bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Catalogue of Notomastus M. Sars, 1851 (Annelida, Capitellidae) and the description of a new species from the Gulf of California
Authors: GARCÍA-GARZA MARÍA ELENA , DE LEÓN-GONZÁLEZ JESÚS ANGEL , TOVAR-HERNÁNDEZ MARÍA ANA
Published: April 2019

Capitellids are burrowing, earthworm-like polychaetes. The taxonomy within the group presents significant difficulties, due in part to their relative simplicity. In this study, a catalogue of the capitellid genus Notomastus M. Sars, 1851, is presented and a new species is described from the Southern Gulf of California: Notomastus mazatlanensis sp. nov. The catalogue provides original names and synonymies for 43 species; type locality and location of type materials; records and remarks on systematics and distribution. Type material of 35 species were examined, 31 from which were photographed to illustrate the catalogue. Notomastus mazatlanensis sp. nov. is established based on the presence of finger-like branchiae emerging from the epithelium near to the notopodia. Branchiae are composed by 3–4 filaments, and the first chaetiger is uniramous. A taxonomic key for species distributed in the Gulf of California is presented. [Species name is register in ZooBank under urn: lsid: zoobank.org: pub:CC8A9E5A-7810-4272-A23C-DCB054E5B4EB]
Statistical Projection of the North Atlantic Storm Tracks
Authors: Parding Kajsa M. , Benestad Rasmus , Mezghani Abdelkader , Erlandsen Helene B.
Published: April 2019

A method for empirical–statistical downscaling was adapted to project seasonal cyclone density over the North Atlantic Ocean. To this aim, the seasonal mean cyclone density was derived from instantaneous values of the 6-h mean sea level pressure (SLP) reanalysis fields. The cyclone density was then combined with seasonal mean reanalysis and global climate model projections of SLP or 500-hPa geopotential height to obtain future projections of the North Atlantic storm tracks. The empirical–statistical approach is computationally efficient because it makes use of seasonally aggregated cyclone statistics and allows the future cyclone density to be estimated from the full ensemble of available CMIP5 models rather than from a smaller subset. However, the projected cyclone density in the future differs considerably depending on the choice of predictor, SLP, or 500-hPa geopotential height. This discrepancy suggests that the relationship between the cyclone density and SLP, 500-hPa geopotential height, or both is nonstationary; that is, that the statistical model depends on the calibration period. A stationarity test based on 6-hourly HadGEM2-ES data indicated that the 500-hPa geopotential height was not a robust predictor of cyclone density.
Impacts of High-Resolution Urban Canopy Parameters within the WRF Model on Dynamical and Thermal Fields over Guangzhou, China
Authors: Shen Chong , Chen Xiaoyang , Dai Wei , Li Xiaohui , Wu Jie , Fan Qi , Wang Xuemei , Zhu Liye , Chan Pakwai , Hang Jian , Fan Shaojia , Li Weibiao
Published: April 2019

On urban scales, the detailed characteristics of land-use information and building properties are vital to improving the meteorological model. The WRF Model with high-spatial-resolution urban fraction (UF) and urban morphology (UM) is used to study the impacts of these urban canopy parameters (UCPs) on dynamical and thermal meteorological fields in two representative seasons in Guangzhou. The results of two seasons are similar and as follows. 1) The impacts of updated UF and UM are obvious on wind speed but minor on temperature and humidity. In the urban environment, the results with updated UF and UM are more consistent with observations compared with the default UCPs, which means the performance of the model has been improved. 2) The dynamical factors associated with wind speed are analyzed. Turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) is significantly affected by UM but little by UF. And both UF and UM are found to influence friction velocity U*. The UM and greater UF attained larger U*. 3) In addition, the thermal fields are analyzed. The UM and increased UF induce higher surface skin temperature (TSK) and ground heat flux in the daytime, indicating that more heat is transported from the surface to the soil. At night, more heat is transported from the soil to the surface, producing higher TSK. For sensible heat flux (HFX), greater UF induces larger HFX during the daytime. But the effects of UM are complex, which makes HFX decrease during the daytime and increase at night. Finally, larger UF attains lower latent heat in the daytime.
Investigation of tensile and flexural behavior of biaxial and rib 1 × 1 weft-knitted composite using experimental tests and multi-scale finite element modeling
Authors: Hessami Reza , Yazdi Aliasghar Alamdar , Mazidi Abbas
Published: April 2019

In this study, tensile and flexural behavior of biaxial and rib weft-knitted composite is obtained numerically and experimentally. Multi-scale finite element modeling is employed to simulate the tensile and flexural behavior of composite samples. In the finite element modeling, the geometry of a unit cell of each fabric is initially modeled in ABAQUS software, and then periodic boundary conditions were applied to a unit cell. The stiffness matrix for each structure was obtained by a python code via meso scale modeling and used as input data for the macro modeling. To validate the numerical model, two types of weft-knitted fabrics (rib 1 × 1 and biaxial fabrics) are produced by a flat weft knitting machine. Epoxy resin is used to construct composite by the vacuum injection process (VIP). After that, the tensile and three-point bending tests were applied to composite samples. The experimental results showed that tensile strength and tensile modulus of biaxial composites are greater than rib composites, in both wale and course directions. Moreover, in three-point bending test, biaxial composite showed more strength and more stiffness in comparison to rib composite. Finite element results were compared to experimental results in tensile and bending tests. The results showed that good agreement with experimental results in the linear section of tensile and flexural behavior of composites. Consequently, the current multi-scale modeling can be used to predict the stiffness matrix and mechanical behavior of complex composite structures such as knitted composites.
When Gender Training Backlashes: Participants’ Resistance and the Fragility of Commonsensical Feminism
Authors: Nordvall Henrik , Wieslander Malin
Published: April 2019

Feminist educators often encounter different forms of resistance from both male and female participants. This article uses a neo-Gramscian theoretical perspective to discuss the importance of considering this resistance when analyzing the relationship between pedagogical design and outcomes. The study draws on survey data and participant observation from a case study of a workshop designed to raise awareness of gender issues. The results from a before-and-after survey show that the workshop had the opposite effect to the one intended in terms of changes in the participants’ perceptions of gender. Having a “failed case” as the center of attention, the article sheds light on the fragility of mainstream discourse on gender equality and the dilemmas of engaging in a struggle over common sense.
Comparative evaluation of powder-mixed and ultrasonic-assisted rough die-sinking electrical discharge machining based on pulse characteristics
Authors: Rajeswari R , Shunmugam MS
Published: April 2019

Electrical discharge machining is used in the machining of complicated shapes in hardened molds and dies. In rough die-sinking stage, attempts are made to enhance material removal rate with a consequential reduction in cycle time. Powder mix and ultrasonic assistance are employed in the electrical discharge machining process to create gap conditions favoring material removal. In the present work, experiments are carried out on hardened D3 die steel using full-factorial design based on three levels of voltage, current and pulse on time. The gap phenomena in graphite powder-mixed and ultrasonic-assisted rough electrical discharge machining are studied using a detailed analysis of pulse shapes and their characteristic trains. Two new parameters, namely, energy expended over a second ( E) and performance factor ( PF) denoting the ratio of energy associated with sparks to total discharge energy, bring out gap conditions effectively. In comparison with the conventional electrical discharge machining for the selected condition, it is seen that the graphite powder mixed in the dielectric enhances the material removal rate by 20.8% with E of 215 J and PF of 0.227, while these values are 179.8 J and 0.076 for ultrasonic-assisted electrical discharge machining with marginal reduction of 3.9%. Cross-sectional images of workpieces also reveal the influence of electrical discharge machining conditions on the machined surface. The proposed approach can be extended to different powder mix and ultrasonic conditions to identify condition favoring higher material removal.
Effects of cutting fluid with different pressures and jetting paths on machined surface integrity in cutting compacted graphite iron: An experimental study
Authors: Feng Limin , Su Guosheng , Du Jin , Zhang Jingjie , Wang Baolin
Published: April 2019

Compacted graphite iron is one of the existing structural materials for automobile engines that is difficult to machine using the conventional machining method. This article focuses on the effects of cutting fluid with different pressures and jetting paths on machined surface integrity in the machining of compacted graphite iron. The machined surface integrity is compared between dry cutting and 6 MPa wet cutting at cutting speeds of 100–500 m/min and the influences of the cutting fluid jetting paths (pouring, 2–6 MPa) along the tool flank face and rake face on the machined surface integrity are evaluated. Microstructure, roughness, work hardening, and residual stresses of the machined surface are also analyzed. The results suggest that cutting fluid can reduce surface defects and improve the machined surface finish. Of note, the roughness reduction effect decreases with an increase in fluid pressure; the roughness Ra of 6 MPa wet cutting with the cutting fluid jetting along the flank face is 0.2–1.56 µm lower than that seen with dry cutting in the cutting speed range of 100–500 m/min. The degree of hardening in 6 MPa wet cutting is 11%–19% lower than in dry cutting, and cutting fluid enhances the formation of residual compressive stress in the machined surface which reaches its maximum at 3 MPa.
Balancing flexibility and security in Europe? The impact of unemployment on young peoples’ subjective well-being
Authors: Russell Helen , Leschke Janine , Smith Mark
Published: April 2019

We examine the relationship between ‘flexicurity’ systems, unemployment and well-being outcomes for young people in Europe. A key tenet of the flexicurity approach is that greater flexibility of labour supply supports transitions into employment, trading longer-term employment stability for short-term job instability. However, there is a risk that young people experience greater job insecurity, both objective and subjective, with less stable contracts and more frequent unemployment spells. Our research draws on data from the European Social Survey and uses multi-level models to explore whether and how flexibility-security arrangements moderate the effect of past and present unemployment on the well-being of young people. We distinguish between flexibility-security institutions that foster improved job prospects and those that provide financial security.
Dance Intervention for Mexican Family Caregivers of Children With Developmental Disability: A Pilot Study
Authors: Fernández Sánchez Higinio , Hernández Claudia Beatriz Enríquez , Sidani Souraya , Osorio Crescencio Hernández , Contreras Edith Castellanos , Mendoza Javier Salazar
Published: April 2019

Introduction: There are 7.1 million people living with a disability in Mexico. Of these individuals, 7% are children and adolescents with developmental disabilities. Mexican women caring for children with a developmental disability are at risk of psychological stress, which may be prevented with physical activity such as dance. Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study was to examine (a) the feasibility of implementing the dance intervention, (b) the mothers’ satisfaction with the intervention, and (c) the changes in stress level experienced by the mothers on completion of the intervention. Method: A one-group pretest–posttest design was used. The Salsa dance intervention was given in nine 60-minute sessions, twice a week in Veracruz, Mexico. The sample included 14 mothers of children with disabilities. The outcome, stress level, was measured with the validated Questionnaire of Perceived Stress. Feasibility of intervention implementation was maintained by having the interventionist follow the interventionist manual. Satisfaction was assessed by the Satisfaction with Therapy and Therapist Scale. Results: The intervention was feasible as all participants completed the intervention sessions. They reported high satisfaction (100%) with the intervention and interventionist. At posttest, participants showed reduced stress levels ( p = .028). Discussion: The dance intervention is promising in reducing women’s stress levels and worth further development in order to benefit the Mexican women caring for children with developmental disability and experiencing stress. Nurses can implement the Salsa dance intervention with the Mexican population while improving the clients’ retention, outcomes, and overall satisfaction.
Designing a Human Resource Management Simulation to Engage Students
Authors: North-Samardzic Andrea , de Witt Marlize
Published: April 2019

Management educators employ a variety of learning and teaching tools in order to engage students, with online business simulations being one of these tools. While many business simulations are available to management educators, they do not always fit the needs of the educator or have evidence to support their efficacy for achieving student outcomes such as engagement. In this article, we illustrate how a human resource management (HRM) simulation was designed, developed, and tested using design science principles to show how student engagement can be achieved with such digital tools. The findings of the testing process show that the type of Learning Management System used is less important than the novelty and perceived authenticity of the tasks. This article offers practical suggestions to create and test similar online-simulated environments using the design science process, as well as guidelines for those who wish to use the HRM simulation that was developed by the authors for this project.
Contribution of Rainwater to the Irrigation Requirement for Paddy Cultivation at Tanore Upazila in Rajshahi, Bangladesh
Authors: Hasan Md Rashidul , Nuruzzaman Md , Mamun Abdullah Al
Published: April 2019

Groundwater extraction for irrigation in Bangladesh has caused groundwater depletion, especially in the Northern region. As such, shifting reliance from groundwater to surface water is one of the solutions to mitigate this problem. This study aims at investigating the contribution of effective rainfall to the total consumptive use requirement of rice cultivated in Tanore, Rajshahi, in Bangladesh. The prospect of rainwater harvesting using ponds and its contribution to the consumptive use requirement of rice was also determined. Effective rainfall, temperature, monthly percentage of bright sunshine hours, and consumptive use factor for rice data were collected from Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) and Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA). Blaney-Criddle method was used to calculate total consumptive use requirement of rice. Analysis results showed that from June to September, there is no requirement of irrigation due to high rainfall in this period. It was revealed that total consumptive use requirement of rice in Tanore averaged at 436 million m3 of water between the period of 2005 and 2012. Effective rainfall contributed to about 38% of the total consumptive use in this period. It was also found that another 5% of the total consumptive use requirement could be supplied by rainwater harvesting using the ponds of Tanore.
Facilitated music listening: Music therapy in an invasive cardiac procedure
Authors: Blichfeldt-Ærø Stine Camilla , Trondalen Gro , Halvorsen Sigrun
Published: April 2019

This article presents and discusses a clinical music therapy protocol for use during an invasive cardiac procedure and the theoretical rationale behind it. The protocol was developed for a specific invasive cardiac procedure performed transvenously with local anaesthesia: cardiac implantable electronic device lead extraction. The music listening intervention presented in the protocol aims to optimise stress and pain management for patients through patient involvement, communication, individualised music listening and relaxation techniques. The Music Therapist remains present throughout the peri-operative phase (in the operating theatre during the operation). The music is chosen from a limited set of prepared playlists through a process involving assessment and patient preference. Biological, psychological and social components are integrated into the protocol, which is also informed by the theory of music therapy as procedural support, the neuromatrix theory of pain and receptive music therapy techniques. The protocol was developed to be standardised for implementation into the existing medical procedure, yet flexible enough to meet individual patient needs. It is the cornerstone of the research protocol of an ongoing randomised controlled trial at the Department of Cardiology at Oslo University Hospital Ulleval. Results of the randomised controlled trial, focussing on quantitative efficacy outcomes, are expected in 2020.
The protective role of carnosic acid in ischemic/reperfusion injury through regulation of autophagy under T2DM
Authors: Hu Min , Li Tianyu , Bo Zixiang , Xiang Feixiang
Published: April 2019

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is the most common cardiovascular disease and is the main cause of death and disability worldwide. Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury has been linked to IHD-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis and tissue damage. Recently, it has been reported that carnosic acid (CA) may function as a potent antioxidant in liver ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). However, whether it regulates I/R in the heart remains unclear. Here, we elucidated the emerging role of CA in MI/R under diabetic myocardial conditions. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was induced in mice by consumption of a high-fat diet for 16 weeks. To create the I/R in mice, the left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded for 30 min, and then occlusion was released to reperfuse the heart for 3 or 24 h. In diabetic myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (DMI/R) mice, pre-treatment with CA suppressed the overgeneration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and production of cytokine. Importantly, the activation of autophagy was significantly increased by CA treatment, as assessed by p62 degradation and LC3-II/LC3-I conversion, as well as by phosphorylation of AMPKα, Akt, and mTOR. Interestingly, all of the protective effects of CA were impeded by the treatment with chloroquine, which is an autophagy inhibitor. These studies suggest that CA prevents DMI/R injury via regulation of autophagy. In conclusion, our findings indicate that CA has potential as a novel therapeutic to prevent DMI/R injury.

Impact statement

We have provided, for the first time, evidence that carnosic acid (CA) attenuates ischemia–reperfusion injury of diabetic myocardium, i.e. diabetic myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (DMI/R) injury, via enhancement of autophagy. A greater understanding of the target molecule in CA-enhanced autophagy is necessary for the development of potential chemotherapy for DMI/R injury.
The low-velocity impact and post-impact properties of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fiber weft plain knitted structural composites
Authors: Li Cuiyu , Zhang Rui , Jia Jingyan , Wang Gaopan , Shi Yameng
Published: April 2019

This study investigated the impact and post-impact behavior of different layer weft plain knitted composite materials based on modified ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene/epoxy composites. The modified ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene weft plain knitted composites with 8, 12, 16 layers were prepared by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding process and then subjected to impact and post-impact compression test. The impact properties were analyzed using the contact force–deflection and energy–time curves, and the post-impact compression was analyzed using the compression strength–strain curves. It can be obtained that the maximum contact force, absorbed energy, and residual compression strength after impact of the 16-layer specimen are 81.40%, 74.18%, and 73.25% more than those in the 8-layer specimen. respectively. According to the ultrasonic C-scan tests for the impact samples, the 16-layer specimen had the least damage area after the impact test, and the 8-layer composites damage area was 117.45% more than the 16-layer specimen.
Dissolution and recovery of cellulose from pine wood bits in ionic liquids and a co-solvent component mixed system
Authors: Liu Ran , Zhang Juan , Sun Shuang , Bian Yuhang , Hu Yanhui
Published: April 2019

The dissolution and recovery of cellulose from pine wood bits with two types of ionic liquids and co-solvents were explored. The results revealed that 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium diethylphosphonate ionic liquid/dimethylsulfoxide (mass ratio 1:0.5) could dissolve pine cellulose within 8 min at 105°C. Moreover, the degree of polymerization of the regenerated cellulose reached 244. The dissolved cellulose could be regenerated from the component solution when water was added. Then, the regenerated cellulose was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis measurements. The results revealed that there was no derivatization of the reaction in the process of dissolution and that dissolving the pine cellulose was a direct process. The crystalline structure of the cellulose was converted from cellulose I to cellulose II after regeneration. The regenerated cellulose was also found to have good thermal stability.
The Cost of Care for People With Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Manns Braden , Hemmelgarn Brenda , Tonelli Marcello , Au Flora , So Helen , Weaver Rob , Quinn Amity E. , Klarenbach Scott ,   for Canadians Seeking Solutions and Innovations to Overcome Chronic Kidney Disease
Published: April 2019

Background:

As the adverse clinical outcomes common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be prevented or delayed, information on the cost of care across the spectrum of CKD can inform investments in CKD care.

Objectives:

To determine the cost of caring for patients with CKD who are not on dialysis or transplant at baseline.

Design:

Population-based cohort study using administrative health data.

Setting:

Alberta, Canada.

Patients:

Cohort of 219 641 adults with CKD categorized by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between April 1, 2012, and March 31, 2014, into Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) CKD categories, excluding patients on dialysis or transplant at baseline.

Measurements:

The primary outcome was 1-year cumulative unadjusted health care costs, including the cost of drugs, physician visits, emergency department visits, outpatient procedures (including dialysis and other day medicine and surgery procedures), and hospitalizations for the year following each patient’s index date.

Methods:

Mean 1-year direct medical costs were estimated for the cohort as a whole and for patients in the different KDIGO CKD categories as defined at baseline. Costs were further categorized according to baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, and by type of care (ie, kidney care and cardiovascular care).

Results:

In 219 641 adults with CKD, the mean unadjusted cumulative 1-year cost of care was Can$14 634 per patient (median = Can$3672; Q1 = Can$1496, Q3 = Can$10 221). Costs were higher for those with more comorbidity, those with lower eGFR, and those with more severe albuminuria. The cost of kidney and cardiovascular care was Can$230 (1.6% of total costs) and Can$720 (4.9% of total costs), respectively, for the cohort overall. These costs increased substantially for patients with lower eGFR, averaging Can$14 169 (32.3% of total costs) and Can$2395 (5.5% of total costs) for kidney and cardiovascular care, respectively, for people with eGFR<15 mL/min/1.73 m2 at baseline.

Limitations:

We only have estimates of the cost of health care for people with CKD, and not the costs borne by patients or their families. As we have not included costs for people without CKD in this analysis, we are unable to assess the incremental costs associated with CKD.

Conclusions:

We identified that patients with CKD, even when not on dialysis at baseline, had high health care costs (more than twice the cost per person in Canada in 2015), with a graded association between severity of CKD and costs. Our findings can inform current and future cost estimates across the spectrum of CKD, including an estimate of potential savings that might result from interventions that slow or prevent kidney disease.
Debunking myths about oil: A case study of oil subsidies
Authors: Han Jung Taek , Kim Seo Yeon
Published: April 2019

Despite increasing demands for the reform of oil subsidies, the United States government fails to enact substantial reform policies on the issue. The paper visits the biggest unresolved cleavage in the environmental policy literature where there have been no attempts to quantitatively assess the influence of lobbying and mass participation on the policy-making process. It thus attempts to quantify and examine various factors behind legislators’ votes, and the results are hard to square with a pure lobbying model. While the role of lobbying is certainly not ruled out of the explanatory model per se, this paper observed that congressional preferences may instead also be driven by the voter perception towards environmental regulation in each state. The thrust of the argument is that lobbying, while being a decisive factor, may not be the only one influencing legislators’ decisions for the oil subsidy reform bills. This study hypothesizes that the exchange model theory might not fully provide an explanation of why oil subsidies continuously fall through. It suggests that oil politics may instead follow the neo-pluralist model: While lobbying is an important factor in voting results, legislators are mindful of voters’ perspectives in spite of the fact that they are unorganized—and that they might in fact be even more powerful determinants than the lobby variable.
Efficacy and improvement of lipid profile after switching to rilpivirine in resource limited setting: real life clinical practice
Authors: Gatechompol Sivaporn , Avihingsanon Anchalee , Apornpong Tanakorn , Han Win Min , Kerr Stephen J. , Ruxrungtham Kiat
Published: April 2019

Background

Long-term success of cART is possible if the regimen is convenient and less-toxic. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of switching from a first-line NNRTI or boosted PI-based regimens to RPV-based regimens among virologically suppressed participants in resource-limited setting (RLS).

Methods

This is a prospective cohort study. Participants with plasma HIV-RNA < 50 copies/mL receiving cART were switched from a PI- or NNRTI-based, to a RPV-based regimen between January 2011 and April 2018. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with plasma HIV-1 RNA level < 50 copies/mL after 12 months of RPV. The secondary endpoint was the virological response at 24 months and safety endpoint (change in lipid profiles and kidney function from baseline to 12 months).

Results

A total of 320 participants were enrolled into the study. The rationale for switching to RPV was based on toxicity of the current regimen (57%) or desire to simplify cART (41%). Totally, 177 (55%) and 143 (45%) participants were on NNRTI and boosted PI, respectively, prior to switching to RPV. After 12 months, 298 (93%) participants maintained virological suppression. There were significant improvements in the lipid parameters: TC (− 21 (IQR − 47 to 1) mg/dL; p < 0.001), LDL (− 14 (IQR − 37 to 11) mg/dL; p < 0.001) and TG (− 22 (IQR − 74 to 10) mg/dL; p < 0.001). Also, there was a small but statistically significant decrease in eGFR (− 4.3 (IQR − 12 to 1.1) mL/min per 1.73m2; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

In RLS where integrase inhibitors are not affordable, RPV-based regimens are a good alternative option for PLHIV who cannot tolerate first-line NNRTI or boosted PI regimen, without prior NNRTI/PI resistance.

Trial registration HIV-NAT 006 cohort, clinical trial number: NCT00411983
Deep-learning inversion: A next-generation seismic velocity model building method
Authors: Yang Fangshu , Ma Jianwei
Published: April 2019

Seismic velocity is one of the most important parameters used in seismic exploration. Accurate velocity models are the key prerequisites for reverse time migration and other high-resolution seismic imaging techniques. Such velocity information has traditionally been derived by tomography or full-waveform inversion (FWI), which are time consuming and computationally expensive, and they rely heavily on human interaction and quality control. We have investigated a novel method based on the supervised deep fully convolutional neural network for velocity-model building directly from raw seismograms. Unlike the conventional inversion method based on physical models, supervised deep-learning methods are based on big-data training rather than prior-knowledge assumptions. During the training stage, the network establishes a nonlinear projection from the multishot seismic data to the corresponding velocity models. During the prediction stage, the trained network can be used to estimate the velocity models from the new input seismic data. One key characteristic of the deep-learning method is that it can automatically extract multilayer useful features without the need for human-curated activities and an initial velocity setup. The data-driven method usually requires more time during the training stage, and actual predictions take less time, with only seconds needed. Therefore, the computational time of geophysical inversions, including real-time inversions, can be dramatically reduced once a good generalized network is built. By using numerical experiments on synthetic models, the promising performance of our proposed method is shown in comparison with conventional FWI even when the input data are in more realistic scenarios. We have also evaluated deep-learning methods, the training data set, the lack of low frequencies, and the advantages and disadvantages of our method.
Second-order time integration of the wave equation with dispersion correction procedures
Authors: Mittet Rune
Published: April 2019

Second-order time integration of the wave equation is numerically efficient with time steps close to the limit set by the stability criterion. However, dispersion errors over realistic propagation distances are unacceptable with time steps in this range. Dispersion-free results, using second-order time integration of the wave equation, can be achieved by applying a time-domain prepropagation filter to all source time functions followed by a time-domain postpropagation filter applied to the simulated wavefield at all recording positions. The time-domain implementation of the filtering process is an order of magnitude more effective, in terms of CPU time, compared to an implementation via discrete and fast Fourier transforms. Pre- and postpropagation filters are valid for any simulation time step. The two filters can be calculated once because they are independent of the simulation time step, and they can be applied with any modeling scheme that uses second-order time integration. Second-order time integration results in traveltime and amplitude errors. The amplitude errors depend on the spatial source distribution. The combined application of the two filters removes traveltime-related errors and amplitude-related errors independently of the spatial source distribution.
Volunteering in a mental health service in Uganda: challenges and rewards
Authors: Martin Fiona
Published: April 2019

Fiona Martin is a psychiatry trainee who spent 6 months volunteering in a mental health service in Uganda between her core and higher psychiatry training. In this article, she reflects upon this experience, including the challenges and rewards, and in particular the benefits to training of such an experience.
Earthquake-Induced Ground Deformations in the Low-Seismicity Region: A Case of the 2017 M5.4 Pohang, South Korea, Earthquake
Authors: Kang Sinhang , Kim Byungmin , Bae Sungjin , Lee Hyejin , Kim Mirae
Published: April 2019

A moment magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck the Pohang city located in the southeastern Korean Peninsula on 15 November 2017, possibly triggered by an enhanced geothermal system. Despite the moderate magnitude of the earthquake, extensive geotechnical and structural damage occurred. This study summarizes the widespread geotechnical damage resulted from the Pohang earthquake, observed during our reconnaissance trip. The affected area is mainly covered by Tertiary/Quaternary Alluvium underlain by mudstones with a thickness of approximately 500 m. Because of the soft grounds and shallow focal depth, this area experienced ground settlements up to 39 cm, building settlements that made apartments tilted by 1.6°. We also present observations on ground cracks, lateral spreadings, landslides, retaining wall deformations, and liquefactions. Documenting the damage is significant because (1) those are the first earthquake-induced damage observed in Korea, and (2) those are caused by the shallow-depth earthquake possibly induced by an enhanced geothermal system.
Deformation Capacity Limits for Reinforced Concrete Walls
Authors: Shegay Alex V. , Motter Christopher J. , Elwood Kenneth J. , Henry Richard S.
Published: April 2019

The use of deformation capacity limits is becoming increasingly common in seismic design and assessment of reinforced concrete (RC) walls. Deformation capacity limits for RC walls in existing design and assessment documents are reviewed using a comprehensive database. It is found that the existing models are inconsistent and do not account for variation in deformation capacity with changes in the ratio of neutral axis depth to wall length ( c/ L w) and ratio of transverse reinforcement spacing to longitudinal bar diameter ( s/ d b) at the wall end region. A new mechanics-based model considering strain limits on the concrete and reinforcement is recommended. Concrete compressive strain limits for different levels of wall end region detailing are selected based on curvature ductilities for the walls in the database. Reinforcement tensile strain is limited based on a model for bar buckling. The proposed model, which accounts for c/ L w and s/ d b, is shown to have less dispersion and more accuracy than existing models when compared against experimental data and provides consistency between assessment and design provisions.
Two-Thirds of All Fractures Are Not Attributable to Osteoporosis and Advancing Age: Implications for Fracture Prevention
Authors: Mai Ha T , Tran Thach S , Ho-Le Thao P , Center Jacqueline R , Eisman John A , Nguyen Tuan V
Published: April 2019

Context

Although bone mineral density (BMD) is strongly associated with fracture and postfracture mortality, the burden of fractures attributable to low BMD has not been investigated.

Objectives

We sought to estimate the population attributable fraction of fractures and fracture-related mortality that can be attributed to low BMD.

Design and Setting

This study is a part of an ongoing population-based prospective cohort study, the Dubbo Osteoporosis Epidemiology study. In total, 3700 participants aged ≥50 years participated in the study. Low-trauma fracture was ascertained by X-ray reports, and mortality was ascertained from the Birth, Death and Marriage Registry.

Results

Overall, 21% of women and 11% of men had osteoporotic BMD. In univariable analysis, 21% and 16% of total fractures in women and men, respectively, were attributable to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis combined with advancing age (>70 years) accounted for 34% and 35% of fractures in women and men, respectively. However, these two factors accounted for ∼60% of hip fractures. About 99% and 66% of postfracture mortality in women and men, respectively, were attributable to advancing age, osteoporosis, and fracture; however, most of the attributable proportion was accounted for by advancing age.

Conclusions

A substantial health care burden of fracture is on people aged <70 years or nonosteoporosis, suggesting that treatment of people with osteoporosis is unlikely to reduce a large number of fractures in the general population.
Physiological profile of undifferentiated bovine blastocyst-derived trophoblasts
Authors: Pillai Viju Vijayan , Siqueira Luiz G. , Das Moubani , Kei Tiffany G. , Tu Lan N. , Herren Anthony W. , Phinney Brett S. , Cheong Soon Hon , Hansen Peter J. , Selvaraj Vimal
Published: April 2019

Trophectoderm of blastocysts mediate early events in fetal-maternal communication enabling implantation and establishment of a functional placenta. Inadequate or impaired developmental events linked to trophoblasts directly impact early embryo survival and successful implantation during a crucial period that corresponds high incidence of pregnancy losses in dairy cows. As yet, the molecular basis of bovine trophectoderm development and signaling towards initiation of implantation remains poorly understood. In this study, we developed methods for culturing undifferentiated bovine blastocyst-derived trophoblasts and used both transcriptomics and proteomics in early colonies to categorize and elucidate their functional characteristics. A total of 9270 transcripts and 1418 proteins were identified and analyzed based on absolute abundance. We profiled an extensive list of growth factors, cytokines and other relevant factors that can effectively influence paracrine communication in the uterine microenvironment. Functional categorization and analysis revealed novel information on structural organization, extracellular matrix composition, cell junction and adhesion components, transcription networks, and metabolic preferences. Our data showcase the fundamental physiology of bovine trophectoderm and indicate hallmarks of the self-renewing undifferentiated state akin to trophoblast stem cells described in other species. Functional features uncovered are essential for understanding early events in bovine pregnancy towards initiation of implantation.
Characterization and comparative analyses of transcriptomes of cloned and in vivo fertilized porcine pre-implantation embryos
Authors: He Xiaoyan , Tan Cheng , Li Zicong , Zhao Chengfa , Shi Junsong , Zhou Rong , Wang Xingwang , Jiang Gelong , Cai Gengyuan , Liu Dewu , Wu Zhenfang
Published: April 2019

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is the only method known to rapidly reprogram differentiated cells into totipotent embryos. Most cloned embryos become arrested before implantation and the details of the underlying molecular mechanism remain largely unknown. Dynamic regulation of the transcriptome is a key molecular mechanism driving early embryonic development. Here, we report comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of cloned embryos (from Laiwu and Duroc pigs) and in vivo fertilized embryos (from Duroc pigs) using RNA-sequencing. Comparisons between gene expression patterns were performed according to differentially expressed genes, specific-expressed genes, first-expressed genes, pluripotency genes and pathway enrichment analysis. In addition, we closely analyzed the improperly expressed histone lysine methyltransferases and histone lysine demethylases during cell reprogramming in cloned embryos. In summary, we identified altered gene expression profiles in porcine cloned pre-implantation embryos in comparison to normal in vivo embryos. Our findings provide a substantial framework for further discovery of the epigenetic reprogramming mechanisms in porcine SCNT embryos.
A Cut/cohesin axis alters the chromatin landscape to facilitate neuroblast death
Authors: Arya Richa , Gyonjyan Seda , Harding Katherine , Sarkissian Tatevik , Li Ying , Zhou Lei , White Kristin
Published: April 2019

Precise control of cell death in the nervous system is essential for development. Spatial and temporal factors activate the death of Drosophila neural stem cells (neuroblasts) by controlling the transcription of multiple cell death genes through a shared enhancer. The activity of this enhancer is controlled by abdominal A and Notch, but additional inputs are needed for proper specificity. Here, we show that the Cut DNA binding protein is required for neuroblast death, regulating reaper and grim downstream of the shared enhancer and of abdominal A expression. The loss of cut accelerates the temporal progression of neuroblasts from a state of low overall levels of H3K27me3 to a higher H3K27me3 state. This is reflected in an increase in H3K27me3 modifications in the cell death gene locus in the CNS on Cut knockdown. We also show that cut regulates the expression of the cohesin subunit Stromalin. Stromalin and the cohesin regulatory subunit Nipped-B are required for neuroblast death, and knockdown of Stromalin increases H3K27me3 levels in neuroblasts. Thus, Cut and cohesin regulate apoptosis in the developing nervous system by altering the chromatin landscape.
Enhancing regeneration after acute kidney injury by promoting cellular dedifferentiation in zebrafish
Authors: Brilli Skvarca Lauren , Han Hwa In , Espiritu Eugenel B. , Missinato Maria A. , Rochon Elizabeth R. , McDaniels Michael D. , Bais Abha S. , Roman Beth L. , Waxman Joshua S. , Watkins Simon C. , Davidson Alan J. , Tsang Michael , Hukriede Neil A.
Published: April 2019

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious disorder for which there are limited treatment options. Following injury, native nephrons display limited regenerative capabilities, relying on the dedifferentiation and proliferation of renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) that survive the insult. Previously, we identified 4-(phenylthio)butanoic acid (PTBA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDI), as an enhancer of renal recovery, and showed that PTBA treatment increased RTEC proliferation and reduced renal fibrosis. Here, we investigated the regenerative mechanisms of PTBA in zebrafish models of larval renal injury and adult cardiac injury. With respect to renal injury, we showed that delivery of PTBA using an esterified prodrug (UPHD25) increases the reactivation of the renal progenitor gene Pax2a, enhances dedifferentiation of RTECs, reduces Kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1) expression, and lowers the number of infiltrating macrophages. Further, we found that the effects of PTBA on RTEC proliferation depend upon retinoic acid signaling and demonstrate that the therapeutic properties of PTBA are not restricted to the kidney but also increase cardiomyocyte proliferation and decrease fibrosis following cardiac injury in adult zebrafish. These studies provide key mechanistic insights into how PTBA enhances tissue repair in models of acute injury and lay the groundwork for translating this novel HDI into the clinic.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the joint first authors of the paper.
Cutaneous respiration by diving beetles from underground aquifers of Western Australia (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)
Authors: Jones Karl K. , Cooper Steven J. B. , Seymour Roger S.
Published: April 2019

Insects have a gas-filled respiratory system, which provides a challenge for those that have become aquatic secondarily. Diving beetles (Dytiscidae) use bubbles on the surface of their bodies to supply O2 for their dives and passively gain O2 from the water. However, these bubbles usually require replenishment at the water's surface. A highly diverse assemblage of subterranean dytiscids has evolved in isolated calcrete aquifers of Western Australia with limited/no access to an air–water interface, raising the question of how they are able to respire. We explored the hypothesis that they use cutaneous respiration by studying the mode of respiration in three subterranean dytiscid species from two isolated aquifers. The three beetle species consume O2 directly from the water, but they lack structures on their bodies that could have respiratory function. They also have a lower metabolic rate than other insects. O2 boundary layers surrounding the beetles are present, indicating that O2 diffuses into the surface of their bodies via cutaneous respiration. Cuticle thickness measurements and other experimental results were incorporated into a mathematical model to understand whether cutaneous respiration limits beetle size. The model indicates that the cuticle contributes considerably to resistance in the O2 cascade. As the beetles become larger, their metabolic scope narrows, potentially limiting their ability to allocate energy to mating, foraging and development at sizes above approximately 5 mg. However, the ability of these beetles to utilise cutaneous respiration has enabled the evolution of the largest assemblage of subterranean dytiscids in the world.
Enhanced transports of nutrients powered by microscale flows of self-spinning dinoflagellate Symbiodinium
Authors: Zhu Zheng , Liu Quan-Xing
Published: April 2019

The metabolism of a living organism (bacteria, algae, zooplankton) requires a continuous uptake of nutrients from the surrounding environment. However, within local-spatial scales, the nutrients are quickly used up under dense concentration of organisms. Here we report that self-spinning dinoflagellate Symbiodinium sp. (clade E) generate a microscale flows that mitigates competition and enhances the uptake of nutrients from the surrounding environment. Our experimental and theoretical results reveal that this incessant active behavior enhances transports by about 80-fold when compared to Brownian motion in living fluids. We find that the tracers ensemble probability density function for displacement is time-dependent but consisting of a Gaussian core and robust exponential tails (so-called non-Gaussian diffusion). This can be explained by interactions of far-field Brownian motions and a near-field entrainment effect along with microscale flows. The contribution of exponential tails sharply increases with algal density, and saturates at a critical density, implying the trade-off between aggregated benefit and negative competition on the spatial self-organized cells. Our work thus shows that active motion and migration of aquatic algae play a key role in diffusive transport and should be included in theoretical and numerical models on the physical and biogeochemical ecosystems.