bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shape and morphology of the particles surface of electroerosive powders of micro- and nanometric fractions, obtained from H17MYuA steel in kerosene
Authors: Ageev E.V. , Khardikov S.V. , Vorobyev E.A. , Sysoev A.A.
Published: November 2019

One of the main directions of engineering technology development at present is the improvement of existing and the development of new waste-free, environmentally friendly, material-saving production processes. Powder metallurgy is a branch of technology, including the manufacture of powders from metals and their alloys and the preparation of blanks and products from them without melting the main component. In most cases, new materials are created in order to provide the optimal combination of product price and operational characteristics. Chromium is the most common alloying element. Steel alloyed with chromium has increased strength, hardness, wear resistance, resistance to corrosion in aggressive and oxidizing environments. The presence of chromium increases the hardenability of steel. The process of obtaining powder materials by the method of electroerosive dispersion compares favorably with the possibility of producing powders even from particularly hard and refractory materials. In the case of grinding material by this method, the only important criterion is the electrical conductivity of the material being ground. Worn parts and other scrap can be used as feedstock during the process. The purpose of the study is to investigate the powder obtained from the waste of chromium-containing steels. Thanks to the study of the used powder samples on modern devices, results were obtained, which indicate that the chromium-containing powder, obtained by electroerosive dispersion, can be reused in the restoration and hardening of machine parts.
Diagnostics of the condition of sucker-rod pumping units after the analysis of dynamogram cards
Authors: Milovzorov Georgy , Ilyin Aleksei , Shirobokov Pavel
Published: November 2019

Despite of the increased share of oil wells equipped with submersible electrical centrifugal pumps, a considerable part of them is equipped and operated with sucker-rod pumping units. When operating wells with sucker-rod pumping units, different plunger pumps are used. The rod string is operated in severe environment due to long contact with highly corrosive well products and time-variant loads. Taking into account all acting loads, the diagnostics of the condition of sucker-rod pumping units is a difficult task. At the majority of oil fields in Russia, the operation of wells equipped with sucker-rod pumping units is controlled by portable and stationary dynamographs of various models. Moreover, dynamographs are used, as a rule, only to obtain images of dependence of the force on the polished piston rod upon its stroke. Based on dynamograms it is possible to find the well flow rate, pump capacity, force on the polished piston rod, etc. But one of the main problems to be solved with the help of dynamometry is the forecasting of down-hole equipment condition in the process of further operation. In this paper we overview the methods to diagnose the condition of sucker-rod pumping units based on dynamograms. The aim of the work is to develop the mathematical model to forecast the failures of down-hole pumping equipment on the results of dynamometry to automatize the control process of the unit operation. The research tasks are to analyze the existing methods for diagnosing the condition of sucker-rod pumping units, and to develop the mathematical model for forecasting the failure of the valve unit leakage. As a result, the method for forecasting the increased failure on the example of the fluid leakage in the pump injection unit is proposed. The permissible boundaries of the change in the relative force on the polished piston rod are drawn up. As a result, the failure increase is forecasted based on the frequency of the relative force on the polished piston rod getting within the interval obtained.
Impact of shock-wave loading regimes on structural and elastic characteristics of a single-component abrasive tool
Authors: Polyanchikova Mariya
Published: November 2019

The article considers the issues of determining the elastic characteristics of a single-component abrasive tool depending on the porosity of the abrasive tool after pressing the abrasive compound studied; the method of determining the modulus of elongation and porosity based on theoretical and experimental data has been used; the dependency graph between the modulus of elongation and porosity, as well as experimental formulas reflecting these dependencies are presented. Based on the experimental and calculated data on the density, porosity and the size of the modulus of elongation, depending on the pressure of the shock wave during pressing and the initial aluminium oxide grains sizes, empirical dependences of elastic characteristics have been determined in order to predict the production of a single-component abrasive tool without a bond with predetermined properties.
Experimental studies of combined coulter for direct strip sowing of seeds
Authors: Pisarev Oleg , Moskovskiy Maksim , Dorockhov Aleksey , Gulyaev Anatoly , Lavrov Aleksandr
Published: November 2019

In the paper It is presented the results of experimental researches about determination of the main parameters of the seed distributer of the combined coulter for direct sowing of seeds at the installation for high-speed stroboscopic photography of particle movement.
Ultrastructural study of adult Haemonchus contortus exposed to polyphenol-rich materials under in vivo conditions in goats
Authors: Martínez-Ortiz-de-Montellano Cintli , Torres-Acosta Juan Felipe de Jesús , Fourquaux Isabelle , Sandoval-Castro Carlos Alfredo , Hoste Hervé
Published: November 2019

This study assessed the ultrastructural changes caused in adult Haemonchus contortus obtained from goats fed fodder based on polyphenol-rich plants Lysiloma latisiliquum or Onobrychis viciifolia or from goats drenched with quebracho extract, Schinopsis spp. The H. contortus were obtained from artificially infected goats used as models to investigate the anthelmintic effect of feeding or drenching with the polyphenol-rich materials. Nematode populations were exposed to polyphenol-rich plant materials by feeding host goats for 8 consecutive days (D28 to D35 post-infection) with (a) L. latisiliquum fodder at 800 g fresh basis/day, (b) O. viciifolia fodder offered ad libitum, and (c) drenched with a solution containing quebracho extract (90 g/day). Meanwhile, control H. contortus were obtained from goats fed polyphenol-free diets. The H. contortus specimens were recovered from the goats on D36 post-infection, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to identify ultrastructural changes. In vivo exposure to different polyphenol-rich plant materials caused vacuolization of the nematodes’ intestinal, muscular and hypodermal cells. These alterations represent the first evidence of cell damage caused in H. contortus when hosts were fed or drenched with polyphenol-rich materials. Ultrastructural changes affecting several types of cells could explain modifications in worm motility and nutrition, eventually affecting H. contortus reproductive success. This study contributes to our understanding of the mechanisms of action of polyphenol-rich plants against H. contortus when given as nutraceuticals to goats.
Eosinophile Ösophagitis Update 2017: Neue Leitlinien der europäischen Studiengruppe EUREOS
Authors: Miehlke Stephan , Schlag Christoph , Storr Martin , von Arnim Ulrike
Published: November 2019

Die eosinophile Ösophagitis gilt heute als eine der häufigsten Erkrankungen der Speiseröhre und eine der häufigsten Ursachen für Dysphagie und Bolusobstruktion bei Kindern und Erwachsenen. Die zunehmende Bedeutung dieser Erkrankung und neue klinisch-wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse erforderten eine Aktualisierung der bis dato existierenden internationalen Leitlinien. Die europäische Studiengruppe Eosinophile Ösophagitis (EUREOS) hat daher, erstmals unter Verwendung der GRADE-Technik (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) mit Beteiligung aller relevanten Fachdisziplinen auf der Basis einer systematischen Literaturrecherche bis August 2015 neue Leitlinien zum Management der eosinophilen Ösophagitis bei Kindern und Erwachsenen erarbeitet. Das Ziel dieses Artikels ist es, die wichtigsten Neuerungen und klinische relevanten Empfehlungen der neuen Leitlinie zusammenzufassen und zu kommentieren.
Rheumatologische Erkrankungen und Schlaf – Schlafmedizinische Aspekte der Diagnostik und Therapie – Eine literaturbasierte Übersicht
Authors: Knaack Lennart , Janicki Jaroslaw
Published: November 2019

Ziel des auf einer PubMed-Recherche basierenden Übersichtsartikels ist es, die Schlafphysiologie und die pathophysiologischen Zusammenhänge von rheumatologischen Erkrankungen und primären sowie sekundären Schlafstörungen darzustellen. Dabei werden die somnologische Diagnostik und Therapie als ergänzende Verfahren in die rheumatologische Behandlungsstrategie eingebunden.

Epidemiologie 70 % aller Rheumapatienten berichten über einen verkürzten, oberflächlichen und wenig erholsamen Schlaf. Zudem treten bei über 20 % der Erkrankungen primäre Schlafstörungen, z. B. das Schlafapnoe- und Restless Legs Syndrom, auf.

Pathogenese Primäre und sekundäre Schlafstörungen können rheumaassoziierte Symptome wie Tagesschläfrigkeit, Fatigue und Depressivität, aber auch die Schmerzintensität und Krankheitsaktivität verstärken. Umgekehrt verschlechtern Schmerzintensität und inflammatorische Marker die Schlafqualität regelhaft. Bei rheumatischen Erkrankungen können neben einer Adipositas auch krankheitsspezifische skelettale Faktoren für ein Obstruktives Schlafapnoesyndrom (OSAS) prädisponieren. Das rheumatologisch komorbide auftretende Restless Legs Syndrom (RLS) mindert die Schlafqualität durch eine sensorisch bedingte Schlafstörung, sowie schlaffragmentierende periodische Beinbewegungen.

Messverfahren Die somnologische Diagnostik umfasst introspektive Fragebögen und objektive Tests zu Reaktionsvermögen und Vigilanz. Komorbide auftretende Schlafbezogene Atmungs- und Bewegungsstörungen werden im Sinne eines apparativen und polygrafischen Screenings identifiziert. Mittels Polysomnografie im Schlaflabor erfolgt die spezifische Diagnosestellung und Therapieeinleitung sowie deren Kontrolle.

Therapie Primäre und sekundäre Schlafstörungen bei RA-Erkrankungen werden verhaltenstherapeutisch, medikamentös (Insomnie und RLS) und apparativ (OSAS) behandelt. Eine suffiziente Diagnostik und Behandlung von Schlafstörungen bei rheumatologischen Erkrankungen beinhaltet eine koordinierte und interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit der einzelnen medizinischen Fachgebiete.
Tinnitus oftmals mit temporomandibulärer Dysfunktion assoziiert
Authors: Hilger Gregor
Published: November 2019

Omidvar S et al. Association Between Tinnitus and Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2019; 128: 662–675

Tinnitus ist eines der häufigsten otologischen Symptome bei Patienten mit Kiefergelenkserkrankungen. Iranische Ärzte durchsuchten die Literatur, um den möglichen Zusammenhang zwischen Tinnitus und der temporomandibulären Dysfunktion (TMD) darzustellen.
Chronic gastric ulcer disease complicating selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) in a patient with cholangiocellular carcinoma
Authors: Blesl Andreas , Brcic Iva , Jaschke Werner , Öfner Dietmar , Fickert Peter , Plank Johannes
Published: November 2019

Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) is a therapeutic option for primary and metastatic liver tumors. Microspheres containing Yttrium 90, a beta-emitting radionuclide, are administered into the hepatic artery allowing selective internal radiation of a liver tumor. SIRT-related complications may appear due to migration of the radiation microspheres to organs distant from the tumor site. In order to prevent these complications, unintended non target embolization of Yttrium microspheres has to be avoided. However, data from external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) suggests that the stomach/small bowel may actually be less radiosensitive than the liver. Gastric ulcers, a well-known SIRT-related complication, may therefore not only be caused by local radiation but also by unusual accumulation of microspheres in the submucosa and small vessel damage. We herein report a more than two- year-long persisting, highly symptomatic, non-neoplastic ulceration of the gastric antrum leading to pyloric stenosis caused by SIRT therapy with Yttrium 90 microspheres for the treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma. The chronic courses of the ulcer disease together with the specific histological features highlight the pivotal role of radiation-induced small vessel damage in SIRT-induced adverse events.
Serrated polyp detection rate and advanced adenoma detection rate from a US multicenter cohort
Authors: Klair Jagpal S. , Ashat Munish , Johnson Dane , Arora Sumant , Onteddu Nirmal , Machain Palacio Jose G. , Samuel Ronald , Bilal Mohammad , Buddam Avanija , Gupta Ashutosh , Gunderson Alan , Guturu Praveen , Soota Kaartik , Chandra Subhash , Murali Arvind R.
Published: November 2019

Background Interval colorectal cancers may be associated with a low serrated polyp detection rate (SDR) and advanced adenoma detection rate (AADR). We aimed to determine the SDR and AADR for endoscopists in a United States multicenter cohort.

Methods We included average-risk screening colonoscopies from five medical centers in the United States. Endoscopists with data on at least 100 average-risk screening colonoscopies were included. We calculated median SDR and AADR for endoscopists with adequate adenoma detection rates (ADRs) > 25 %. We analyzed the relationship between ADR and SDR, and between ADR and AADR using nonparametric Spearman correlation coefficients, scatter plots, and linear regression.

Results We included 3513 screening colonoscopies performed by 26 gastroenterologists. The mean age of patients was 56.8 years (SD 7.4) and 1585 (45 %) were male. All but one endoscopist had an ADR above 25 %. There was a significant positive but modest correlation between ADR and SDR (rho = 0.67, P < 0.01), and between ADR and AADR (rho = 0.56, P < 0.01). For endoscopists with an adequate ADR, median (interquartile range) ADR was 43 % (32.0 % – 48.6 %), median SDR was 8.4 % (7.3 % – 11.4 %), and median AADR was 9.3 % (6.4 % – 12.6 %).

Conclusion A significant percentage of endoscopists have either a low SDR or low AADR despite an adequate ADR, justifying the need for separate SDR and AADR benchmarks. Based on our multicenter cohort, endoscopists with adequate ADRs had a median SDR and median AADR of about 8 % and 9 %, respectively.
Impact of Maternal Obesity on Perinatal Outcomes in Preterm Prelabor Rupture of Membranes ≥34 Weeks
Authors: Lynch Tara A. , Malshe Amol , Colihan Sarah , Meyers Jeffrey , Li Dongmei , Holloman Conisha , Soto-Torres Eleazar , Olson-Chen Courtney
Published: November 2019

Objective This study aimed to compare pregnancy outcomes in obese and nonobese women with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) ≥34 weeks.

Study Design The present study is a secondary analysis of a multicenter retrospective cohort of singletons with PPROM from 2011 to 2017. Women with a delivery body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 (obese) were compared with women with a BMI < 30 kg/m2 (nonobese). Pregnancies were stratified based on delivery policies of expectant management until 35 weeks versus immediate delivery ≥34 weeks. The primary outcome was a composite neonatal outcome (neonatal sepsis, antibiotic administration for duration >72 hours after delivery or respiratory support). Univariate analysis and general estimating equations models including maternal age, delivery timing, mode of delivery, hospital, and gestational age were used with p < 0.05 level of significance.

Results Among 259 pregnancies, 47% were obese. Pregnant women with obesity had increased composite neonatal outcome versus nonobese pregnancies (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.48 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01–2.17]). Obesity was also associated with increased neonatal antibiotic administration for a duration >72 hours after delivery, respiratory support, ventilation, oxygen supplementation, and surfactant administration. When stratified by delivery policies there was no significant difference in perinatal outcomes based on obesity.

Conclusion Obese women with PPROM ≥34 weeks have an increased odds of adverse neonatal respiratory and infectious outcomes compared with nonobese women.
Intra- and Inter-Rater Agreement between X-Ray Views for Umbilical Catheter Position
Authors: Doreswamy Srinivasa Murthy , Thomas Sumesh , Dutta Sourabh
Published: November 2019

Objective We determined intra- and inter-rater agreement for umbilical arterial/venous catheter (umbilical arterial catheter [UAC] and umbilical venous catheter [UVC], respectively) positions on supine anteroposterior (AP) and horizontal dorsal decubitus (HDD) X-ray views to determine whether two views are routinely required.

Study Design This retrospective study was conducted in McMaster University, Canada. Pairs of AP and HDD radiographs were coded and rated in random sequence by two experienced raters. Primary outcome was intra-rater agreement (κ) between AP and HDD views for UVC catheter tip position. Secondary outcomes included inter-rater κ for UVC position; inter- and intra-rater κ for UAC position, inter- and intra-rater κ for follow-up action. To detect κ of 0.8 (width of 95% confidence interval = 0.1), 138 radiograph pairs were required.

Results Intra-rater agreement tended to be higher for UVC versus UAC position (Rater#1: κ = 0.44 vs. 0.16, respectively, p = 0.08; and #2: κ = 0.56 vs. 0.47, respectively, p = 0.5). Inter-rater agreement was higher on AP versus HDD view for UVC position (κ = 0.6 vs. 0.29, respectively, p = 0.03) and action recommended for UVC (κ = 0.61 and 0.19, respectively, p < 0.001).

Conclusion AP is superior to HDD view for UVC.
Bremsstrahlung spectrum and photon dose from short-pulse high-intensity laser interaction on various metal targets
Authors: Compant La Fontaine A. , Courtois C. , Gobet F. , Hannachi F. , Marquès J. R. , Tarisien M. , Versteegen M. , Bonnet T.
Published: November 2019

During the interaction of an intense picosecond laser pulse with a plasma created by a plastic foil ablated by a nanosecond laser pulse, relativistic electrons are produced. A metal solid target placed behind the foil allows converting these high-energy electrons into hard X-rays. The use of an ablated CH foil allows maximizing the conversion efficiency and thus the X-ray emission. In this study, the photon energy spectrum and dose are measured for different thicknesses of various metal targets such as tantalum. Numerical simulations including hydrodynamical radiative, particle-in-cell, and Monte Carlo codes are made to give comparison with the experimental data. These are also compared with that of a bremsstrahlung emission and photon dose model in which the energy loss by Ohmic heating arising from the return current driven by the background electrons of the conductive target is taken into account [A. Compant La Fontaine, Phys. Plasmas 25, 043301 (2018)]. The results obtained allow for benchmarks to test the accuracy of this model and to check that the dose is maximized for high-Z solid targets and thickness in the mm range in the relativistic interaction regime at ultrahigh laser intensity (>1018 W/cm2).
Predicting slow and fast neuronal dynamics with machine learning
Authors: Follmann Rosangela , Rosa Epaminondas
Published: November 2019

In this work, we employ reservoir computing, a recently developed machine learning technique, to predict the time evolution of neuronal activity produced by the Hindmarsh-Rose neuronal model. Our results show accurate short- and long-term predictions for periodic (tonic and bursting) neuronal behaviors, but only short-term accurate predictions for chaotic neuronal states. However, after the accuracy of the short-term predictability deteriorates in the chaotic regime, the predicted output continues to display similarities with the actual neuronal behavior. This is reinforced by a striking resemblance between the bifurcation diagrams of the actual and of the predicted outputs. Error analyses of the reservoir’s performance are consistent with standard results previously obtained.
How carbon vacancies can affect the properties of group IV color centers in diamond: A study of thermodynamics and kinetics
Authors: Kuate Defo Rodrick , Kaxiras Efthimios , Richardson Steven L.
Published: November 2019

Recently, there has been much interest in using Group IV elements from the periodic table to fabricate and study XV color centers in diamond, where X=Si, Ge, Sn, or Pb and V is a carbon vacancy. These Group IV color centers have a number of interesting spin and optical properties, which could potentially make them better candidates than NV− centers for important applications in quantum computing and quantum information processing. Unfortunately, the very same ion implantation process that is required to create these XV color centers in diamond necessarily also produces many carbon vacancies (VC), which can form complexes with these color centers (VC−XV) that can dramatically affect the properties of the isolated XV color centers. The main focus of this work is to use density-functional theory to study the thermodynamics and kinetics of the formation of these VC−XV complexes and to suggest experimental ways to impede this process such as varying the Fermi level of the host diamond material through chemical doping or applying an external electrical bias. We also include a discussion of how the simple presence of many VC can negatively impact the spin coherence times (T2) of Group IV color centers through the presence of acoustic phonons.
Carbon dimer defect as a source of the 4.1 eV luminescence in hexagonal boron nitride
Authors: Mackoit-Sinkevičienė M. , Maciaszek M. , Van de Walle C. G. , Alkauskas A.
Published: November 2019

We propose that the carbon dimer defect CBCN in hexagonal boron nitride gives rise to the ubiquitous narrow luminescence band with a zero-phonon line of 4.08 eV (usually labeled the 4.1 eV band). Our first-principles calculations are based on hybrid density functionals that provide a reliable description of wide bandgap materials. The calculated zero-phonon line energy of 4.3 eV is close to the experimental value, and the deduced Huang-Rhys factor of S≈2.0, indicating modest electron-phonon coupling, falls within the experimental range. The optical transition occurs between two localized π-type defects states, with a very short radiative lifetime of 1.2 ns, in very good accord with experiments.
A volume structure based ECS-PER algorithm for the hybrid electromagnetic field-circuit simulation
Authors: Chen Zhenzhen , Chen Xing , Duan Xin , Xu Ke
Published: November 2019

A new algorithm for the hybrid electromagnetic (EM) field-circuit simulation is proposed. It employs the equivalent current source with parallel equivalent resistance (ECS-PER) to simulate the effect of an EM subsystem on a circuit subsystem and adopts the volume structure to map the lumped circuit into the finite-difference time-domain cells. By including an additional current term in Maxwell-Ampere’s Law to represent the current density of the lumped circuit and using the finite difference scheme, the formulas of the proposed volume structure based ECS-PER algorithm is deduced for the first time. Two numerical examples of microwave circuits radiated under external EM incidence are simulated, and the results verify the accuracy and versatility of the proposed algorithm.
Jammed hard-sphere hcp crystals permeated with trivacancy tunnels
Authors: Stillinger Frank H. , Torquato Salvatore
Published: November 2019

Supported by simple table-top experiments involving stackings of ball bearings and theoretical analysis, we have discovered crystal packings of identical hard spheres that are permeated by a high concentration of large tunnels and yet are jammed (mechanically stable). We show that starting with a strictly jammed hexagonal close-packed (hcp) crystal of identical hard spheres, removal of certain subsets of those spheres can produce mechanically stable vacancy arrangements involving compact (equilateral triangle) trivacancies such that they produce linear trivacancy tunnels. These tunnels can extend over the entire macroscopic length of the hcp medium, and their width is sufficient to allow contained “test” hard spheres with diameters less than 5−1=1.23606… to migrate over that entire length without contacting the static tunnel-wall spheres. A search for the stable (strictly jammed) periodic framework that hosts the highest density of parallel trivacancy tunnels has identified a structure exhibiting a packing fraction ϕ=π/32=0.55536…, which is equal to 3/4 of the maximum monovalent sphere packing fraction ϕmax=π/18=0.74048…. In that periodic arrangement, filling the interior of the contained tunnels with movable unit-diameter spheres may approach the greatest possible “rattler” density within jammed monovalent sphere systems subject to periodic boundary conditions. It will be of interest to study the physical and chemical properties of these anisotropic porous crystal structures. Our findings may have practical implications for engineered separation and catalytic processes.
Depletion, accumulation and availability of soil phosphorus in the Askov long-term field experiment
Authors: Azeez Musibau O. , Rubæk Gitte Holton , Pedersen Ingeborg Frøsig , Christensen Bent T.
Published: November 2019

Soil phosphorus (P) reserves, built up over decades of intensive agriculture, may account for most of the crop P uptake, provided adequate supply of other plant nutrients. Whether crops grown on soils with reduced supply of other nutrients obtain similar use-efficiency of soil P reserves remains unclear. In treatments of the Askov Long-Term Experiment (initiated in 1894 on light sandy loam), we quantified changes in soil total P and in plant-available P (Olsen P, water extractable P and P offtake in wheat grains) when P-depleted soil started receiving P in rock phosphate and when P application to soil with moderate P levels ceased during 1997–2017. Additionally we studied treatments with soil kept unfertilised for >100 years and with soil first being P depleted and then exposed to surplus dressings of P, nitrogen (N) and potassium in cattle manure. For soil kept unfertilised for >100 years, average grain P offtake was 6 kg ha–1 and Olsen P averaged 4.6 mg kg–1, representing the lower asymptotic level of plant-available P. Adding igneous rock phosphate to severely P-depleted soil with no N fertilisation had little effect on Olsen P, water extractable P (Pw), grain yields and P offtake. For soils with moderate levels of available P, withholding P application for 20 years reduced contents of Olsen P by 56% (from 16 to 7 mg P kg–1) and of Pw by 63% (from 4.5 to 1.7 mg P kg–1). However, the level of plant-available P was still above that of unfertilised soil. Application of animal manure to P-depleted soil gradually raised soil P availability, grain yield and P offtake, but it took 20 years to restore levels of plant-available P. Our study suggests symmetry between rates of depletion and accumulation of plant-available P in soil.
Investigating the preferences of older adults concerning the design elements of a companion robot
Authors: Oh Young Hoon , Kim Jaewoong , Ju Da Young
Published: November 2019

Researchers have reported that companion robots have had positive effects on older adults with depression. However, there has been little quantitative analysis on the relationship between robot design and depression. To address this, we surveyed 191 older adults and investigated the impact of age, gender and depression level on design preferences for companion robots. We focused on toy-sized companion robots and evaluated three design elements: type, weight and material. The findings show that baby-type robots were the most preferred by older adults. They favoured the lightest weights and microfibre materials, regardless of the independent variables. Moreover, robot weight preferences varied significantly with the level of depression. Highly depressed older adults disliked heavy robots. These preliminary findings suggest that companion robots need to be designed with careful consideration of their physical characteristics and potential psychological effects.
Scholarly soundbites
Authors: Rowley-Jolivet Elizabeth , Carter-Thomas Shirley
Published: November 2019

This study investigates a recent web-enabled feature, the use of brief audio/video recordings for the communication of scientific research findings to a non-specialized audience, and discusses the implications of these “scholarly soundbites” for genre evolution in the digital environment and for the mediatization of science. We focus on four types of audiovisual material, all characterized by their brevity: Three-Minute Thesis presentations, author videos, and podcasts on a popular science and a research journal website. An analysis of the moves and of the recontextualization strategies used to manage the knowledge asymmetry between scientists and audience highlights differences between the four types of soundbites as well as with the corresponding written genres (research articles, PhD dissertations).
Understanding ‘clause’ as an emergent ‘unit’ in everyday conversation
Authors: Thompson Sandra A.
Published: November 2019

Linguists generally assume ‘clause’ to be a basic unit for the analysis of grammatical structure. Data from natural conversations, however, suggests that ‘clause’ may not be grammaticized to the same extent across languages. Understanding ‘clause’ as a predicate (plus any arguments, inferred or expressed), we can show that participants do indeed organize their talk around ‘clauses’. I argue that English-speaking participants in everyday interaction do indeed orient to clausal units as so defined, by building their turns around predicates, and that these turns do key interactional work. The data further reveal that these units must be understood as emergent structures, recurrent patterns in a given language that emerge from humans pursuing their ordinary interactional business of communicating information, needs, identities, attitudes, and desires.
The grammatical-lexical distinction in Chinese aspectual markers
Authors: Sun Linlin , Boye Kasper
Published: November 2019

This paper discusses the grammatical-lexical distinction based onBoye and Harder (2012)in the class of aspectual markers in Chinese and aims to decide whether these markers are grammatical or lexical in a theoretically anchored sense. To accomplish this, the language-general criteria proposed inBoye and Harder (2012)are translated into Chinese-specific criteria for diagnosing grammatical vs. lexical status, and these translated criteria are then applied to Chinese aspect markers in a questionnaire-based survey in order to test whether these markers are lexical or grammatical. Our classification of the Chinese markers tested is then compared with a traditional classification based on grammaticalization features (Lehmann 2015). The results support an integration of the two ways of approaching the grammatical-lexical distinction.
Reversedang-inversion and narrow focus marking in Tagalog
Authors: Nuhn Patrick
Published: November 2019

In Tagalog, an argument that is in narrow focus can be fronted to the clause initial position, deviating from the default verb-initial word order. This so-calledang-inversion has been claimed to be obligatory (Nagaya, 2007) or at least the go-to strategy (Kaufman, 2005) of encoding narrow focus. There is, however, an alternative that has so far received little attention in the literature: reversedang-inversion. Structurally, this construction can be understood as the result of combining two inversion constructions:ang-inversion anday-inversion. As a consequence, the focal constituent appears at the end of the sentence rather than at the beginning.

This article presents spoken data elicited during field work as well as written data on reversedang-inversion. Comparing the use of regular and reversedang-inversion indicates that discourse-structural considerations play an important role in construction choice between the two.
Differential nominal marking in Circassian
Authors: Arkadiev Peter M. , Testelets Yakov G.
Published: November 2019

In this paper we describe a peculiar pattern of case alternation from the polysynthetic Circassian (West Caucasian) languages, where specificity-driven differential marking of noun phrases is attested in all syntactic positions and with the absolutive and the oblique cases alike. We call this phenomenon differential nominal marking (DNM). We show that the presenсe resp. absenсe of overt case marking in Circassian fits in the two-level (DP vs. NP) structural model for nominal constructions and is in some ways similar to the phenomenon of pseudo-incorporation described for various languages with differential object marking. For instance, unmarked nominals in Circassian show number-neutrality and scope inertness with respect to negation and quantifiers. However, DNM in Circassian crucially differs from all known instances of pseudo-incorporation or case alternation in that it is not restricted to any particular syntactic position. We argue that this feature of the Circassian DNM calls all the existing approaches (both functionalist and generative) to the phenomenon of differential case marking in question.
Euphausia pacifica as a source of 8(R)-hydroxy-eicosapentaenoic acid (8R-HEPE), 8(R)-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (8R-HETE) and 10(R)-hydroxy-docosahexaenoic acid (10R-HDHA)
Authors: Yamada Hidetoshi , Kumagai Kanako , Uemura Aiko , Yuki Sayaka
Published: November 2019

Although not fully investigated, 8-HEPE, 8-HETE, and 10-HDHA have potentially beneficial effects for human health. Euphausia pacifica (North Pacific krill) is unique in containing several ppm level of 8R-HEPE, and sub-ppm levels of 8R-HETE and 10R-HDHA. Obtaining sufficient quantities of these compounds is a major bottleneck for conducting in vivo experiments to evaluate their biological activities. In this study, we examined an efficient way of obtaining 8R-HEPE, 8R-HETE, and 10R-HDHA by enzymatic production in E. pacifica. We devised a novel method to purify 199.4 mg of 8R-HEPE, 2.1 mg of 8R-HETE and 5.6 mg of 10R-HDHA from 1 kg of E. pacifica. We identified the stereochemistry of the hydroxy group at C-8 of HEPE and HETE and C-10 of HDHA as the R configuration by chiral column chromatography analysis using LC/QTOFMS.

Abbreviations: 8-HEPE: 8-hydroxy-eicosapentaenoic acid; 8-HETE: 8-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid; 10-HDHA: 10-hydroxy-docosahexaenoic acid; EPA: eicosapentaenoic acid; TLC-FID, thin layer chromatograph-Flame Ionization Detector; LC/QTOFMS: liquid chromatography/hybrid quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry.
Ciliary force-responsive striated fibers promote basal body connections and cortical interactions
Authors: Soh Adam W.J. , van Dam Teunis J.P. , Stemm-Wolf Alexander J. , Pham Andrew T. , Morgan Garry P. , O’Toole Eileen T. , Pearson Chad G.
Published: November 2019

Multi-ciliary arrays promote fluid flow and cellular motility using the polarized and coordinated beating of hundreds of motile cilia. Tetrahymena basal bodies (BBs) nucleate and position cilia, whereby BB-associated striated fibers (SFs) promote BB anchorage and orientation into ciliary rows. Mutants that shorten SFs cause disoriented BBs. In contrast to the cytotaxis model, we show that disoriented BBs with short SFs can regain normal orientation if SF length is restored. In addition, SFs adopt unique lengths by their shrinkage and growth to establish and maintain BB connections and cortical interactions in a ciliary force-dependent mechanism. Tetrahymena SFs comprise at least eight uniquely localizing proteins belonging to the SF-assemblin family. Loss of different proteins that localize to the SF base disrupts either SF steady-state length or ciliary force-induced SF elongation. Thus, the dynamic regulation of SFs promotes BB connections and cortical interactions to organize ciliary arrays.
Density matrix simulation of quantum error correction codes for near-term quantum devices
Authors: Baek Chungheon , Ostuka Tomohiro , Tarucha Seigo , Choi Byung-Soo
Published: November 2019

Fault-tolerant quantum computing requires many qubits with long lifetimes and accurate quantum gate operations. However, external noise limits the computing time and hampers accurate quantum gate operations. Quantum error correction (QEC) codes may extend such limits, but imperfect gate operations during QEC cause errors, which could cancel out QEC. We used density matrix simulations to examine the performance of QEC codes with five qubits. In current quantum devices, less than ten qubits are needed to conduct sufficient gate operations within their lifetime so that it is feasible to implement QEC codes. We analyzed the maximum tolerable error rate and error correction effect of individual QEC codes according to the qubit arrangement and gate accuracy. Assuming a 0.1% gate error probability, a logical

∣
1
〉

state encoded by a five-qubit QEC code is expected to have a 0.25 higher fidelity than its physical counterpart.
Structural dynamics and allostery of Rab proteins: strategies for drug discovery and design
Authors: Kumar Ammu Prasanna , Verma Chandra S , Lukman Suryani
Published: November 2019

Rab proteins represent the largest family of the Rab superfamily guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase). Aberrant human Rab proteins are associated with multiple diseases, including cancers and neurological disorders. Rab subfamily members display subtle conformational variations that render specificity in their physiological functions and can be targeted for subfamily-specific drug design. However, drug discovery efforts have not focused much on targeting Rab allosteric non-nucleotide binding sites which are subjected to less evolutionary pressures to be conserved, hence are likely to offer subfamily specificity and may be less prone to undesirable off-target interactions and side effects. To discover druggable allosteric binding sites, Rab structural dynamics need to be first incorporated using multiple experimentally and computationally obtained structures. The high-dimensional structural data may necessitate feature extraction methods to identify manageable representative structures for subsequent analyses. We have detailed state-of-the-art computational methods to (i) identify binding sites using data on sequence, shape, energy, etc., (ii) determine the allosteric nature of these binding sites based on structural ensembles, residue networks and correlated motions and (iii) identify small molecule binders through structure- and ligand-based virtual screening. To benefit future studies for targeting Rab allosteric sites, we herein detail a refined workflow comprising multiple available computational methods, which have been successfully used alone or in combinations. This workflow is also applicable for drug discovery efforts targeting other medically important proteins. Depending on the structural dynamics of proteins of interest, researchers can select suitable strategies for allosteric drug discovery and design, from the resources of computational methods and tools enlisted in the workflow.
The Iron Cage of Leadership—the Role of First-Line Managers in Child Welfare
Authors: Tham Pia , Strömberg Annika
Published: November 2019

In the social services in general and particularly in child welfare, high staff turnover and recruitment difficulties have been reported for many years. Previous studies have shown that giving social workers adequate social support is important in getting them to maintain their job commitment and remain at the workplace. The aim of the present study was to investigate how child welfare managers perceive and respond to the content and demands of their professional role. Interviews were conducted with forty-two first-line managers. The results indicate that the expectations of the social workers and the demands of the organisation are in conflict. The overall picture is one of challenges and dilemmas in a changing managerial role, where the focus is increasingly on control, administration and budget responsibilities. While the managers highlight what can be regarded as transformative ideals and prioritise offering support and guidance to the social workers under them, the organisation seems to be pushing managers towards a leadership role characterised by control and authority, where quantitative measuring, monitoring and control processes are expected––a leadership style associated with transactional leadership. The influence of New Public Management on the conditions for, and the contents of, leadership in social services is discussed.
Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils and Hexane Extract of Onopordum arenarium from Tunisia
Authors: Bouazzi Sihem , El Mokni Ridha , Nakbi Hanen , Dhaouadi Hatem , Joshi Rajesh K , Hammami Saoussen
Published: November 2019

In the present study, volatile oils from Onopordum arenarium fresh flowers and stems were obtained by hydrodistillation and the non-polar aerial part hexane extract was prepared using a Soxhlet apparatus. The constituents of different organs were identified for the first time by gas chromatography equipped with flame ionization detector and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. A total of 29 and 25 compounds were identified constituting over 91.6 and 89.2% of the whole constituents from flower and stem volatile oils, respectively. Both organs were constituted mainly of long-chain hydrocarbons (23.3–36.4%) followed by oxygenated long-chain hydrocarbons (31.5–33.8%) and oxygenated monoterpenes (14.4–6.6%). The major identified compound was palmitic acid [25.5% in O. arenarium flower essential oil (EO) and 28.7% in the stem EO]. Eighteen compounds representing 80.7% of the whole constituents were identified in the n-hexane extract, which was characterized by high amounts of triterpenoids (39.6%) and dominated by lupeol acetate (19.2%) and β-amyrin acetate (10.1%). Moreover, all extracts were evaluated for antioxidant potential using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical assay. The obtained results demonstrated that the EOs and the hexane extract could be a new source of natural potentially bioactive molecules.
Network attributes describe a similarity between deep neural networks and large scale brain networks
Authors: Takagi Kosuke
Published: November 2019

Despite the recent success of deep learning models in solving various problems, their ability is still limited compared with human intelligence, which has the flexibility to adapt to a changing environment. To obtain a model which achieves adaptability to a wide range of problems and tasks is a challenging problem. To achieve this, an issue that must be addressed is identification of the similarities and differences between the human brain and deep neural networks. In this article, inspired by the human flexibility which might suggest the existence of a common mechanism allowing solution of different kinds of tasks, we consider a general learning process in neural networks, on which no specific conditions and constraints are imposed. Subsequently, we theoretically show that, according to the learning progress, the network structure converges to the state, which is characterized by a unique distribution model with respect to network quantities such as the connection weight and node strength. Noting that the empirical data indicate that this state emerges in the large scale network in the human brain, we show that the same state can be reproduced in a simple example of deep learning models. Although further research is needed, our findings provide an insight into the common inherent mechanism underlying the human brain and deep learning. Thus, our findings provide suggestions for designing efficient learning algorithms for solving a wide variety of tasks in the future.
PCSK9 and inflammation: role of shear stress, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and LOX-1
Authors: Ding Zufeng , Pothineni Naga Venkata K , Goel Akshay , Lüscher Thomas F , Mehta Jawahar L
Published: November 2019

PCSK9 degrades low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) receptors and subsequently increases serum LDL cholesterol. Clinical trials show that inhibition of PCSK9 efficiently lowers LDL cholesterol levels and reduces cardiovascular events. PCSK9 inhibitors also reduce the extent of atherosclerosis. Recent studies show that PCSK9 is secreted by vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and macrophages. PCSK9 induces secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in macrophages, liver cells, and in a variety of tissues. PCSK9 regulates toll-like receptor 4 expression and NF-κB activation as well as development of apoptosis and autophagy. PCSK9 also interacts with oxidized-LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) in a mutually facilitative fashion. These observations suggest that PCSK9 is inter-twined with inflammation with implications in atherosclerosis and its major consequence—myocardial ischaemia. This relationship provides a basis for the use of PCSK9 inhibitors in prevention of atherosclerosis and related clinical events.
Human Breathomics Database
Authors: Kuo Tien-Chueh , Tan Cheng-En , Wang San-Yuan , Lin Olivia A , Su Bo-Han , Hsu Ming-Tsung , Lin Jessica , Cheng Yu-Yen , Chen Ciao-Sin , Yang Yu-Chieh , Chen Kuo-Hsing , Lin Shu-Wen , Ho Chao-Chi , Kuo Ching-Hua , Tseng Yufeng Jane
Published: November 2019

Breathomics is a special branch of metabolomics that quantifies volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from collected exhaled breath samples. Understanding how breath molecules are related to diseases, mechanisms and pathways identified from experimental analytical measurements is challenging due to the lack of an organized resource describing breath molecules, related references and biomedical information embedded in the literature. To provide breath VOCs, related references and biomedical information, we aim to organize a database composed of manually curated information and automatically extracted biomedical information. First, VOCs-related disease information was manually organized from 207 literature linked to 99 VOCs and known Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms. Then an automated text mining algorithm was used to extract biomedical information from this literature. In the end, the manually curated information and auto-extracted biomedical information was combined to form a breath molecule database—the Human Breathomics Database (HBDB). We first manually curated and organized disease information including MeSH term from 207 literatures associated with 99 VOCs. Then, an automatic pipeline of text mining approach was used to collect 2766 literatures and extract biomedical information from breath researches. We combined curated information with automatically extracted biomedical information to assemble a breath molecule database, the HBDB. The HBDB is a database that includes references, VOCs and diseases associated with human breathomics. Most of these VOCs were detected in human breath samples or exhaled breath condensate samples. So far, the database contains a total of 913 VOCs in relation to human exhaled breath researches reported in 2766 publications. The HBDB is the most comprehensive HBDB of VOCs in human exhaled breath to date. It is a useful and organized resource for researchers and clinicians to identify and further investigate potential biomarkers from the breath of patients.

Database URL: https://hbdb.cmdm.tw