vivo imaging. However, it is not known how comparable post-mortem in situ is to ante-mortem imaging. We report the unique situation of a patient with familial early-onset Alzheimer’s disease due to a PSEN1 mutation, who underwent ante-mortem brain MRI and post-mortem in situ imaging only 4 days apart. T1-weighted and diffusion MRI was performed at 3-Tesla at both time points. Visual atrophy rating scales, brain volume, cortical thickness and diffusion measures were derived from both scans and compared. Post-mortem visual atrophy scores decreased 0.5–1 point compared with ante-mortem, indicating an increase in brain volume. This was confirmed by quantitative analysis; showing a 27% decrease of ventricular and 7% increase of whole-brain volume. This increase was more pronounced in the cerebellum and supratentorial white matter than in grey matter. Furthermore, axial and radial diffusivity decreased up to 60% post-mortem whereas average fractional anisotropy of white matter increased approximately 10%. This unique case study shows that the process of dying affects several imaging markers. These changes need to be taken into account when interpreting post-mortem MRI to make inferences on the in vivo situation.
Scope of biodiesel from oils of woody plants: a review
Authors: Thangaraj Baskar , Solomon Pravin Raj
Published: June 2020

Non-edible oils obtained from chosen non-conventional woody plants are considered as potential raw materials for biodiesel production. These plants mostly grow in wastelands. Structural characteristics of these oils as raw material are very much in tune with the properties of biodiesel such as long-chain hydrocarbon, having an adequate level of unsaturation with branched chain. Four primary methods are being followed to make biodiesel from vegetable oil. They are direct use through blending, microemulsion, thermal cracking (pyrolysis) and transesterification. Non-edible oil would eliminate the issue of food vs fuel. The biodiesel manufactured from oils of woody plants may partially reduce the demand for liquid-fuel energy and addresses the environmental consequences of using fossil fuels. Oil from a total of 17 species of woody plants (Angiosperms) belonging to 14 families are considered in this paper. The habit, habitat and geographical distribution of each species are also presented. The physico-chemical properties of their oil, with special reference to the fatty-acid profile that ultimately decides the characteristics of the biodiesel prepared from them, are reviewed.
Early Parosmia Signs and Affective States Predict Depression and Anxiety Symptoms 6 Months After a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Lecuyer Giguere Fanny , Jobin Benoit , Robert Joëlle , Bastien Laurianne , Giguère Jean-François , De Beaumont Louis , de Guise Elaine , Frasnelli Johannes
Published: June 2020

This longitudinal study aimed to evaluate qualitative (parosmia) and quantitative (hyposmia/anosmia) olfaction 2–4 weeks (baseline) and 6 months (follow-up) after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). We further evaluated the predictive value of baseline depression, anxiety, and olfaction scores on depression and anxiety at follow-up. At baseline, olfactory function and affective state were assessed in 107 participants (53 patients with mTBI; 54 healthy controls). At follow-up, data were collected on 71 participants (32 patients and 39 controls). Both at baseline and follow-up, patients with mTBI showed more signs of parosmia, depression, and anxiety compared with controls. However, patients did not, neither at baseline nor follow-up, show quantitative olfactory impairment. Moreover, although baseline scores of depression and anxiety helped predict the development of symptoms of depression and anxiety at follow-up, adding parosmia scores to the prediction model significantly increased the amount of explained variances. Clinicians should implement affective and olfactory evaluation to predict patients’ affective outcome.
Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2 in Vegetable Oils Using Bare Fe3O4 as Magnetic Sorbents Coupled with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Fluorescence Detection
Authors: Zhang Hui-Xian , Zhang Ping , Fu Xiao-Fang , Zhou You-Xiang , Peng Xi-Tian
Published: June 2020

This paper reports a simple, sensitive and reliable method for the simultaneous detection of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2 in vegetable oils. Aflatoxins were extracted by magnetic solid phase extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography, then postcolumn photochemical derivatization and finally detected by fluorescence detector. Vegetable oil samples were first diluted with hexane and then commercial bare Fe3O4 nanoparticles were directly employed as sorbents to extract aflatoxins from complex vegetable oil samples, which significantly simplified the procedure of sample preparation and largely improved the sample analysis throughput. The effects of various parameters such as the amount of sorbent, loading, washing and eluting conditions were carefully optimized to improve the extraction efficiencies of aflatoxins. Under the optimal conditions, the limits of detection of four aflatoxins ranged from 0.01 μg/kg to 0.16 μg/kg, and squared regression coefficients (R2) >0.9990 were obtained within the linear range of 0.1–20 μg/kg (except for aflatoxin G2 with 0.5–20 μg/kg). Furthermore, the recoveries spiked at four concentration levels in a blank vegetable oil sample were from 82.6 to 106.2%, with inter- and intraday relative standard deviations <9.8%, indicating good accuracy and precision of the proposed method.
Determination of Amino Acid Composition of Ganirelix Acetate in an Injectable Formulation by Pre-column Derivatization with 6-Aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl Carbamate
Authors: Ummiti Kumarswamy , Kumar J V Shanmukha
Published: June 2020

Ganirelix is a synthetic decapeptide linked with nine different amino acids. To understand the peptide amino acid sequence or primary structure, the first step is to determine the amino acid composition of the peptide which can be a determining factor for the peptide immunogenicity. Edman degradation is not a suitable analytical technique to identify amino acid sequence present in Ganirelix due to the absence of uncharged N-terminal amino group. To address this challenge, a pre-column derivatization method was developed with 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate reagent. In the present work, the Ganirelix active pharmaceutical ingredient present in the injectable formulation was isolated by fraction collection and further purified by flash chromatography. The amino acid composition of Ganirelix is assayed by carrying out acid hydrolysis with 6 mol L−1 hydrochloric acid solution containing 1% phenol at 100°C for 24 h and derivatization with 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate reagent solution, followed by determination of individual amino acids by reverse-phase chromatography using a C18 column. High resolution was achieved for the nine amino acid mixture. The amino acid composition results of temperature-stressed Ganirelix generic product and reference listed drug are in good agreement with the theoretical molar ratio of label information.
Liver Fibrosis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Coinfection Before and After Sustained Virologic Response: What Is the Best Noninvasive Marker for Monitoring Regression?
Authors: Kronfli Nadine , Young Jim , Wang Shouao , Cox Joseph , Walmsley Sharon , Hull Mark , Cooper Curtis , Martel-Laferriere Valerie , Wong Alexander , Pick Neora , Klein Marina B ,   Canadian Coinfection Cohort Study Investigators, Barrett Lisa , Cohen Jeff , Conway Brian , Cooper Curtis , Côté Pierre , Cox Joseph , Gill John , Haider Shariq , Hull Mark , Klein Marina , Montaner Julio , Moodie Erica , Pick Neora , Rachlis Anita , Rouleau Danielle , Sandre Roger , Tyndall Mark , Sanche Steve , Vachon Marie-Louise , Walmsley Sharon , Wong Alex , Wong David
Published: June 2020

Background

Noninvasive markers of liver fibrosis such as aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio (APRI) and transient elastography (TE) have largely replaced liver biopsy for staging hepatitis C virus (HCV). As there is little longitudinal data, we compared changes in these markers before and after sustained virologic response (SVR) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-HCV coinfected patients.

Methods

Participants from the Canadian Coinfection Cohort study who achieved SVR after a first treatment with either interferon/ribavirin or direct acting antivirals (DAAs), with at least 1 pre- and posttreatment fibrosis measure were selected. Changes in APRI or TE (DAA era only) were modeled using a generalized additive mixed model, assuming a gamma distribution and adjusting for sex, age at HCV acquisition, duration of HCV infection, and time-dependent body mass index, binge drinking, and detectable HIV RNA.

Results

Of 1981 patients, 151 achieved SVR with interferon and 553 with DAAs; 94 and 382 met inclusion criteria, respectively. In the DAA era, APRI increased (0.03 units/year; 95% credible interval (CrI): −.05, .12) before, declined dramatically during, and then changed minimally (−0.03 units/year; 95% CrI: −.06, .01) after treatment. TE values, however, increased (0.74 kPa/year; 95% CrI: .36, 1.14) before treatment, changed little by the end of treatment, and then declined (−0.55 kPa/year; 95% CrI: −.80, −.31) after SVR.

Conclusions

TE should be the preferred noninvasive tool for monitoring fibrosis regression following cure. Future studies should assess the risk of liver-related outcomes such as hepatocellular carcinoma according to trajectories of fibrosis regression measured using TE to determine if and when it will become safe to discontinue screening.
Proactive Drug Monitoring Is Associated With Higher Persistence to Infliximab and Adalimumab Treatment and Lower Healthcare Utilization Compared With Reactive and Clinical Monitoring
Authors: Syed Nauroz , Tolaymat Mazen , Brown Sara A , Sivasailam Barathi , Cross Raymond K
Published: June 2020

Background

Serum drug-level assays for infliximab (IFX) and adalimumab (ADA) are widely available and are most often obtained reactively, to determine the next steps in patients with loss of response. Studies done thus far on the use of these assays proactively, or during symptom remission, have had mixed results. Here we investigate persistence on therapy and healthcare utilization in patients on 3 drug-level monitoring strategies.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective chart review of 235 patients treated for both Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis on either IFX or ADA. Monitoring strategy was defined as proactive if patients underwent testing at predefined time points regardless of symptoms or signs of disease, reactive if done during relapse, or control if no drug levels were obtained. Groups were compared on persistence on original therapeutic at 1 and 2 years as well as on various measures of healthcare utilization during the 2-year follow-up period.

Results

Proactive drug monitoring was associated with a higher likelihood of persistence on therapy at 1 year when compared with the control (odds ratio [OR] = 4.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.65, 13.67) and reactive groups (OR = 6.10, CI = 2.19, 17.02). Similarly, at 2 years, proactive monitoring was superior to the control (OR = 5.41, CI = 2.26, 12.94) and reactive groups (OR = 4.51, CI = 1.88, 10.80). Proactive monitoring was also associated with lower healthcare utilization across almost all measures related to inflammatory bowel disease.

Conclusions

Proactive drug monitoring increases persistence on IFX and ADA in patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease and decreases overall healthcare utilization in these patients.
RNAWRE: a resource of writers, readers and erasers of RNA modifications
Authors: Nie Fulei , Feng Pengmian , Song Xiaoming , Wu Meng , Tang Qiang , Chen Wei
Published: June 2020

RNA modifications are involved in various kinds of cellular biological processes. Accumulated evidences have demonstrated that the functions of RNA modifications are determined by the effectors that can catalyze, recognize and remove RNA modifications. They are called ‘writers’, ‘readers’ and ‘erasers’. The identification of RNA modification effectors will be helpful for understanding the regulatory mechanisms and biological functions of RNA modifications. In this work, we developed a database called RNAWRE that specially deposits RNA modification effectors. The current version of RNAWRE stored 2045 manually curated writers, readers and erasers for the six major kinds of RNA modifications, namely Cap, m1A, m6A, m5C, ψ and Poly A. The main modules of RNAWRE not only allow browsing and downloading the RNA modification effectors but also support the BLAST search of the potential RNA modification effectors in other species. We hope that RNAWRE will be helpful for the researches on RNA modifications.

Database URL: http://rnawre.bio2db.com
Quality-based assessment of camera navigation skills for laparoscopic fundoplication
Authors: Huettl Florentine , Lang Hauke , Paschold Markus , Bartsch Fabian , Hiller Sebastian , Hensel Benjamin , Corvinus Florian , Grimminger Peter P , Kneist Werner , Huber Tobias
Published: June 2020

Laparoscopic fundoplication is considered the gold standard surgical procedure for the treatment of symptomatic hiatus hernia. Studies on surgical performance in minimally invasive hiatus hernia repair have neglected the role of the camera assistant so far. The current study was designed to assess the applicability of the structured assessment of laparoscopic assistance skills (SALAS) score to laparoscopic fundoplication as an advanced and commonly performed laparoscopic upper GI procedure. Randomly selected laparoscopic fundoplications (n = 20) at a single institute were evaluated. Four trained reviewers independently assigned SALAS scoring based on synchronized video and voice recordings. The SALAS score (5–25 points) consists of five key aspects of laparoscopic camera navigation as previously described. Experience in camera assistance was defined as at least 100 assistances in complex laparoscopic procedures. Nine different surgical teams, consisting of five surgical residents, three fellows, and two attending physicians, were included. Experienced and inexperienced camera assistants were equally distributed (10/10). Construct validity was proven with a significant discrimination between experienced and inexperienced camera assistants for all reviewers (P < 0.05). The intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.897 demonstrates the score’s low interrater variability. The total operation time decreases with increasing SALAS score, not reaching statistical significance. The applied SALAS score proves effective by discriminating between experienced and inexperienced camera assistants in an upper GI surgical procedure. This study demonstrates the applicability of the SALAS score to a more advanced laparoscopic procedure such as fundoplication enabling future investigations on the influence of camera navigation on surgical performance and operative outcome.