bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Agreement of serum allergen test results with unblocked and blocked IgE against cross‐reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCD) and intradermal test results in atopic dogs
Authors: Gedon Natalie K. Y. , Boehm Teresa M. S. A. , Klinger Christoph J. , Udraite Laura , Mueller Ralf S.
Published: March 2019

Background

Tests for allergen‐specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) are used to select allergens for immunotherapy in atopic dogs. Antibodies against cross‐reactive carbohydrate determinants (anti‐CCD IgE) have been identified in serum samples of atopic dogs. Their presence in humans is a known cause of clinically irrelevant polysensitization to plant allergens.

Objectives

To compare the results of an intradermal test (IDT) and a serum test for allergen‐specific IgE, with and without blocking anti‐CCD IgE, before testing in dogs.

Animals

Thirty‐one privately owned dogs with atopic dermatitis.

Methods and materials

Dogs were prospectively skin tested and their serum samples were analysed for anti‐CCD IgE. An Fc‐ε receptor‐based serum test for allergen‐specific IgE was performed with and without blocking anti‐CCD IgE.

Results

In dogs with negative anti‐CCD IgE samples, the agreement between the results of the serum test and the IDT was substantial (κ = 0.71). Dogs with positive anti‐CCD IgE samples (38.7%) showed no agreement between serum and skin testing (κ = −0.35), blocking anti‐CCD IgE in those samples resulted in a fair agreement (κ = 0.43). Anti‐CCD IgE positive sera had multiple positive results for grass and weed allergens, and blocking decreased them markedly.

Conclusion and clinical importance

Intradermal testing agreed best with serum testing in dogs with no detectable anti‐CCD IgE. Sera containing anti‐CCD IgE had no agreement with IDT. Test agreement was improved by blocking the anti‐CCD IgE. Apparent serum test polysensitization to plant allergens was associated with anti‐CCD IgE.
Health equity-oriented approaches to inform responses to opioid overdoses: a scoping review protocol
Authors: MacKinnon Karen , Pauly Bernie , Shahram Sana , Wallace Bruce , Urbanoski Karen , Gordon Carol , Raworth Rebecca , MacDonald Marjorie , Marcellus Lenora , Sawchuck Diane , Pagan Flora , Strosher Heather , Inglis Dakota , Macevicius Celeste , Strayed Nathan
Published: March 2019

Review question/objectives:

The purpose of this scoping review is to systematically identify and describe literature that uses a health equity-oriented (HEO) approach for preventing and reducing the harms of stigma or overdose for people who use illicit drugs or misuse prescription opioids.

The question of the review is: What is currently known about the use of an HEO approach for preventing the harms of stigma or overdose when people use illicit or street drugs, or use prescription opioids for other than their intended purposes?

Specifically, the review objectives are:
Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Different Unsteady Modes in a Centrifugal Compressor With Variable Vaned Diffuser
Authors: Xue Xiang , Wang Tong , Shao Yuchang , Yang Bo , Gu Chuangang
Published: March 2019

The flow instability always varies within different compressors; however, even in one compressor, there may be still multiple various unsteady modes. To study the triggering mechanism for these unsteady modes, a detailed experimental research on an industrial centrifugal compressor with variable vaned diffuser is performed from design point to surge. The multiposition dynamic pressure measurement is conducted during the whole valve-adjusting process. The characteristics of pressure fields under some specific operating conditions are focused on, especially the prestall, stall and surge conditions. According to the collected data, the features of different unsteady modes can be obtained, such as the surge pattern and the propagation direction of stall cells. In addition, when the diffuser vane setting angle (DVA) is adjusted, the core factors to trigger total instability will change. To better complement the experimental analysis, a multipassage numerical simulation is carried out. Based on the agreement of performance curves obtained by the two methods, the flow field characteristics in the prestall state shown in the simulation results are indeed a good complement to the dynamic experimental analysis. Meanwhile, with the help of dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) method, a few low-frequency unsteady structures are extracted from the transient numerical result over a long time, which correlate with the experimental result. Through detailed analysis, an insight into the different unsteady modes in a centrifugal compressor with variable vaned diffuser is obtained.
Neoseiulus baraki (Acari: Phytoseiidae) survival and walking in response to environmental stress
Authors: Monteiro Vaneska Barbosa , França Girleide Vieira , Gondim Jr Manoel Guedes Correa , Lima Debora Barbosa , Melo Jose Wagner Silva
Published: March 2019

Living organism is exposed to the influence of various environmental conditions. These environmental conditions can trigger stress and compromise the fitness of the organism. As living organisms, phytoseiid mites are frequently exposed to a range of environmental stressors. In the present study, we attempted to explore the responses of the Neoseiulus baraki to environmental stress factors (temperature and humidity). Initially, the effect of different temperature (18–33 °C) and relative humidity (10–95%) levels on the survivorship of unfed N. baraki females was evaluated. Next, we estimated the walking parameters (distance traveled and average walking speed) with a computerized tracking system and we tested how N. baraki is constrained in their effective displacement by their ability to walk and survive in absence of food. The proportion of surviving N. baraki as well as mean survival time decreased significantly with increasing temperature. The opposite trend was observed to relative humidity. The distance covered by N. baraki reduced with increasing temperature (when only taking the temperature dependence of the survival time but not of walking speed and neither the tortuosity of the walking path) ranged from 550 m at 18 ºC to 100 m at 33 ºC. Under climatic conditions representative for the Tropics (27 ºC and 75 % RH) N. baraki was able to survive up to 1.5 days (36 h) without feeding and covered 0.9 m in 10 min as displacement estimated by walking.
Task-dependence of articulator synergies
Authors: Sorensen Tanner , Toutios Asterios , Goldstein Louis , Narayanan Shrikanth
Published: March 2019

In speech production, the motor system organizes articulators such as the jaw, tongue, and lips into synergies whose function is to produce speech sounds by forming constrictions at the phonetic places of articulation. The present study tests whether synergies for different constriction tasks differ in terms of inter-articulator coordination. The test is conducted on utterances [ɑpɑ], [ɑtɑ], [ɑiɑ], and [ɑkɑ] with a real-time magnetic resonance imaging biomarker that is computed using a statistical model of the forward kinematics of the vocal tract. The present study is the first to estimate the forward kinematics of the vocal tract from speech production data. Using the imaging biomarker, the study finds that the jaw contributes least to the velar stop for [k], more to pharyngeal approximation for [ɑ], still more to palatal approximation for [i], and most to the coronal stop for [t]. Additionally, the jaw contributes more to the coronal stop for [t] than to the bilabial stop for [p]. Finally, the study investigates how this pattern of results varies by participant. The study identifies differences in inter-articulator coordination by constriction task, which support the claim that inter-articulator coordination differs depending on the active articulator synergy.
Modulation of auditory-vocal feedback control due to planned changes in voice fo
Authors: Kim Jason H. , Larson Charles R.
Published: March 2019

Previous studies have demonstrated that voice fundamental frequency (fo), or pitch, relies on auditory feedback to monitor and correct for errors in production. When voice-pitch auditory feedback is unexpectedly perturbed, individuals typically produce a compensatory change in fo that opposes the direction of the pitch-perturbation. Studies comparing steady vowel vocalizations and speech tasks have demonstrated task-dependent modulation of the compensatory response, but the effects of planning to volitionally change fo during active vocalization have yet to be explored. Ten musicians and ten non-musicians were asked to perform two vocal tasks. Both tasks started off at a conversational fo. In one task, pitch-shifted feedback was presented when the participants were planning to hold fo constant (steady fo), and in the other, feedback was shifted while participants were in the planning stage prior to raising fo (raised fo) from a steady state. Acoustical analyses of fo were performed to measure the peak magnitude and latency of both the compensatory response as well as the voluntary fo change. Results showed that planning to change pitch modulates the mechanisms controlling feedback-based error correction of fo, and musicality affects how individuals incorporate modulations in auditory feedback with the feedforward plans to increase voice fo.
Force on the lips of a trumpet player
Authors: Giordano N.
Published: March 2019

When modeling a brass instrument such as the trumpet, an estimate of the pressure at the player's lips is essential, since the resulting force drives the oscillations of the lips which are needed to produce a musical tone. In most work to date, the calculation of the force on the lips has relied on values of the pressure derived from the Bernoulli equation, even though that relation assumes steady flow in contrast to the pulsating flow caused by vibrations of the lips. This paper uses a quantitative application of the Navier-Stokes equations to calculate the flow through a model of vibrating lips attached to a toy model of the trumpet. The results are used to explore when the Bernoulli equation can and cannot be used. The Bernoulli equation is found to fail badly during significant portions of each oscillation cycle of the lips. The reasons for this breakdown are elucidated.
Multilocus Sequence Analysis, a Rapid and Accurate Tool for Taxonomic Classification, Evolutionary Relationship Determination, and Population Biology Studies of the Genus
Shewanella
Authors: Fang Yujie , Wang Yonglu , Liu Zongdong , Dai Hang , Cai Hongyan , Li Zhenpeng , Du Zongjun , Wang Xin , Jing Huaiqi , Wei Qiang , Kan Biao , Wang Duochun
Published: March 2019

The MLSA scheme based on six housekeeping genes (HKGs) (
gyrA
,
gyrB
,
infB
,
recN
,
rpoA
, and
topA
) is well established as a reliable tool for taxonomic, evolutionary, and population diversity analyses of the genus
Shewanella
in this study. The standard MLSA method allows researchers to make rapid, economical, and precise identification of
Shewanella
strains. The robust phylogenetic network of MLSA provides profound insight into the evolutionary structure of the genus
Shewanella
. The population genetics of
Shewanella
species determined by the MLSA approach plays a pivotal role in clinical diagnosis and routine monitoring. Further studies on remaining species and genomic analysis will enhance a more comprehensive understanding of the microbial systematics, phylogenetic relationships, and ecological status of the genus
Shewanella
.
Prediction and Validation of Immunogenic Domains of Pneumococcal Proteins Recognized by Human CD4+T Cells
Authors: van de Garde Martijn D. B. , van Westen Els , Poelen Martien C. M. , Rots Nynke Y. , van Els Cécile A. C. M.
Published: March 2019

CD4+T-cell mechanisms are implied in protection against pneumococcal colonization; however, their target antigens and function are not well defined. In contrast to high-throughput protein arrays for serology, basic antigen tools for CD4+T-cell studies are lacking.
Encephalomyocarditis Virus Entry Unveiled
Authors: Cherry Sara
Published: March 2019

Picornaviruses are a widespread group of pathogens that can cause diverse pathologies. Pathogenesis is thought to be driven by the tissue-specific tropisms displayed by these viruses.
Biphasic Dynamics of Macrophage Immunometabolism duringMycobacterium tuberculosisInfection
Authors: Shi Lanbo , Jiang Qingkui , Bushkin Yuri , Subbian Selvakumar , Tyagi Sanjay
Published: March 2019

Macrophages are the primary targets ofMycobacterium tuberculosisinfection; the early events of macrophage interaction withM. tuberculosisdefine subsequent progression and outcome of infection.M. tuberculosiscan alter the innate immunity of macrophages, resulting in suboptimal Th1 immunity, which contributes to the survival, persistence, and eventual dissemination of the pathogen.
Ruthenium-106 versus iodine-125 plaque brachytherapy of 571 choroidal melanomas with a thickness of ≥5.5 mm
Authors: Filì Maria , Trocme Eric , Bergman Louise , See Thonnie Rose Ong , André Helder , Bartuma Katarina , Girnita Leonard , All-Eriksson Charlotta , Seregard Stefan , Stålhammar Gustav
Published: March 2019

Background

Episcleral brachytherapy is the most common eye-preserving treatment for medium-sized choroidal melanomas. γ-emitting iodine-125 (125I) and β-emitting ruthenium-106 (106Ru) are widely used. The latter is however generally reserved for thinner tumours (<6 mm). In this study, we compare ocular and patient survival in thicker tumours treated with the respective radioisotope.

Methods

All patients with ≥5.5 mm thick choroidal melanomas who were treated with plaque brachytherapy at a single institution between 1 November 1979 and 31 December 2015 were included (n=571). Size-controlled Cox regression HRs for postbrachytherapy enucleation, repeated brachytherapy and melanoma-related mortality were calculated, as well as Kaplan-Meier disease-specific survival and relative 10-year survival in matched subgroups.

Results

317 patients were treated with 106Ru and 254 with 125I. The rate of repeated brachytherapy was significantly higher among patients treated with 106Ru (8%) than with 125I (1%, p<0.001). Size-controlled Cox regression HRs for postbrachytherapy enucleation (125I vs 106Ru 0.7, p=0.083) and melanoma-related mortality were not significant (125I vs 106Ru 1.1, p=0.63). Similarly, Kaplan-Meier disease-specific and relative 10-year survival was comparable in matched groups of 5.5–7.4 mm (relative survival 106Ru 59%, 125I 56%) and ≥7.5 mm thick tumours (relative survival 106Ru 46%, 125I 44%).

Conclusions

Rates of repeated brachytherapy were significantly higher among patients treated with 106Ru versus 125I for thick choroidal melanomas. There were, however, no significant differences in rates of enucleation or patient survival.
Immune checkpoint blockade toxicity among patients with cancer presenting to the emergency department
Authors: Peyrony Olivier , Tieghem Yoann , Franchitti Jessica , Ellouze Sami , Morra Ivonne , Madelaine-Chambrin Isabelle , Flicoteaux Remi , Baroudjian Barouyr , Azoulay Elie , Chevret Sylvie , Fontaine Jean-Paul
Published: March 2019

Objectives

We sought to estimate the prevalence of patients with cancer presenting to the emergency department (ED) who are undergoing treatment with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy; report their chief complaints; describe and estimate the prevalence of immune-related adverse events (IRAEs).

Methods

Four abstractors reviewed the medical records of patients with cancer treated with ICB who presented to an ED in Paris, France between January 2012 and June 2017. Chief complaints, underlying malignancy and ICB characteristics, and the final diagnoses according to the emergency physician were recorded. Abstractors noted if an emergency physician identified that a patient was receiving an ICB and if the emergency physician considered the possibility of an IRAE. The gold standard as to whether an IRAE was the cause was the patients’ referring oncologist’s opinion that the ED symptoms were attributed to ICB and IRAE according to post-ED medical records. Descriptive statistics were reported.

Results

Among the 409 patients treated with ICB at our institution, 139 presented to the ED. Chief complaints were fatigue (25.2%), fever (23%), vomiting (13.7%), diarrhoea (13.7%), dyspnoea (12.2%), abdominal pain (11.5%), confusion (8.6%) and headache (7.9%). Symptoms were due to IRAEs in 20 (14.4%) cases. The most frequent IRAEs were colitis (40%), endocrine toxicity (30%), hepatitis (25%) and pulmonary toxicity (5%). Patients with IRAEs compared with those without them more frequently had melanoma; had received more distinct courses of ICB treatment, an increased number of ICB medications and ICB cycles; and had a shorter time course since the last infusion of ICB. Emergency physicians considered the possibility of an IRAE in 24 (17.3%) of cases and diagnosed IRAE in 10 (50%) of those with later confirmed IRAE. IRAE was more likely to be missed when the referring oncologist was not contacted or when the patient had respiratory symptoms, fatigue or fever.

Conclusions

ICB exposes patients to potentially severe IRAEs. Emergency physicians must identify patients treated with ICB and consider their toxicity when patients present to the ED with symptoms compatible with IRAEs.
Is now the time to invest in emergency smart-navigated multiple-response quadcopter fleets?
Authors: Kartawijaya Timotius , Townsend Edwin , Tully Kevin , Isihara Paul , Diedrichs Danilo R. , Flores Gabriel , Shi Chaojun , Ward Jonathan
Published: March 2019

With increased development of unmanned aerial vehicle technology and its application during humanitarian response to emergencies, the issue of smart navigation as a better alternative to manual operators is becoming increasingly significant. In response to a SmartAmerica initiative to design life-saving cyber-physical systems, a prototype Smart Emergency Response System (SERS) was developed in 2013–2014 to coordinate futuristic disaster response by cyber agents including ground and aerial telerobots and biobots. A more immediate application of the SERS system is simulation of quadcopter response to 911 police and fire requests. Tailoring parameters to specific locations, simulations inform decisions about effective quadcopter fleet size and quantify improved operator cost efficiency of a smart-navigated response.
Game theory modeling for vehicle–pedestrian interactions and simulation based on cellular automata
Authors: Wu WenJing , Chen RunChao , Jia Hongfei , Li Yongxing , Liang ZhiKang
Published: March 2019

In order to study the effect of crossing pedestrians on traffic performance at crosswalk without signal control, the work develops a game theory-based description of pedestrian–vehicle interactions, considering the decision-making uncertainty. The hybrid strategy of the game is obtained. The relevant parameters of the game model are calibrated by collected video data. The cellular automaton simulation system composed of a two-way four-lane traffic flow and pedestrian flow is constructed with the game model imbedded for identifying the effect of crossing pedestrians on traffic performance. The influencing factors are identified with their correlation analyzed by numerical simulation of different traffic conditions. According to the simulation results, the arrival rate of pedestrians has a great impact on traffic volume and pedestrian delay. The severity of conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians is classified and the causes are identified by analyzing the arrival rate of pedestrians and vehicles, respectively, and their relationship between one another. In addition, the threshold of traffic flow and pedestrian flow causing traffic conflicts and delay is proposed, also including the threshold of pedestrian arrival rate which will induce force crossing behaviors. The results show that the proposed model reconstructs the traits of traffic and pedestrian flow and their conflicts phenomenon at crosswalks. It provides some practical references for transportation agencies to meet pedestrians time-cost and comfort needs in crossing streets when they design pedestrian crossing facilities.
Centrality and rapidity dependences of negative pions in He–C collisions at 4.2 A GeV/c
Authors: Iqbal Akhtar , Olimov Khusniddin , Ahmad Mushtaq , Zaman Ali , Jan Obaidullah , Yuldashev B. S.
Published: March 2019

In the current research paper, we investigated the dependence of [Formula: see text] spectra of [Formula: see text] mesons on centrality of collision and different rapidity [Formula: see text] range. These negative pions are produced in Alpha–Carbon collisions at a momentum of 4.2 A GeV/c. We used Boltzmann and Hagedorn functions for one and two temperature fitting, of transverse momentum spectra obtained from experimental data and Model (Quark Gluon String Model, QGSM) data. By fitting these mathematical functions, we analyzed the change in shape of slopes of [Formula: see text] spectra. The fitting results for spectral temperatures were consistently larger (both in the experiment and QGSM) for the [Formula: see text] spectra of negative pions produced in range of mid-rapidity in comparison with those produced in fragmentation regions of colliding nuclei. It was also observed that extracted spectral temperatures from experimental data have a weak dependence on the collision centrality. The pion spectra can be described nicely by fitting two temperature functions for the experimental [Formula: see text] spectra for whole range and for the interval [Formula: see text]. In the [Formula: see text] range of [Formula: see text], one temperature functions were found sufficient for fitting the experimental [Formula: see text] spectra. The extracted temperatures from experimental data were found more sensitive to the fitting range of [Formula: see text], in contrast with temperatures obtained from QGSM data.
Vibrational frequencies of the diced and decorated honeycomb lattices
Authors: Owaidat M. Q.
Published: March 2019

In this paper, the classical lattice dynamics for the two-dimensional diced and decorated honeycomb lattices in the harmonic approximation is studied. The numerical results for the vibrational mode frequencies are presented.
Design of Robust Quantizers for Low-Bit Analog-to-Digital Converters for Gaussian Source
Authors: Dinčić Milan R. , Perić Zoran H. , Denić Dragan B. , Stamenković Zoran
Published: March 2019

This paper considers the design of robust logarithmic [Formula: see text]-law companding quantizers for the use in analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) in communication system receivers. The quantizers are designed for signals with the Gaussian distribution, since signals at the receivers of communication systems can be very well modeled by this type of distribution. Furthermore, linearization of the logarithmic [Formula: see text]-law companding function is performed to simplify hardware implementation of the quantizers. In order to reduce energy consumption, low-resolution quantizers are considered (up to 5 bits per sample). The main advantage of these quantizers is high robustness — they can provide approximately constant SNR in a wide range of signal power (this is very important since the signal power at receivers can vary in wide range, due to fading and other transmission effects). Using the logarithmic [Formula: see text]-law companding quantizers there is no need for using automatic gain control (AGC), which reduces the implementation complexity and increases the speed of the ADCs due to the absence of AGC delay. Numerical results show that the proposed model achieves good performances, better than a uniform quantizer, especially in a wide range of signal power. The proposed low-bit ADCs can be used in MIMO and 5G massive MIMO systems, where due to very high operating frequencies and a large number of receiving channels (and consequently a large number of ADCs), the reduction of ADC complexity and energy consumption becomes a significant goal.
Design, Fabrication and Measurement of a Novel Compact Triband CPW-Fed Planar Monopole Antenna Using Multi-type Slots for Wireless Communication Applications
Authors: Manouare Ahmed Zakaria , Ibnyaich Saida , Seetharamdoo Divitha , Idrissi Abdelaziz EL , Ghammaz Abdelilah
Published: March 2019

A novel compact coplanar waveguide (CPW)-fed planar monopole antenna with triple-band operation is presented for simultaneously satisfying the LTE 2600, WiMAX, WLAN and X-band applications. It is printed on a single-layered FR4 substrate. In this paper, the proposed antenna, which occupies a small volume of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]mm3 including the ground plane, is simply composed of a CPW-fed monopole with U-, L- and T-shaped slots. By carefully selecting the lengths and positions of both L-shaped and U-shaped slots, a good dual notched band characteristic at center-rejected frequencies of 3.10[Formula: see text]GHz and 4.50[Formula: see text]GHz can be achieved, respectively. The T-shaped slot is etched on the radiating element to excite a resonant frequency in the 7[Formula: see text]GHz band. Then, to prove the validation of the typical design, a prototype model is fabricated and measured. The experimental result shows that the three frequency bands of 2.31–2.80[Formula: see text]GHz (490[Formula: see text]MHz), 3.37–3.84[Formula: see text]GHz (470[Formula: see text]MHz) and 5.04–7.94[Formula: see text]GHz (2900[Formula: see text]MHz) can successfully cover the desired bandwidths of LTE2600/WiMAX (3.50/5.50[Formula: see text]GHz)/WLAN (5.20/5.80[Formula: see text]GHz) and the X-band communication systems (7.1-GHz operation). The principal applications of the X-band are radar, aircraft, spacecraft and mobile or satellite communication system. Nearly omnidirectional and bidirectional radiation patterns of the triband antenna are observed in both H- and E-planes, respectively. In addition, a reasonable gain over the operating bands has been obtained. Indeed, the good agreements between simulation and measurement results have validated the proposed structure, confirming its potential for multiband wireless communication services.
The nature of generalized scales
Authors: Stammeier Nicolai
Published: March 2019

The notion of a generalized scale emerged in recent joint work with Afsar–Brownlowe–Larsen on equilibrium states on [Formula: see text]-algebras of right Least Common Multiple (LCM) monoids, where it features as the key datum for the dynamics under investigation. This work provides the structure theory for such monoidal homomorphisms. We establish the uniqueness of the generalized scale and characterize its existence in terms of a simplicial graph arising from a new notion of irreducibility inside right LCM monoids. In addition, the method yields an explicit construction of the generalized scale if existent. We discuss applications for graph products as well as algebraic dynamical systems and reveal a striking connection to Saito’s degree map.
SPONTANEOUS IMBIBITION OF A WETTING FLUID INTO A FRACTURE WITH OPPOSING FRACTAL SURFACES: THEORY AND EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION
Authors: BRABAZON J. W. , PERFECT E. , GATES C. H. , SANTODONATO L. J. , DHIMAN I. , BILHEUX H. Z. , BILHEUX J.-C. , MCKAY L. D.
Published: March 2019

Spontaneous imbibition (SI) is a capillary-driven flow process, in which a wetting fluid moves into a porous medium displacing an existing non-wetting fluid. This process likely contributes to the loss of fracking fluids during hydraulic fracturing operations. It has also been proposed as a method for an enhanced recovery of hydrocarbons from fractured unconventional reservoirs. Numerous analytical and numerical approaches have been employed to model SI. Invariably, these idealize a fracture as the gap formed between parallel flat surfaces. In reality, rock fracture surfaces are rough over multiple scales, and this roughness will influence the contact angle and rate of fluid uptake. We derived an analytical model for the early-time SI behavior within a fracture bounded by parallel impermeable surfaces with fractal roughness assuming laminar flow. The model was tested by fitting it to experimental data for the SI of deionized water into air-filled rock fractures. Twenty cores from two rock types were investigated: a tight sandstone (Crossville) and a gas shale (Mancos). A simple Mode I longitudinal fracture was produced in each core by compressive loading between parallel flat plates using the Brazilian method. Half of the Mancos cores were fractured perpendicular to bedding, while the other half were fractured parallel to bedding. The two main parameters in the SI model are the mean separation distance between the fracture surfaces, [Formula: see text], and the fracture surface fractal dimension [Formula: see text]. The [Formula: see text] was estimated for each core by measuring the geometric mean fracture aperture width through image analysis of the top and bottom faces, while [Formula: see text] was estimated inversely by fitting the SI model to measurements of water uptake obtained using dynamic neutron radiography. The [Formula: see text] values ranged from 45[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m to 190[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m, with a median of 93[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m. The SI model fitted the height of uptake versus time data very well for all of the rock cores investigated; medians of the resulting root mean squared errors and coefficients of determination were 0.99[Formula: see text]mm and 0.963, respectively. Estimates of [Formula: see text] ranged from 2.04 to 2.45, with a median of 2.24. Statistically, all of the [Formula: see text] values were significantly greater than two, confirming the fractal nature of the fracture surfaces. Future research should focus on forward prediction through independent measurements of [Formula: see text] and extension of the existing SI model to late times (through the inclusion of gravity) and fractures with permeable surfaces.
INVESTIGATION OF DYNAMIC TEXTURE AND FLOW CHARACTERISTICS OF FOAM TRANSPORT IN POROUS MEDIA BASED ON FRACTAL THEORY
Authors: WANG FEI , LI HAIFENG , DU DONGXING , DONG XU
Published: March 2019

Foam fluid has found wide applications in oilfield development, such as profile control, water plugging, gas channeling control, fracturing, and so on. As a non-Newtonian fluid, the successful application of foam is significantly influenced by its structure. The foam texture, however, is complex and irregular, and becomes even more complicated in porous media by the boundary effects. Therefore, the description of dynamic foam structure is crucial and a quantitative description method for foam fluid is worth exploring. In this paper, the fractal characteristics of foam in porous media are verified and combined with foam microdisplacement experiment, and the fractal rule of foam is found. The relationship between fractal dimension and pressure is also discussed. The results show that foam has dynamic fractal characteristics during transport in porous media and the box-counting fractal dimension ranges from 1 to 2. Furthermore, the dynamic change of foam fractal dimension during transport in porous media could be divided into three stages. In the first stage when no foam forms, the fractal dimension is about 2; in the second unsteady foam stage, the fractal dimension is reduced from 1.9 to 1.6; the last one is the steady stage and the fractal dimension is almost constant (about 1.6). Besides, the fractal dimension of foam fluid is closely related to displacement pressure. Low pressure corresponds to higher fractal dimension, and high pressure corresponds to lower fractal dimension. Pressure is negatively linearly correlated with fractal dimension. These results are expected to enrich the understanding of the foam dynamic characteristics in their advanced applications.
EFFECT OF FRACTAL FRACTURES ON PERMEABILITY IN THREE-DIMENSIONAL DIGITAL ROCKS
Authors: LV WEIFENG , YAN GUOLIANG , LIU YONGDONG , LIU XUEFENG , DU DONGXING , WANG RONG
Published: March 2019

The fracture has great impact on the flow behavior in fractured reservoirs. Fracture traces are usually self-similar and scale-independent, which makes the fractal theory become a powerful tool to characterize fracture. To obtain three-dimensional (3D) digital rocks reflecting the properties of fractured reservoirs, we first generate discrete fracture networks by stochastic modeling based on the fractal theory. These fracture networks are then added to the existing digital rocks of rock matrixes. We combine two low-permeable cores as rock matrixes with a group of discrete fracture networks with fractal characteristics. Various types of fractured digital rocks are obtained by adjusting different fracture parameters. Pore network models are extracted from the 3D fractured digital rock. Then the permeability is predicted by Darcy law to investigate the impacts of fracture properties to the absolute permeability. The permeability of fractured rock is subject to exponential increases with fracture aperture. The relationship between the permeability and the fractal dimension of fracture centers is exponential, as well as the relationship between permeability and the fractal dimension of fracture lengths.
Quantifying Commitment in Nash Equilibria
Authors: Weber Thomas A.
Published: March 2019

To quantify a player’s commitment in a given Nash equilibrium of a finite dynamic game, we map the corresponding normal-form game to a “canonical extension,” which allows each player to adjust his or her move with a certain probability. The commitment measure relates to the average overall adjustment probabilities for which the given Nash equilibrium can be implemented as a subgame-perfect equilibrium in the canonical extension.
Modified meta-heuristic-oriented compressed sensing reconstruction algorithm for bio-signals
Authors: Shinde Ashok Naganath , Lalbalwar Sanjay L. , Nandgaonkar Anil B.
Published: March 2019

In signal processing, several applications necessitate the efficient reprocessing and representation of data. Compression is the standard approach that is used for effectively representing the signal. In modern era, many new techniques are developed for compression at the sensing level. Compressed sensing (CS) is a rising domain that is on the basis of disclosure, which is a little gathering of a sparse signal’s linear projections including adequate information for reconstruction. The sampling of the signal is permitted by the CS at a rate underneath the Nyquist sampling rate while relying on the sparsity of the signals. Additionally, the reconstruction of the original signal from some compressive measurements can be authentically exploited using the varied reconstruction algorithms of CS. This paper intends to exploit a new compressive sensing algorithm for reconstructing the signal in bio-medical data. For this purpose, the signal can be compressed by undergoing three stages: designing of stable measurement matrix, signal compression and signal reconstruction. In this, the compression stage includes a new working model that precedes three operations. They are signal transformation, evaluation of [Formula: see text] and normalization. In order to evaluate the theta ([Formula: see text]) value, this paper uses the Haar wavelet matrix function. Further, this paper ensures the betterment of the proposed work by influencing the optimization concept with the evaluation procedure. The vector coefficient of Haar wavelet function is optimally selected using a new optimization algorithm called Average Fitness-based Glowworm Swarm Optimization (AF-GSO) algorithm. Finally, the performance of the proposed model is compared over the traditional methods like Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Firefly (FF), Crow Search (CS) and Glowworm Swarm Optimization (GSO) algorithms.
Review on the Synthesis and Antioxidation of Cu Nanowires for Transparent Conductive Electrodes
Authors: Chao Jia Feng , Meng Yong Qiang , Liu Jing Bing , Zhang Qian Qian , Wang Hao
Published: March 2019

Transparent conducting films based on solution-synthesized copper nanowires (Cu NWs) are considered to be an attractive alternative to indium tin oxide (ITO) due to the relative abundance of Cu and the low cost of solution-phase NW coating processes. Moreover, transparent electrodes tend to be flexible. This makes Cu NWs more attractive because ITO is brittle and can not meet the requirements of flexibility. For Cu NWs, aspect ratio is an important property. Cu NWs can be directly prepared by chemical reduction with various reducing agents and suitable capping agents. In general, the selectivity of the capping agent is very important for the formation of one-dimensional nanostructures because it plays a major role in the thermodynamic regulations and growth kinetics that influence the geometry and morphology of the crystal facets. Therefore, different aspect ratios are formed. Conductivity is the most important property for transparent electrodes. Organic pickling, annealing and glare pulses have a certain improvement in conductivity. Meanwhile, it is also essential to increase the oxidation resistance of the transparent electrode. The reduction of graphene oxide (r-GO), the coating of metal and polymer improve the oxidation resistance of the transparent electrode to varying degrees. This paper reviews the effect of different capping agents on the aspect ratio of NWs, and the effects of different post-treatments on oxidation resistance and conductivity of transparent electrodes.
An Analytical Description of the Magnetic Conductance Across an Isolated Defect Region in a 1D-Ferromagnetic Lead
Authors: Belayadi Adel , Bourahla Boualem , Mougari Ahmed
Published: March 2019

We illustrate in this contribution the determination of the magnetic conductance across a nanocontact region defined by an isolated defect region joined between two mono-atomic leads ferromagnetically ordered. The system is described by the Heisenberg interaction. Additionally, to deal with the lack of symmetry across the contact region defined by the isolated defect, we involve the phase field matching approach. Furthermore, to compute the quantum conductance, we define the quantum scattering of the transmission and reflection probabilities within the framework of Landauer–Büttiker formalism. Based on these approaches, we present an analytical expression of the magnetic conductance. The obtained analytical results based on our adopted procedures confirm the known results adopted for perfect infinite leads (no defect). Our model calculations can be applied numerically when we deal with doping across the defect region. The adopted model could be also used numerically to deal with the impurity configurations that one might encounter in real systems.
Fatty Acid Esters of 3-Monochloropropanediol: A Review
Authors: Gao Boyan , Li Yanfang , Huang Guoren , Yu Liangli
Published: March 2019

Fatty acid esters of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD esters) are a new group of processing-induced chemical toxicants with possible nephrotoxicity and testicular toxicity. 3-MCPD esters have been detected in many food categories, including refined edible oils, bread, coffee, and infant formula. 3-MCPD esters have also been detected in human breast milk, indicating their possible absorption and distribution in human organs and tissues. 3-MCPD esters have become a food safety concern, and in 2013 the European Food Safety Authority estimated a tolerable daily value (TDI) of 2 μg/kg body weight (BW) for the amount of free 3-MCPD. This review summarizes the available information on 3-MCPD ester research, including the analytical methods, exposure biomarkers, absorption and metabolism, toxicities, formation mechanisms, and mitigation strategies as well as the occurrence of 3-MCPD esters in human foods. This review may serve as a scientific foundation for advancing our understanding of 3-MCPD esters and their food safety concerns.
Interactions Between Food and Gut Microbiota: Impact on Human Health
Authors: Wu Yanbei , Wan Jiawei , Choe Uyory , Pham Quynhchi , Schoene Norberta W. , He Qiang , Li Bin , Yu Liangli , Wang Thomas T.Y.
Published: March 2019

Understanding the relationship between food and the gut microbiota, their interactions, and how each modulates the other is critical for successful promotion of human health. This review seeks to summarize ( a) the current knowledge on the effects of food and food components on gut microbiota and ( b) the association between gut microbiota, consumption of food, and food bioactive components and the resulting beneficial health outcomes. Our goal is to provide state-of-the-art information on food and gut microbiota interactions and to stimulate discussions and research approaches that will move the field forward.
Get Cultured: Eat Bacteria
Authors: Klaenhammer Todd Robert
Published: March 2019

The Klaenhammer group at North Carolina State University pioneered genomic applications in food microbiology and beneficial lactic acid bacteria used as starter cultures and probiotics. Dr. Todd Klaenhammer was honored to be the first food scientist elected to the National Academy of Sciences (2001). The program was recognized with the highest research awards presented by the American Dairy Science Association (Borden Award 1996), the Institute of Food Technologists (Nicholas Appert Medal, 2007), and the International Dairy Federation (Eli Metchnikoff Award in Biotechnology, 2010) as well as with the Outstanding Achievement Award from the University of Minnesota (2001) and the Oliver Max Gardner Award (2009) for outstanding research across the 16-campus University of North Carolina system. Dr. Klaenhammer is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Dairy Science Association, and the Institute of Food Technology. Over his career, six of his PhD graduate students were awarded the annual Kenneth Keller award for the outstanding PhD dissertation that year in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He championed the use of basic microbiology and genomic approaches to set a platform for translational applications of beneficial microbes in foods and their use in food preservation and probiotics and as oral delivery vehicles for vaccines and biotherapeutics. Dr. Klaenhammer was also a founding and co-chief editor of the Annual Review of Food Science and Technology.
Caspase-1 induces smooth muscle cell growth in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Udjus Camilla , Cero Fadila T. , Halvorsen Bente , Behmen Dina , Carlson Cathrine R. , Bendiksen Bård A. , Espe Emil K. S. , Sjaastad Ivar , Løberg Else M. , Yndestad Arne , Aukrust Pål , Christensen Geir , Skjønsberg Ole H. , Larsen Karl-Otto
Published: March 2019

Lung diseases with hypoxia are complicated by pulmonary hypertension, leading to heart failure and death. No pharmacological treatment exists. Increased proinflammatory cytokines are found in hypoxic patients, suggesting an inflammatory pathogenesis. Caspase-1, the effector of the inflammasome, mediates inflammation through activation of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-18 and IL-1β. Here, we investigate inflammasome-related mechanisms that can trigger hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. Our aim was to examine whether caspase-1 induces development of hypoxia-related pulmonary hypertension and is a suitable target for therapy. Wild-type (WT) and caspase-1−/− mice were exposed to 10% oxygen for 14 days. Hypoxic caspase-1−/− mice showed lower pressure and reduced muscularization in pulmonary arteries, as well as reduced right ventricular remodeling compared with WT. Smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation was reduced in caspase-1-deficient pulmonary arteries and in WT arteries treated with a caspase-1 inhibitor. Impaired inflammation was shown in hypoxic caspase-1−/− mice by abolished pulmonary influx of immune cells and lower levels of IL-18, IL-1β, and IL-6, which were also reduced in the medium surrounding caspase-1 abrogated pulmonary arteries. By adding IL-18 or IL-1β to caspase-1-deficient pulmonary arteries, SMC proliferation was retained. Furthermore, inhibition of both IL-6 and phosphorylated STAT3 reduced proliferation of SMC in vitro, indicating IL-18, IL-6, and STAT3 as downstream mediators of caspase-1-induced SMC proliferation in pulmonary arteries. Caspase-1 induces SMC proliferation in pulmonary arteries through the caspase-1/IL-18/IL-6/STAT3 pathway, leading to pulmonary hypertension in mice exposed to hypoxia. We propose that caspase-1 inhibition is a potential target for treatment of pulmonary hypertension.
Heritability and individuality of the plasma sodium concentration: a twin study in the United States veteran population
Authors: Timmons Andrew K. , Korpak Anna M. , Tan Jenny , Moore Kathryn P. , Liu Cindy H. , Forsberg Christopher W. , Goldberg Jack , Smith Nicholas L. , Cohen David M.
Published: March 2019

Little is known about the population genetics of water balance. A recent meta-genome-wide association study on plasma sodium concentration identified novel loci of high biological plausibility, yet heritability of the phenotype has never been convincingly shown in European ancestry. The present study linked the Vietnam Era Twin Registry with the Department of Veterans Affairs VistA patient care clinical database. Participants ( n = 2,370, 59.6% monozygotic twins and 40.4% dizygotic twins) had a median of seven (interquartile range: 3−14) plasma sodium determinations between October 1999 and March 2017. Heritability of the mean plasma sodium concentration among all twins was 0.41 (95% confidence interval: 0.35−0.46) and 0.49 (95% confidence interval: 0.43−0.54) after exclusion of 514 twins with only a single plasma sodium determination. Heritability among Caucasian ( n = 1,958) and African-American ( n = 268) twins was 0.41 (95% confidence interval: 0.34−0.47) and 0.36 (95% confidence interval: 0.17−0.52), respectively. Exclusion of data from twins who had been prescribed medications known to impact systemic water balance had no effect. The ability of the present study to newly detect substantial heritability across multiple racial groups was potentially a function of the cohort size and relatedness, exclusion of sodium determinations confounded by elevated plasma glucose and/or reduced glomerular filtration rate, transformation of plasma sodium for the independent osmotic effect of plasma glucose, and use of multiple laboratory determinations per individual over a period of years. Individual-level plasma sodium concentration exhibited longitudinal stability (i.e., individuality); the degree to which individual-level means differed from the population mean was substantial, irrespective of the number of determinations. In aggregate, these data establish the heritability of plasma sodium concentration in European ancestry and corroborate its individuality.