bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Similarities and differences for membranotropic action of three unnatural antimicrobial peptides
Authors: Oliva Rosario , Chino Marco , Lombardi Angelina , Nastri Flavia , Notomista Eugenio , Petraccone Luigi , Del Vecchio Pompea
Published: June 2020

Previously, we described the design and synthesis of three nine‐residue AMPs, P9Nal(SS), P9Trp(SS), and P9Nal(SR), showing high stability in serum and broad spectrum antimicrobial activity. The peptides P9Trp(SS) and P9Nal(SR) differ from P9Nal(SS) for the replacement of the two 2Nal residues with Trp residues and for the replacement of the two Cys (StBu) with Cys (tBu) residues, respectively. These changes led to peptides with a lower hydrophobicity respect to the P9Nal(SS). Interestingly, the three peptides have very similar activity against Gram‐negative bacteria. Instead, they exhibit a significant difference towards Gram‐positive bacteria, being P9Nal(SS) the most active. In order to evaluate the impact of amino acids substitution on membranotropic activity and rationalize the observed effects in vivo, here, we report the detailed biophysical characterization of the interaction between P9Nal(SR) and P9Trp(SS) and liposomes by combining differential scanning calorimetry, circular dichroism, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The comparison with the results for the previously characterized P9Nal(SS) peptide reveals similarities and differences on the interaction process and perturbation activities. It was found that the three peptides can penetrate at different extent inside the bilayer upon changing their conformation and inducing lipid domains formation, revealing that the formation of lipid domains is fundamental for the activity against Gram‐negative bacteria. On the contrary, the dissimilar activity against Gram‐positive bacteria well correlate with the different affinity of peptides for the lipoteichoic acid, a component selectively present in the cell wall of Gram‐positive bacteria.
Efficient Hybrid Mixed‐Ion Perovskite Photovoltaics: In Situ Diagnostics of the Roles of Cesium and Potassium Alkali Cation Addition
Authors: Tang Ming-Chun , Fan Yuanyuan , Barrit Dounya , Li Ruipeng , Dang Hoang X. , Zhang Siyuan , Magnanelli Timothy J. , Nguyen Nhan V. , Heilweil Edwin J. , Hacker Christina A. , Smilgies Detlef-M. , Zhao Kui , Amassian Aram , Anthopoulos Thomas D.
Published: June 2020

Perovskite photovoltaics have made extraordinary progress in power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability due to process and formulation development. Perovskite cell performance benefits from the addition of alkali metal cations, such as cesium (Cs+) and potassium (K+) in mixed‐ion systems, but the underlying reasons are not fully understood. Herein, the solidification of perovskite layers is studied, incorporating 5%, 10%, to 20% of Cs+ and K+ using in situ grazing incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering. It is found that K+‐doped solutions yield nonperovskite 4H phase rather than the 3C perovskite phase. For Cs+‐doped formulations, both 4H and 3C phases are present at 5% Cs+, whereas the 3C perovskite phase is formed in 10% Cs+‐doped formulations, with undesirable halide segregation occurring at 20% Cs+. Postdeposition thermal annealing converts the intermediate 4H phase to the desirable 3C perovskite phase. Importantly, perovskite layers containing 5% of Cs+ or K+ exhibit a reduced concentration of trap states and enhanced carrier mobility and lifetime. By carefully adjusting Cs+ or K+ concentration to 5%, perovskite cells are demonstrated with a ≈5% higher‐average PCE than cells utilizing higher cation concentrations. Herein, unique insights into the crystallization pathways toward perovskite phase engineering and improved cell performance are provided.
Comparison of Isolation Methods and Physicochemical Characteristics of Starches Isolated from Red and White Sorghum Hybrids
Authors: Micaela Albarracín , Drago Silvina Rosa
Published: June 2020

The aim of this study is to optimize starch isolation from different sorghum cultivars and characterize the starch from fourteen red and white sorghum hybrids. Methods involving sulfite maceration and/or protein hydrolysis are assayed. Recovery and yield, residual protein, total and starch damage, whiteness index (WI), water absorption, solubility, and swelling power of isolated starches are compared in order to select the appropriate isolation method. Results indicate that starch recoveries between 44–76%. Isolated starches present 0.58–2.4 g 100 g−1 residual proteins, 89.1–90.6 WI, 5.10–9.57 g 100 g−1 solubility, and 15.09–22.57 g water 100 g−1 swelling power. Taking into account recovery, residual protein, WI, and good hydration properties of starch, the maceration during 24 h combined with protein hydrolysis during 3 h is used to isolate starches. After starch isolation, its characterization (residual protein, total and damage starch, amylose content, particle size distribution, WI, crystallinity, gelatinization temperature, water absorption, solubility, and swelling power) is performed. Principal component analysis shows that color as indicator of variety is influenced by the structure, composition, and physicochemical properties of isolated starch. Starches from white sorghum hybrids have higher amylose content and gelatinization temperature than the red ones, which affect starch solubility, and swelling power.
A lineage‐based infrageneric classification of Turnera (Turneraceae)
Authors: Rocha Lamarck , Ribeiro Patrícia Luz , Rapini Alessandro
Published: June 2020

A comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study of Turneraceae showed that Turnera, the largest genus in the family, should be recircumscribed and divided into 11 series. Here, we propose a lineage‐based classification for the genus, including the description of two new series (ser. Cristatae, ser. Rinoreifoliae) and a new subseries in ser. Turnera (subser. Macronectariae). A list of 130 species (and 42 infraspecific taxa) currently accepted and a key to the series and subseries of Turnera are provided.
Critically assessing the factors contributing toward e‐logistics customer satisfaction by considering mediating role of information technology: A case study of Thailand food sector
Authors: Luhur Prianto Andi , Wongsurawat Kovit , Yama Arifeen
Published: June 2020

The study aimed to critically evaluate the factors contributing toward customer satisfaction in e‐logistics . The mediating role of information technology (IT) was analyzed considering the case of Thailand's food sector. The research was quantitative and the primary data were accumulated on the basis of the survey questionnaire as a research instrument. The sample comprised of 488 participants belonging to the food industry of Thailand. The data were analyzed using SEM modeling on Smart PLS. It was found that effective payment methods, higher business safety, and faster order fulfillment affected customer satisfaction in the context of e‐logistics significantly. It was also found that IT mediated the relationship of effective payment methods, business safety, and faster order fulfillment with customer satisfaction partially, significantly, and positively. This research was limited to the geographical bounds of Thailand and its food sector only. Therefore, this research has certain future research directions.
Methods for spatial and temporal imaging of the different steps involved in RNA processing at single‐molecule resolution
Authors: Markey Fatu Badiane , Parashar Vijay , Batish Mona
Published: June 2020

RNA plays a quintessential role as a messenger of information from genotype (DNA) to phenotype (proteins), as well as acts as a regulatory molecule (noncoding RNAs). All steps in the journey of RNA from synthesis (transcription), splicing, transport, localization, translation, to its eventual degradation, comprise important steps in gene expression, thereby controlling the fate of the cell. This lifecycle refers to the majority of RNAs (primarily mRNAs), but not other RNAs such as tRNAs. Imaging these processes in fixed cells and in live cells has been an important tool in developing an understanding of the regulatory steps in RNAs journey. Single‐cell and single‐molecule imaging techniques enable a much deeper understanding of cellular biology, which is not possible with bulk studies involving RNA isolated from a large pool of cells. Classic techniques, such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), as well as more recent aptamer‐based approaches, have provided detailed insights into RNA localization, and have helped to predict the functions carried out by many RNA species. However, there are still certain processing steps that await high‐resolution imaging, which is an exciting and upcoming area of research. In this review, we will discuss the methods that have revolutionized single‐molecule resolution imaging in general, the steps of RNA processing in which these methods have been used, and new emerging technologies.

This article is categorized under:

RNA Export and Localization > RNA Localization

RNA Methods > RNA Analyses in Cells

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Small Molecule‐RNA Interactions
Patterning the Drosophila embryo: A paradigm for RNA‐based developmental genetic regulation
Authors: Lasko Paul
Published: June 2020

Embryonic anterior–posterior patterning is established in Drosophila melanogaster by maternally expressed genes. The mRNAs of several of these genes accumulate at either the anterior or posterior pole of the oocyte via a number of mechanisms. Many of these mRNAs are also under elaborate translational regulation. Asymmetric RNA localization coupled with spatially restricted translation ensures that their proteins are restricted to the position necessary for the developmental process that they drive. Bicoid (Bcd), the anterior determinant, and Oskar (Osk), the determinant for primordial germ cells and posterior patterning, have been studied particularly closely. In early embryos an anterior–posterior gradient of Bcd is established, activating transcription of different sets of zygotic genes depending on local Bcd concentration. At the posterior pole, Osk seeds formation of polar granules, ribonucleoprotein complexes that accumulate further mRNAs and proteins involved in posterior patterning and germ cell specification. After fertilization, polar granules associate with posterior nuclei and mature into nuclear germ granules. Osk accumulates in these granules, and either by itself or as part of the granules, stimulates germ cell division.

This article is categorized under:

RNA Export and Localization > RNA Localization

Translation > Translation Regulation

RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Development
Leadership, Spirituality, and the Legacy of Helen “Lena” Astin
Authors: Lindholm Jennifer A.
Published: June 2020

What will be your legacy? is a “big” question that challenges us to consider how we will engage our passions and talents to make a difference in the world. This chapter celebrates the legacy of Helen “Lena” Astin in the context of her contributions to how we think about and exercise leadership and to what we understand about spirituality, particularly the spiritual lives of undergraduate students.
Stringy information and black holes
Authors: Giveon Amit , Itzhaki Nissan
Published: June 2020

Abstract

We show that in string theory, due to non-perturbative effects, there are cases in which two states that semi-classically are completely different, are in fact the same. One state cannot be excited without exciting the other; they are two components of the same state in the exact theory. As a result, in some situations that include black holes, the nature of information in string theory is dramatically different than in field theory. In particular, each general-relativity state, that lives in the atmosphere of black fivebranes, is accompanied with an excitation that lives on folded strings, which fill the black-hole interior. This is likely related to the way that information is extracted from black holes in string theory, and we refer to it as stringy information.
Restrictions for n-point vertices in higher-spin theories
Authors: Fredenhagen Stefan , Krüger Olaf , Mkrtchyan Karapet
Published: June 2020

Abstract

We give a simple classification of the independent n-point interaction vertices for bosonic higher-spin gauge fields in d-dimensional Minkowski spacetimes. We first give a characterisation of such vertices for large dimensions, d ≥ 2n − 1, where one does not have to consider Schouten identities due to over-antisymmetrisation of spacetime indices. When the dimension is lowered, such identities have to be considered, but their appearance only leads to equivalences of large-d vertices and does not lead to new types of vertices. We consider the case of low dimensions (d < n) in detail, where a large number of Schouten identities leads to strong restrictions on independent vertices. We also comment on the generalisation of our results to the intermediate region n ≤ d ≤ 2n − 2. In all cases, the independent vertices are expressed in terms of elementary manifestly gauge-invariant quantities, suggesting that no deformations of the gauge transformations are induced.
IGF-1 and cardiometabolic diseases: a Mendelian randomisation study
Authors: Larsson Susanna C. , Michaëlsson Karl , Burgess Stephen
Published: June 2020

Aims/hypothesis

Abnormal serum IGF-1 levels are associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, the causal role of IGF-1 levels within the normal range in cardiometabolic disease remains unclear. We employed Mendelian randomisation to explore the associations between genetically predicted serum IGF-1 levels and cardiometabolic diseases.

Methods

Serum IGF-1 levels were predicted using 416 SNPs associated with IGF-1 levels among 358,072 individuals in UK Biobank. Genetic association estimates for the outcomes were obtained from consortia of type 2 diabetes (74,124 cases, 824,006 controls), coronary artery disease (60,801 cases, 123,504 controls), heart failure (47,309 cases, 930,014 controls), atrial fibrillation (65,446 cases, 522,744 controls), and ischaemic stroke (60,341 cases, 454,450 controls).

Results

Genetic predisposition to elevated serum IGF-1 levels was associated with higher risk of type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease. The OR (95% CI) per SD increment in IGF-1 level was 1.14 (1.05, 1.24) for type 2 diabetes and 1.09 (1.02, 1.16) for coronary artery disease. The association between IGF-1 and coronary artery disease was attenuated after adjustment for type 2 diabetes (OR 1.06 [95% CI 1.00, 1.13]), suggesting that the association may be partly mediated via type 2 diabetes. There was limited evidence of associations between IGF-1 levels and heart failure, atrial fibrillation and ischaemic stroke.

Conclusions/interpretation

This study found evidence that increased IGF-1 levels may be causally associated with higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
A DFT study on the molecular mechanism of the conjugated nitroalkenes polymerization process initiated by selected unsaturated nucleophiles
Authors: Kącka-Zych Agnieszka , Jasiński Radomir
Published: June 2020

The participation of the nitroethene and its α-substituted analogs as model nitrofunctionalized monomers, and (Z)-C,N-diphenylnitrone and methyl vinyl ether as initiators in the polymerization reactions, has been analyzed in the framework of the density functional theory calculations at the M06-2X(PCM)/6-311 + G(d) level. Our computational study suggests the zwitterionic mechanism of the polymerization process. The exploration of the nature of critical structures shows that the first reaction stage exhibits evidently polar nature, whereas additions of further nitroalkene molecules to the polynitroalkyl molecular system formed should be considered as moderate polar processes. The more detailed view on the molecular transformations gives analysis based on the bonding evolution theory. This study shows that the case of polymerization reaction between nitroethene and (Z)-C,N-diphenylnitrone allows for distinguishing eleven topologically different phases, while, in the case of polymerization reaction nitroethene and methyl vinyl ether, we can distinguish nine different phases.
Railway crew scheduling with semi-flexible timetables
Authors: Rählmann Christian , Thonemann Ulrich W.
Published: June 2020

We investigate the impact of coordinating the timetable and the crew schedule in an operational freight railway system. Usually, those problems are solved sequentially—resulting in suboptimal schedules for train drivers due to large idle times between two train rides. We seek to coordinate the timetable and the crew schedule on the operational level by adding flexibility to the timetable. We introduce small time windows that allow to shift entire trains forwards and backwards by discrete time periods. We present a mathematical model and solve it with a column generation heuristic. We test our model on three real datasets of a major European Freight Railway Operator and show that significant reduction in idle time and cost can be achieved.
Surviving marginalized reefs: assessing the implications of the microbiome on coral physiology and survivorship
Authors: Roitman Sofia , López-Londoño Tomás , Joseph Pollock F. , Ritchie Kim B. , Galindo-Martínez Claudia T. , Gómez-Campo Kelly , González-Guerrero Luis A. , Pizarro Valeria , López-Victoria Mateo , Iglesias-Prieto Roberto , Medina Mónica
Published: June 2020

Coral reefs are undergoing degradation due to overexploitation, pollution, and climate change. Management and restoration efforts require that we gain a better understanding of the complex interactions between corals, their microbiomes, and their environment. For this purpose, Varadero Reef near Cartagena, Colombia, serves as an informative study system located at the entrance of the Bay of Cartagena adjacent to the Canal del Dique, which carries turbid and polluted water into the bay. Varadero’s survival under poor environmental conditions makes it a great study site for investigating the relationship between the microbiome and coral resistance to environmental stressors. To determine whether the microbiomes of Varadero corals differ from those in less impacted sites, we conducted a reciprocal transplant experiment by relocating coral fragments from Varadero as well as a geographically proximate reef that is less affected by plume dynamics (Rosario) across a gradient of turbidity (low, medium, and high). After 6 months of acclimatization, transplanted corals developed site-specific microbiomes that differed significantly from pre-transplant microbiomes, and corals transplanted to the highly impacted site from both Varadero and Rosario site saw higher mortality and an increase in overall microbial diversity. In combination with physiology and survivorship outcomes pointing to a limit in the corals’ photoacclimative capacity, our results indicate that, rather than surviving, Varadero Reef is experiencing a slow decline, and its corals are likely on the brink of dysbiosis. With continued anthropogenic interference in marine environments, sites such as Varadero will become increasingly common, and it is imperative that we understand how corals and their microbial symbionts are changing in response to these new environmental conditions.
The Relationship Between Cough Reflex Sensitivity and Exacerbation Frequency in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Cho Peter S. P. , Fletcher Hannah V. , Turner Richard D. , Patel Irem S. , Jolley Caroline J. , Birring Surinder S.
Published: June 2020

Background

Cough is predictive of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Little is known about cough reflex sensitivity during exacerbation of COPD and whether it is associated with exacerbation frequency. This pilot study aimed to investigate cough reflex sensitivity during and following recovery from exacerbation of COPD, and its association with the frequency of future exacerbations. In addition, the repeatability of cough reflex sensitivity in stable COPD was investigated.

Methods

Twenty participants hospitalised with exacerbation of COPD underwent inhaled capsaicin challenge during exacerbation and after 6 weeks of recovery. The frequency of future exacerbations was monitored for 12 months. The repeatability of cough reflex sensitivity was assessed in separate participants with stable COPD, who underwent 2 capsaicin challenge tests, 6 weeks apart.

Results

Cough reflex sensitivity was heightened during exacerbation of COPD. Geometric mean (SD) capsaicin concentration thresholds to elicit 5 coughs (C5) during exacerbation and after 6 weeks of recovery were 1.76 (3.73) vs. 8.09 (6.25) μmol L−1, respectively (p < 0.001). The change in C5 from exacerbation to 6-week recovery was associated with the frequency of future exacerbations (ρ = − 0.687, p = 0.003). C5 was highly repeatable over 6 weeks in stable COPD, and intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.85.

Conclusion

Cough reflex sensitivity is heightened during exacerbation of COPD and reduces after recovery. The persistence of cough reflex hypersensitivity at recovery was associated with the frequency of future exacerbations.
Vaccination coverage rates of military personnel worldwide: a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Arnold Jana Nele , Gundlach Nils , Böckelmann Irina , Sammito Stefan
Published: June 2020

Objectives

Due to the professionally specific risk of infection in the armed forces, recommendations for vaccination are usually adapted for soldiers and are subject to special regulations. Little data is available on scientifically measured vaccination coverage of soldiers.

Methods

A systematic literature research was carried out in the PubMed database using the search terms “army” or “military” or “Bundeswehr” and “vaccination” or “vaccine”. Studies covering the period from 1990 to 2018 that contain statements on vaccination coverage rates of soldiers were identified. Twenty-two out of the initially found 1801 results were used.

Results

The studies found were conducted in nine different countries with eight out of the 22 studies originating from the USA. The size of study was between 180 and 32,502 subjects. On average, the vaccination rates determined in the studies were between 26.8 and 94.7%. Hepatitis A coverage was lowest (a minimum of 11.3%) and tetanus vaccination coverage was highest (with a maximum of 94.7%). Vaccination rates decreased with increasing age and coverage tended to be lower for men than for women. The term of service did not have a significant effect on vaccination rates.

Conclusions

On the whole, most studies referred to recruits. They showed high vaccination rates for standard vaccinations and lower vaccination rates for indication and seasonal vaccinations. However, there were also vaccination gaps of temporary-career volunteers. This leads to a considerable effort at the armed forces to complete vaccine protection in case of a short-term operational commitment.
Greed is Good for Deterministic Scale-Free Networks
Authors: Chauhan Ankit , Friedrich Tobias , Rothenberger Ralf
Published: June 2020

Large real-world networks typically follow a power-law degree distribution. To study such networks, numerous random graph models have been proposed. However, real-world networks are not drawn at random. Therefore, Brach et al. (27th symposium on discrete algorithms (SODA), pp 1306–1325, 2016) introduced two natural deterministic conditions: (1) a power-law upper bound on the degree distribution (PLB-U) and (2) power-law neighborhoods, that is, the degree distribution of neighbors of each vertex is also upper bounded by a power law (PLB-N). They showed that many real-world networks satisfy both properties and exploit them to design faster algorithms for a number of classical graph problems. We complement their work by showing that some well-studied random graph models exhibit both of the mentioned PLB properties. PLB-U and PLB-N hold with high probability for Chung–Lu Random Graphs and Geometric Inhomogeneous Random Graphs and almost surely for Hyperbolic Random Graphs. As a consequence, all results of Brach et al. also hold with high probability or almost surely for those random graph classes. In the second part we study three classical $$\textsf {NP}$$
NP
-hard optimization problems on PLB networks. It is known that on general graphs with maximum degree $$\Delta$$
Δ
, a greedy algorithm, which chooses nodes in the order of their degree, only achieves a $$\Omega (\ln \Delta )$$

Ω
(
ln
Δ
)

-approximation for Minimum Vertex Cover and Minimum Dominating Set, and a $$\Omega (\Delta )$$

Ω
(
Δ
)

-approximation for Maximum Independent Set. We prove that the PLB-U property with $$\beta >2$$

β
>
2

suffices for the greedy approach to achieve a constant-factor approximation for all three problems. We also show that these problems are -hard even if PLB-U, PLB-N, and an additional power-law lower bound on the degree distribution hold. Hence, a PTAS cannot be expected unless = . Furthermore, we prove that all three problems are in if the PLB-U property holds.
E-mail classification with machine learning and word embeddings for improved customer support
Authors: Borg Anton , Boldt Martin , Rosander Oliver , Ahlstrand Jim
Published: June 2020

Classifying e-mails into distinct labels can have a great impact on customer support. By using machine learning to label e-mails, the system can set up queues containing e-mails of a specific category. This enables support personnel to handle request quicker and more easily by selecting a queue that match their expertise. This study aims to improve a manually defined rule-based algorithm, currently implemented at a large telecom company, by using machine learning. The proposed model should have higher$$F_1$$F1-score and classification rate. Integrating or migrating from a manually defined rule-based model to a machine learning model should also reduce the administrative and maintenance work. It should also make the model more flexible. By using the frameworks, TensorFlow, Scikit-learn and Gensim, the authors conduct a number of experiments to test the performance of several common machine learning algorithms, text-representations, word embeddings to investigate how they work together. A long short-term memory network showed best classification performance with an$$F_1$$F1-score of 0.91. The authors conclude that long short-term memory networks outperform other non-sequential models such as support vector machines and AdaBoost when predicting labels for e-mails. Further, the study also presents a Web-based interface that were implemented around the LSTM network, which can classify e-mails into 33 different labels.
Active rock glaciers as shallow groundwater reservoirs, Austrian Alps
Authors: Wagner Thomas , Brodacz Alexander , Krainer Karl , Winkler Gerfried
Published: June 2020

Rock glaciers are the most prominent landforms of alpine permafrost and comprise complex shallow aquifer systems in (high) alpine catchments. Recession analyses of groundwater discharge of four active rock glaciers that contain permafrost ground ice show that they have a base flow component of the order of a few liters per second, similar to that of a relict rock glacier in which permafrost ground ice is absent. This is related to an unfrozen (fine-grained) base layer with a thickness of about 10 m. Based on a threshold analysis of precipitation events and event water discharge, depressions atop the bedrock or the permafrost table seem to play only a minor role in storing groundwater. This important finding has rarely been documented, but is highly relevant for optimal groundwater resources management in sensitive (high) alpine catchments and ecosystems. All the rock glaciers analyzed here are located in the Austrian Alps and represent the nationwide sites where suitable discharge data are available. The analysis highlights the hydrogeological importance of these discrete permafrost-derived debris accumulations as complex shallow groundwater bodies with important—but limited—storage and buffer capabilities.
A complex COVID-19 case with rheumatoid arthritis treated with tocilizumab
Authors: Cai Shaozhe , Sun Wei , Li Ming , Dong Lingli
Published: June 2020

Recurrences of COVID-19 were observed in a patient with long-term usage of hydroxychloroquine, leflunomide, and glucocorticoids due to her 30-year history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Tocilizumab was applied and intended to target both COVID-19 and RA. However, disease of this patient aggravated after usage of tocilizumab. After the discussion of a multiple disciplinary team (MDT) including rheumatologists, antimicrobial treatments were applied to target the potential opportunistic infections (Pneumocystis jirovecii and Aspergillus fumigatus), which were authenticated several days later via high throughput sequencing. As an important cytokine in immune responses, IL-6 can be a double-edged sword: interference in the IL-6-IL-6 receptor signaling may save patients from cytokine release storm (CRS), but can also weaken the anti-infectious immunity, particularly in rheumatic patients, who may have received a long-term treatment with immunosuppressive/modulatory agents. Thus, we suggest careful considerations before and close monitoring in the administration of tocilizumab in rheumatic patients with COVID-19. Besides tocilizumab, several disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can also be applied in the treatment of COVID-19. Therefore, we also reviewed and discussed the application of these DMARDs in COVID-19 condition.
Thermal properties of selected II–VI semiconductors determined by photopyroelectric calorimetry technique
Authors: Strzałkowski K.
Published: June 2020

The review presents the results of the investigations of the thermal properties of selected II–VI binary, ternary, and quaternary semiconductors. All tested crystals were grown from the melt using the high-pressure vertical Bridgman–Stockbarger method with different composition The main objective of the work was systematic examination of the thermal properties of the crystals using contact (PPE photopyroelectric) and non-contact (active thermography) measurement techniques. As a result of the studies, the values of the thermal diffusivity and the effusivity of all tested samples were obtained. For the selected series of crystals, their heat capacity was also determined. The thermal conductivity was calculated using simple relationships that combine all the thermal parameters. In this way, a complete thermal characterization of the crystals was carried out. For several ternary mixed crystals diagrams of the thermal conductivity versus composition were analyzed applying model for mixed semiconducting crystals given by Sadao Adachi. Thanks to that a contribution of the thermal resistivity arising from the lattice disorder to the total resistivity of the crystal has been determined. Although the PPE method itself is fairly simple, each material class requires a different approach. For samples with strongly different conductivity or thickness, different frequency ranges and a suitable detector should be used. This is not a simple task for the samples with unknown thermal properties. It is to mention that the PPE technique is a contact method and its main disadvantage in case of solid samples is to provide good thermal contact between the sample and the detector. In practice, it is realized by gluing a sample to the detector with a small amount of different types of liquids. It has been shown that the influence of the coupling layer can be minimized by appropriate modification of the experimental system and proper selection of the coupling fluid. In this way, the photopyroelectric method has been satisfactorily adapted for the thermal characterization of II–VI crystals.
Sim2Win: How simulation can help data centers to benefit from controlling their power profile
Authors: Klingert Sonja , Wilken Nils , Becker Christian
Published: June 2020

To support the grid and integrate renewables, demand response schemes reward the power flexibility of energy consumers. Data centers can profit from this by using power management techniques on all levels of data center architecture: infrastructure, hardware, workload, applications. Even though lately, demand response with data centers has been well researched, most works focus on just one or two techniques and one or two valorization options. This leaves data centers stranded that are not represented by the specific combinations of assumptions and techniques presented in research, and thus a huge potential remains barely touched. To address this challenge, the goal of the presented work is to provide data centers with a framework that can be flexibly instantiated by each data center to assess its individual demand response potential. To achieve this goal, this work presents Sim2Win, a data center simulation framework that can replay any set of different power management strategies in the face of any set of markets for power flexibility. A part of the framework is then instantiated and applied to the workload of a real high-performance data center. It uses workload shifting and frequency scaling in order to market their flexibility on the EPEX spot market and the secondary reserve market in Germany. The results show that by using the inherent flexibility of their power profile on the EPEX spot market the considered data center in 2014 could have earned savings of 7.3% of their power bill.
Implantable cardioverter defibrillators at the end of life: future perspectives on clinical practice
Authors: Stoevelaar R. , Brinkman-Stoppelenburg A. , van Bruchem-Visser R. L. , van Driel A. G. , Bhagwandien R. E. , Theuns D. A. M. J. , Rietjens J. A. C. , van der Heide A.
Published: June 2020

The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is effective in terminating life-threatening arrhythmias. However, in the last phase of life, ICD shocks may no longer be appropriate. Guidelines recommend timely discussion with the patient regarding deactivation of the shock function of the ICD. However, research shows that such conversations are scarce, and some patients experience avoidable and distressful shocks in the final days of life. Barriers such as physicians’ lack of time, difficulties in finding the right time to discuss ICD deactivation, patients’ reluctance to discuss the topic, and the fragmentation of care, which obscures responsibilities, prevent healthcare professionals from discussing this topic with the patient. In this point-of-view article, we argue that healthcare professionals who are involved in the care for ICD patients should be better educated on how to communicate with patients about ICD deactivation and the end of life. Optimal communication is needed to reduce the number of patients experiencing inappropriate and painful shocks in the terminal stage of their lives.
Development of an erosion model for Langat River Basin, Malaysia, adapting GIS and RS in RUSLE
Authors: Islam Md. Rabiul , Jaafar Wan Zurina Wan , Hin Lai Sai , Osman Normaniza , Karim Md. Razaul
Published: June 2020

This study is aimed to predict potential soil erosion in the Langat River Basin, Malaysia by integrating Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) with the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model. In RUSLE model, parameters such as rainfall erosivity factor (R), soil erodibility factor (K), slope length and steepness factor (LS), vegetation cover and management factor (C) and support practice factor (P) are determined based on the input data followed by the spatial analysis process in the GIS platform. Rainfall data from 2008-2015 are collected from the 29 rain gauge stations located within the study area. From the analysis, the magnitude of RUSLE model obtained corresponding to the parameter R, K, LS, C and P factors is varied between 800 to 3000 MJ mm ha− 1 h− 1 yr− 1, 0.035–0.5 Mg h MJ− 1 mm− 1, 0–73.00, 0.075–0.77 and 0.2–1.00, respectively. Findings of this study indicates that based on the calculated RUSLE parameter values, about 95% of the Langat River Basin area have been classified as a very low to a low erosion vulnerability. Findings of this study would greatly benefits a decision maker in proposing a suitable soil management and conservation practices for the river basin.
Conventional and electrical EOR review: the development trend of ultrasonic application in EOR
Authors: Shafiai Siti Habibah , Gohari Adel
Published: June 2020

A small portion of oil can be extracted during primary and secondary stages of oil production, and significant quantities of oil remain in reservoirs. Enhanced oil recovery methods are used to extract the trapped oil with high viscosity in reservoirs and improve the efficiency of the production wells. Ultrasonic-based enhanced oil recovery method has become of considerable interest to researchers in recent years. This paper mainly presents the in-depth literature review of ultrasonic wave to investigate its application development trend in enhanced oil recovery. Besides, it also presents an overview of conventional enhanced oil recovery techniques such as chemical, gas, and thermal methods and nonconventional techniques such as electromagnetic and microwave heating. The results exhibit an increasing implementation of the ultrasonic waves for oil recovery since it is an inexpensive and ecologically sound method, can be applied in any type of reservoir, protects the well against damage, prevents heat loss, and enables stimulation freely.
ArgumenText: Argument Classification and Clustering in a Generalized Search Scenario
Authors: Daxenberger Johannes , Schiller Benjamin , Stahlhut Chris , Kaiser Erik , Gurevych Iryna
Published: June 2020

The ArgumenText project creates argument mining technology for big and heterogeneous data and aims to evaluate its use in real-world applications. The technology mines and clusters arguments from a variety of textual sources for a large range of topics and in multiple languages. Its main strength is its generalization to very different textual sources including web crawls, news data, or customer reviews. We validated the technology with a focus on supporting decisions in innovation management as well as customer feedback analysis. Along with its public argument search engine and API, ArgumenText has released multiple datasets for argument classification and clustering. This contribution outlines the major technology-related challenges and proposed solutions for the tasks of argument extraction from heterogeneous sources and argument clustering. It also lays out exemplary industry applications and remaining challenges.
Changes of selected biochemical parameters of the honeybee under the influence of an electric field at 50 Hz and variable intensities
Authors: Migdał Paweł , Roman Adam , Strachecka Aneta , Murawska Agnieszka , Bieńkowski Paweł
Published: June 2020

Two-day-old honeybee workers (± 6 h) were placed in cages and supplied with sucrose solution (1 mol/dm3) ad libitum. Subsequently, the cages with bees were placed in an electric field (E-field) exposure system with field intensities of 5.0 kV/m, 11.5 kV/m, 23 kV/m, and 34.5 kV/m. The duration of exposure was 1 h, 3 h, and 6 h. The biochemical parameters SOD (superoxide dismutase), CAT (catalase), FRAP (ferric ion reducing antioxidant power), and also acidic, neutral, and alkaline proteases in the worker bee hemolymph were analyzed. The E-field increased activities of antioxidant systems, especially SOD, and also the proteolytic systems. In the groups: 11.5 kV/m–time 6 h, 23.0 kV/m–time 1 h, and 34.5 kV/m–time 1 h, FRAP levels were decreased in comparison with the control samples. These findings are discussed in context with possible consequences for honeybee health in urban and rural environments.
Parameter estimation and optimization of multi-objective capacitated stochastic transportation problem for gamma distribution
Authors: Gupta Srikant , Garg Harish , Chaudhary Sachin
Published: June 2020

The transportation problem in real life is an uncertain problem with multi-objective decision-making. In particular, by considering the conflicting objectives/criteria such as transportation costs, transportation time, discount costs, labour costs, damage costs, decision maker searches for the best transportation set-up to find out the optimum shipment quantity subject to certain capacity restrictions on each route. In this paper, capacitated stochastic transportation problem is formulated as a multi-objective optimization model along with some capacitated restrictions on the route. In the formulated problem, we assume that parameters of the supply and demand constraints’ follow gamma distribution, which is handled by the chance constrained programming approach and the maximum likelihood estimation approach has been used to assess the probabilistic distributions of the unknown parameters with a specified probability level. Furthermore, some of the objective function’s coefficients are consider as ambiguous in nature. The ambiguity in the formulated problem has been presented by interval type 2 fuzzy parameter and converted into the deterministic form using an expected value function approach. A case study on transportation illustrates the computational procedure.
Plàcia a Déu ‘May it Please God’: Constructions with the Verb Plaure ‘Please’ in Medieval Catalan
Authors: Nagy C. Katalin
Published: June 2020

The aim of the present paper is to discuss some uses of subjunctive constructions formed with the verb plaure ‘please’ in medieval Catalan. These constructions were used as permission requesting directives, and later, as indirect directives. In a group of the medieval Catalan occurrences the speaker applies for God’s or another divine persons’ consent. This paper demonstrates that the construction (no) plàcia a Déu ‘may it (not) please God’ became a conventionalized phrase with a special role in interpersonal interactions, arguing that it followed a specific path of semantic change and underwent subjectification. As to the methodology of diachronic speech act analysis, the aim of the present paper is to argue for a comparative stance and for a qualitative contextual analysis in order to identify illocutionary values of utterances surviving in written form. The findings show that, instead of analyzing only the speech act verbs themselves, it is important to take into account further factors as well, e.g. the social context of the interaction, encyclopedic information, the content and “weight” of the request, the cultural context of the period, and the structure of the interaction. Moreover, it is worth considering the whole semantic and functional field, investigating together constructions that are suitable to perform illocutionary acts belonging to the same type.
Willingness-to-Pay for Reshuffling Geographical Indications
Authors: Saïdi Monia , Ay Jean-Sauveur , Marette Stéphan , Martin Christophe
Published: June 2020

This article presents a new experimental protocol for estimating consumers’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) for products involved in a reshuffle of geographical indications (GIs), e.g., a change of hierarchical levels within a restricted area. Although the collective reputation of a given GI depends on its temporal stability, reshuffling a GI area could make it better aligned with product quality or consumers’ perception. We first provide a simple theoretical model in which consumers put a negative value on within-GI quality variance, thereby showing that reshuffling the GI designation scheme may increase WTP without any change in product quality. Using the experimental protocol, we evaluate consumer perceptions of different reshuffling scenarios for the vineyards of Marsannay, Burgundy, France. The results reveal a significant increase in WTP for the current distribution of products’ quality. Elicited WTP values are then used to simulate the optimal GI reshuffle. (JEL Classifications: L66, Q18, Q28)
Processes of Paleoindian site and desert pavement formation in the Atacama Desert, Chile
Authors: Ugalde Paula C. , Quade Jay , Santoro Calogero M. , Holliday Vance T.
Published: June 2020

A distinct feature of many of the earliest archaeological sites (13,000-11,200 cal yr BP) at the core of the Atacama Desert is that they lie at or just below the surface, often encased in desert pavements. In this study, we compare these sites and undisturbed desert pavements to understand archaeological site formation and pavement development and recovery. Our results indicate these pavements and their soils are poorly developed regardless of their age. We propose that this is because of sustained lack of rain and extreme physical breakdown of clasts by salt expansion. Thus, the core of the Atacama provides an example of the lower limits of rainfall (<50 mm/yr) needed to form desert pavements. At site Quebrada Maní 12 (QM12), humans destroyed the pavement. After abandonment, human-made depressions were filled with eolian sands, incorporating artifacts in shallow deposits. Small and medium-sized artifacts preferentially migrated upwards, perhaps due to earthquakes and the action of salts. These artifacts, which now form palimpsests at the surface, helped – along with older clasts - to restore surface clast cover. Larger archaeological features remained undisturbed on top of a deeper Byzm horizon. The vesicular A horizons (Av horizons) have not regenerated on the archaeological sites due to extreme scarcity of rainfall during the Holocene.
Plant resistance in different cell layers affects aphid probing and feeding behaviour during non-host and poor-host interactions
Authors: Escudero-Martinez Carmen , Leybourne Daniel J. , Bos Jorunn I.B.
Published: June 2020

Aphids are phloem-feeding insects that cause economic losses to crops globally. Whilst aphid interactions with susceptible plants and partially resistant genotypes have been well characterized, the interactions between aphids and non-host species are not well understood. Unravelling these non-host interactions can identify the mechanisms which contribute to plant resistance. Using contrasting aphid-host plant systems, including the broad host range pest Myzus persicae (host: Arabidopsis; poor-host: barley) and the cereal pest Rhopalosiphum padi (host: barley; non-host: Arabidopsis), we conducted a range of physiological experiments and compared aphid settling and probing behaviour on a host plant vs either a non-host or poor-host. In choice experiments, we observed that around 10% of aphids selected a non-host or poor-host plant species after 24 h. Using the Electrical Penetration Graph technique, we showed that feeding and probing behaviours differ during non-host and poor-host interactions when compared with a host interaction. In the Arabidopsis non-host interaction with the cereal pest R. padi aphids were unable to reach and feed on the phloem, with resistance likely residing in the mesophyll cell layer. In the barley poor-host interaction with M. persicae, resistance is likely phloem-based as phloem ingestion was reduced compared with the host interaction. Overall, our data suggest that plant resistance to aphids in non-host and poor-host interactions with these aphid species likely resides in different plant cell layers. Future work will take into account specific cell layers where resistances are based to dissect the underlying mechanisms and gain a better understanding of how we may improve crop resistance to aphids.