bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reading thousands of books and traveling thousands of miles: Diversity of life experience mediates the relationship between family SES and creativity
Authors: Xu Xiaobo , Pang Weiguo
Published: November 2019

This study examined the relationship between family SES and children’s creativity, and tested the mediating role of diversity of life experience in this relationship. A total of 204 undergraduates (54 males and 150 females), aged between 17 and 23 years, completed a family SES questionnaire, diversity of life experience questionnaire, biographical inventory of creative behaviors, and alternative uses tasks (AUT). The results showed positive associations between family SES, diversity of life experience, and different indices of creativity. Additionally, mediation analyses indicated that diversity of life experience fully mediated the effect of family SES on creative behavior and AUT originality. In accordance with the family investment model, these results confirmed the positive association between family SES and creativity, and identified diversity of life experience as a mediating variable through which family SES influences creativity performance. Implications and future directions are discussed in detail.
Asymptotic theory and inference of predictive mean matching imputation using a superpopulation model framework
Authors: Yang Shu , Kim Jae Kwang
Published: November 2019

Predictive mean matching imputation is popular for handling item nonresponse in survey sampling. In this article, we study the asymptotic properties of the predictive mean matching estimator for finite‐population inference using a superpopulation model framework. We also clarify conditions for its robustness. For variance estimation, the conventional bootstrap inference is invalid for matching estimators with a fixed number of matches due to the nonsmoothness nature of the matching estimator. We propose a new replication variance estimator, which is asymptotically valid. The key strategy is to construct replicates directly based on the linear terms of the martingale representation for the matching estimator, instead of individual records of variables. Simulation studies confirm that the proposed method provides valid inference.
Intersections on the Class Escalator: Gender, Race, and Occupational Segregation in Paid Care Work
Authors: Hodges Melissa J.
Published: November 2019

As U.S. manufacturing and production industries have declined, the growth of the care sector has increasingly become an important source of jobs for workers without a college degree. Often requiring some form of postsecondary credentialing, many care occupations can provide better wages, job stability, and possible upward mobility for less educated workers. However, employment patterns in paid care work are both gendered and racialized: women and workers of color are overrepresented in care occupations with fewer entry barriers, benefits, and lower pay. Although these patterns are well documented, the mechanisms producing them are less well understood. Using event history analysis and the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79), this study evaluates the explanatory power of neoclassical economic, status attainment, and social closure theories of occupational segregation for black women’s and men’s greater hazard or “risk” of entering care occupations, relative to white workers. Net of individual and closure mechanisms, significant residual effects suggest labor market discrimination remains a primary explanation for the over‐representation of black workers in less credentialed care jobs with fewer benefits.
Numerical Characterization of a High Flux Solar Simulator Using Forward and Inverse Methods
Authors: Abuseada Mostafa , Ozalp Nesrin
Published: November 2019

The numerical characterization of a 10 kWe xenon arc high flux solar simulator is thoroughly presented and performed using two approaches: a forward Monte Carlo ray tracing (MCRT) method and an inverse ray tracing method. Experimental characterization was previously performed for the solar simulator using an indirect flux mapping technique, where the experimental heat flux distribution was obtained at the focal plane and additional 12 planes away from the simulator. For the first numerical characterization method, an in-house MCRT code was used to determine the shape of the xenon arc to best model the simulator. It was determined that an isotropic volumetric source consisting of a hemisphere of 1 mm radius that is attached to a cylinder of 1 mm in radius and 10 mm in length well described the experimental results obtained. The in-house code was then used to generate heat flux maps similar to that obtained experimentally and determine the intensity at the focal plane to be used by the inverse ray tracing method presented for its validation. For the inverse method, intensity interpolation schemes of zeroth and first-order were examined in addition to different solution strategies. It is shown that a first-order interpolation scheme unnecessary complicates the inverse problem, leading to larger errors. In addition, a new approach of constraining the formulated system of equations with an equality constraint that works by eliminating intensity values not tracing back to the ellipsoidal reflector is proposed. This new approach provided intensity values with reduced percentage errors.
Dynamics Modeling of Topologically Simple Parallel Kinematic Manipulators: A Geometric Approach
Authors: Müller Andreas
Published: November 2019

Dynamics modeling is indispensable for the design and control of dexterous parallel kinematic manipulators/machines (PKM). Various modeling approaches proposed in the literature build upon the classical formulations for serial manipulators, and thus, inherit those modeling conventions that tend to be restrictive rather than user-friendly. Moreover, the special kinematic topology of PKM is treated either ad hoc or by resolving loop constraints using standard methods from multibody dynamics. Geometric formulations on the other hand, more precisely Lie group formulations, were developed over the last decades that provide a flexible and user-friendly approach to the modeling of robotic systems in general. A dedicated formulation for topologically simple PKM has not yet been proposed, however. Such a formulation is presented in this paper. The frame invariance of the geometric formulation gives rise to a modular modeling approach that further reduces the modeling effort. The equations of motion (EOM) in terms of task space coordinates as well as in actuator coordinates are presented for kinematically nonredundant and redundant topologically simple PKMs. A PKM is topologically simple if its moving platform is connected to the base by simple serial kinematic chains and if there are no other kinematic chains than these. The majority of PKMs are topologically simple, including fully parallel PKM. Applications of the EOM for dynamics simulation and model-based control are briefly discussed. The paper also provides a literature review of approaches to dynamics modeling of PKM.
The Extraction of Double-Layer Capacitance: In a Case of PANI Film
Authors: Zeng Xiangdong , Zhou Kun , Xian Shijie , Jiang Linting
Published: November 2019

The extraction of double-layer capacitance (DLC) is proposed using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique. By the concept of the frequency-dependent DLC, the DLC of polyaniline (PANI)-coated platinum wire is separated from the total capacitance at different DC potentials. The high conducting oxidized PANI is less frequency dependent. The DLC at the frequency of 1 Hz is the same as that of separation from the faradic current by cyclic voltammetry technology, exhibiting S-shaped curve at different DC potential. The process of the oxidation of PANI during the electrochemical impedance measurement is similar to the diffusion control.
Mechanical and Electrochemical Coupled Pitting Behavior of 2219 Aluminum Alloy: A Theoretical and Experimental Study
Authors: Miao Yuanyang , Lv Shengli , Srivatsan T. S. , Gao Xiaosheng
Published: November 2019

This study attempts to provide a theoretical estimate coupled with an analysis of the measured data to predict pitting damage of an aluminum alloy 2219 under the conjoint influence of mechanical load and corrosive environment. In accordance with the basic principle of crater growth coupled with the synergistic influences of mechanical and chemical effects, the law governing the presence and growth of corrosion pits was studied. Based on the concept of microscopic damage mechanics, porosity as a damage variable was introduced and the resulting model for estimating the reduction in elastic modulus of the material that has experienced observable damage due to pitting was established. Accelerated corrosion tests and uniaxial tensile tests are carried out, and a research-grade microscope coupled with a laser range finder was used to study the formation, presence, and growth of the pits with time. It was found that the corrosion pit in the chosen aluminum alloy can be simulated as a semi-ellipsoid, and the relationship between the depth of the pit and applied stress is an exponential function. This enabled in establishing the influence of alloy chemistry on nature, extent, and severity of damage due to pitting. The macroscopic morphology of the damaged specimens after corrosion was carefully observed and analyzed. The influence of time of exposure to the environment and applied load on damage due to pitting was verified. A comparison between the calculated results and experimental data reveals an overall correctness of the method developed and discussed in this paper.
Cardiotoxicity evaluation in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia – results of prospective study
Authors: Radu Letitia Elena , Ghiorghiu Ioana , Oprescu Alina , Dorobantu Dan , Arion Constantin , Colita Anca
Published: November 2019

Aim: The chemotherapy protocol for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) uses low doses of anthracyclines (AC), generally associated with subclinical cardiotoxicity. The aim of our study was to evaluate the serum biomarkers and echocardiography parameters in children with ALL treated with AC in order to determine the most useful element for early detection of cardiotoxicity.Material and methods: In this prospective study, troponin I (TnI) and heart-type fatty acid binding protein (HFABP) were assessed five times during the first year after the onset of ALL. Serial Tissue Doppler Imaging and conventional cardiac echography were performed by two pediatric cardiologists (intraclass correlation coefficient over 0.85 for all measurements) in three periods during the study protocol.Results: We evaluated 48 children with ALL. TnI increased during therapy, without returning to baseline values one year after diagnosis. HFABP did not show significant changes during the study protocol. Left ventricle outflow tract time-velocity integral and peak systolic septal mitral annulus velocity decreased during chemotherapy and returned to baseline levels at one year after diagnosis, while peak systolic tricuspid annulus velocity and excursion, maintained a descending tendency. Early filling transmitral flow velocity and E/A ratio were also transiently influenced by chemotherapy.Conclusions: The study showed signs of transient cardiotoxicity in the left ventricle and diastolic parameters after chemotherapy, compared to right ventricle parameters which maintained low values even one year after diagnosis. TnI proved to be directly proportional to chemotherapy doses but HFABP was not useful in this setting
Poly(γ-benzyl l-glutamate), by near-ambient pressure XPS
Authors: Jain Varun , Wheeler Joshua J. , Ess Daniel H. , Noack Sebastian , Vacogne Charlotte D. , Schlaad Helmut , Bahr Stephan , Dietrich Paul , Meyer Michael , Thißen Andreas , Linford Matthew R.
Published: November 2019

Near-ambient pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) is a less traditional form of XPS that allows samples to be analyzed at relatively high pressures, i.e., at greater than 2500 Pa. In this study, poly(γ-benzyl l-glutamate) (PBLG) with a molar mass of 11.3 kg/mol was analyzed by NAP-XPS; here, we show the survey, C 1s, N 1s, and O 1s narrow scans of PBLG. The C 1s peak envelope was fitted in three different ways, to five, six, or seven synthetic peaks. In each fit, there was also a shake-up signal. The O 1s narrow scan was well fit with three peaks: C—O and C=O in a 1:2 ratio from the polymer, and a higher energy signal from water vapor. Hartree–Fock orbital energies of a model monomer served as a guide to an additional fit of the C 1s envelope.
Introducing 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years: A New Paradigm Gaining Momentum
Authors: Tremblay Mark S.
Published: November 2019

Background: Emerging research shows that the composition of movement behaviors throughout the day (physical activities, sedentary behaviors, sleep) is related to indicators of health, suggesting previous research that isolated single movement behaviors maybe incomplete, misleading, and/or unnecessarily constrained. Methods: This brief report summarizes evidence to support a 24-hour movement behavior paradigm and efforts to date by a variety of jurisdictions to consult, develop, release, promote, and study 24-hour movement guidelines. It also introduces and summarizes the accompanying series of articles related specifically to 24-hour movement guidelines for the early years. Results: Using robust and transparent processes, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the World Health Organization have developed and released 24-hour movement guidelines for the early years: an integration of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. Other countries are exploring a similar approach and related research is expanding rapidly. Articles related to guideline development in South Africa, the United Kingdom, Australia, and by the World Health Organization are a part of this special series. Conclusions: A new paradigm employing 24-hour movement guidelines for the early years that combines recommendations for movement behaviors across the whole day is gaining momentum across the globe.
Engineering spin-orbit synthetic Hamiltonians in liquid-crystal optical cavities
Authors: Rechcińska Katarzyna , Król Mateusz , Mazur Rafał , Morawiak Przemysław , Mirek Rafał , Łempicka Karolina , Bardyszewski Witold , Matuszewski Michał , Kula Przemysław , Piecek Wiktor , Lagoudakis Pavlos G. , Piętka Barbara , Szczytko Jacek
Published: November 2019

Inducing optical spin-orbit coupling

The coupling of the spin-orbit interactions in solid-state systems can give rise to a wide range of exotic electronic transport effects. But solid-state systems tend to be somewhat limited in their flexibility because the spin-orbit coupling is fixed. By contrast, optical systems have recently been shown to mimic complex solid-state systems, with flexibility in design providing the ability to control and manipulate the system properties. Using a liquid crystal–filled photonic cavity, Rechcińska
et al.
emulated an artificial Rashba-Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling in a photonic system and showed control of an artificial Zeeman splitting. The results illustrate a powerful approach of engineering synthetic Hamiltonians with photons for the simulation of nontrivial condensed matter and quantum phenomena.

Science
, this issue p.
727
Increasing gender diversity in the STEM research workforce
Authors: Greider Carol W. , Sheltzer Jason M. , Cantalupo Nancy C. , Copeland Wilbert B. , Dasgupta Nilanjana , Hopkins Nancy , Jansen Jaclyn M. , Joshua-Tor Leemor , McDowell Gary S. , Metcalf Jessica L. , McLaughlin BethAnn , Olivarius Ann , O'Shea Erin K. , Raymond Jennifer L. , Ruebain David , Steitz Joan A. , Stillman Bruce , Tilghman Shirley M. , Valian Virginia , Villa-Komaroff Lydia , Wong Joyce Y.
Published: November 2019

Policies must address harassment and bias
Double trouble for cancer gene
Authors: Toker Alex
Published: November 2019

Double mutations in an oncogene enhance tumor growth
Beyond the genome: RNA control of stem cells
Authors: Xi Haibin , Pyle April
Published: November 2019

Alternative RNA processing controls muscle stem cell activity in distinct muscles
A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial (TAURCAT Study) of Citrate Lock Solution for Prevention of Endoluminal Central Venous Catheter Infection in Neutropenic Hematological Patients
Authors: Gudiol Carlota , Arnan Montserrat , Aguilar-Guisado Manuela , Royo-Cebrecos Cristina , Sánchez-Ortega Isabel , Montero Isabel , Martín-Gandul Cecilia , Laporte-Amargós Júlia , Albasanz-Puig Adaia , Nicolae Sermed , Perayre Maria , Berbel Damaris , Tebe Cristian , Riera Judith , Sureda Anna , Cisneros José Miguel , Carratalà Jordi
Published: November 2019

Infection of long-term central venous catheters (CVCs) remains a challenge in the clinical management of cancer patients. We aimed to determine whether a lock solution with taurolidine-citrate-heparin would be more effective than placebo for preventing nontunneled CVC infection in high-risk neutropenic hematologic patients.
RedH and PigC Catalyze the Biosynthesis of Hybrubins via Phosphorylation of 4′-Methoxy-2,2′-Bipyrrole-5′-Carbaldehyde
Authors: Long Qingshan , Jeffries Daniel E. , Lin Shuangjun , Chen Xuefei , He Weijun , Wang Yemin , Deng Zixin , Lindsley Craig W. , Tao Meifeng
Published: November 2019

Hybrubins are an emerging class of prodiginines possessing a new C ring derived from 5′-substituted tetramic acids and the methylene bridge connecting the C ring at a different position. We have supposed that condensation between 4′-methoxy-2,2′-bipyrrole-5′-carbaldehyde (MBC) and 5-ethylidenetetramic acid (ETA) yields the hybrid natural products hybrubins, which was proposed to be catalyzed by the undecylprodigiosin synthetase RedH. However, it is doubted whether RedH is able to catalyze another type of condensation between MBC and tetramic acids. In this study, we have demonstrated that the MBC-ETA condensation proceeds through RedH/PigC-catalyzed enzymatic activation of MBC via phosphorylation and a nonenzymatic condensation of Pi-MBC with ETA. Since MBC analogues have been shown to be accepted by PigC, more hybrubin analogues might be produced by using combinations of MBC analogues and other tetramic acids in future studies.
Steryl Ester Formation and Accumulation in Steroid-Degrading Bacteria
Authors: Holert Johannes , Brown Kirstin , Hashimi Ameena , Eltis Lindsay D. , Mohn William W.
Published: November 2019

Oleaginous bacteria exhibit great potential for the production of high-value neutral lipids, such as triacylglycerols and wax esters. This study describes the formation of steryl esters (SEs) as neutral lipid storage compounds in sterol-degrading oleaginous bacteria, providing a basis for biotechnological production of SEs using bacterial systems with potential applications in the functional food, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries. We found cholesteryl ester (CE) formation in several sterol-degrading
Actino
- and
Proteobacteria
under nitrogen-limiting conditions, suggesting an important role of this process in storing energy and carbon under adverse conditions. In addition,
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
grown on cholesterol accumulated CEs in the presence of an additional fatty acid substrate.
Thromboelastographic profiles of healthy very low birthweight infants serially during their first month
Authors: Raffaeli Genny , Tripodi Armando , Cavallaro Giacomo , Cortesi Valeria , Scalambrino Erica , Pesenti Nicola , Artoni Andrea , Mosca Fabio , Ghirardello Stefano
Published: November 2019

Objective

We determined thromboelastographic (TEG) profiles of healthy very low birthweight infants (VLBWIs) of the day of birth and at set intervals during their first month.

Design

Prospective observational study with blinded clinical and laboratory follow-up.

Setting

Level III neonatal intensive care unit (June 2015 to June 2018).

Patients

Consecutive qualifying VLBWIs were enrolled at birth and followed up for 30 days.

Interventions and main outcomes measures

Laboratory (citrated-native TEG, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen, blood count) and clinical variables were retrieved at birth, 3rd–5th, 10th and 30th day of life. Blood samples temporally related to events with a potential hemostatic impact (sepsis, bleeding, platelets/plasma transfusions, ibuprofen/indomethacin administration) were excluded from analysis.

Results

We enrolled 201 VLBWIs and 72 full-term neonates. Sixty-seven of the healthy VLBWIs completed the 30-day follow-up. 541 TEG traces were analysed.

On day 1, the median (minimum–maximum) TEG values were as follows: reaction time (R), 8.2 min (1–21.8); kinetics (K), 2.8 min (0.8–16); α angle, 51° (14.2–80.6); maximum amplitude (MA), 54.9 mm (23.9–76.8). PT and APTT were 15.9 s (11.7–51.2) and 59 s (37.8–97.5), respectively. The above parameters suggest minor hypocoagulability compared with term infants. On day 30, the median (minimum–maximum) R was 5 (1–16.9), K 1 (0.8–4.1), α 74.7 (41.1–86.7) and MA 70.2 (35.8–79.7). PT and APTT were 12.1 (10.4–16.6) and 38.8 (29.6–51.4), respectively. Those parameters are consistent with a relatively hypercoagulable phenotype, compared with term infants.

Conclusions

Healthy VLBWIs have a prolonged PT and APTT, but their TEG profiles suggest a relatively balanced hemostatic system, with slight hypocoagulability initially (compared with term neonates), gradually evolving to a somewhat more procoagulant phenotype over the first month.
Global prevalence of amblyopia and disease burden projections through 2040: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Fu Zhujun , Hong Hao , Su Zhicai , Lou Bin , Pan Chen-Wei , Liu Hu
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Amblyopia is a leading cause of vision impairment among children and young adults. Individual studies showed significant variations in the prevalence of amblyopia in different regions and age groups. This study is to estimate the global prevalence of amblyopia by pooling its prevalence from the previous studies and to project the number of people affected through 2040.

Methods

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence of amblyopia using data published before 20 October 2018. We estimated the prevalence rate of amblyopia and its 95% CI globally and by subgroups (eg, region and age). The prevalence data were applied to United Nations World Population Prospects to derive the projected number with amblyopia through 2040.

Results

A meta-analysis of 60 studies (1 859 327 subjects) showed that the pooled prevalence rate of amblyopia was 1.44% (95% CI 1.17% to 1.78%). Prevalences in Europe (2.90%) and North America (2.41%) were higher than in Asia (1.09%) and Africa (0.72%). The highest prevalence was found in subjects over 20 years old (3.29%). There was no difference in the prevalence between genders. We estimated 99.2 (95% CI 71.7 to 146.1) million people with amblyopia in 2019 worldwide, increasing to 175.2 (95% CI 81.3 to 307.8) million by 2030 and 221.9 (95% CI 83.7 to 429.2) million by 2040.

Conclusions

The amblyopia is becoming a significant vision problem worldwide. It is of great importance to design and implement amblyopia screening, treatment and related public health strategies.
Macular dystrophies: clinical and imaging features, molecular genetics and therapeutic options
Authors: Rahman Najiha , Georgiou Michalis , Khan Kamron N , Michaelides Michel
Published: November 2019

Macular dystrophies (MDs) consist of a heterogeneous group of disorders that are characterised by bilateral symmetrical central visual loss. Advances in genetic testing over the last decade have led to improved knowledge of the underlying molecular basis. The developments in high-resolution multimodal retinal imaging have also transformed our ability to make accurate and more timely diagnoses and more sensitive quantitative assessment of disease progression, and allowed the design of optimised clinical trial endpoints for novel therapeutic interventions. The aim of this review was to provide an update on MDs, including Stargardt disease, Best disease, X-linked r etinoschisis, pattern dystrophy, Sorsby fundus dystrophy and autosomal dominant drusen. It highlights the range of innovations in retinal imaging, genotype–phenotype and structure–function associations, animal models of disease and the multiple treatment strategies that are currently in clinical trial or planned in the near future, which are anticipated to lead to significant changes in the management of patients with MDs.
Trajectories of physical activity from midlife to old age and associations with subsequent cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality
Authors: Aggio Daniel , Papachristou Efstathios , Papacosta Olia , Lennon Lucy T , Ash Sarah , Whincup Peter , Wannamethee S Goya , Jefferis Barbara J
Published: November 2019

Introduction

It is well established that physical activity (PA) protects against mortality and morbidity, but how long-term patterns of PA are associated with mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains unclear.

Methods

3231 men recruited to the British Regional Heart Study, a prospective cohort study, reported usual PA levels at baseline in 1978–1980 (aged 40–59 years) and at 12-year, 16-year and 20-year follow ups. Twenty-year trajectories of PA, spanning from 1978/1980 to 2000, were identified using group-based trajectory modelling. Men were subsequently followed up until 30 June 2016 for mortality through National Health Service central registers and for non-fatal CVD events through primary and secondary care records. Data analyses were conducted in 2019.

Results

Three PA trajectories were identified: low/decreasing (22.7%), light/stable (51.0%) and moderate/increasing (26.3%). Over a median follow-up of 16.4 years, there were 1735 deaths. Compared with the low/decreasing group, membership of the light/stable (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.94) and moderate/increasing (HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.88) groups was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality. Similar associations were observed for CVD mortality, major coronary heart disease and all CVD events. Associations were only partially explained by a range of confounders. Sensitivity analyses suggested that survival benefits were largely driven by most recent/current PA.

Conclusions

A dose-response relationship was observed, with higher levels of PA from midlife to old age associated with additional benefits. However, even fairly modest and sustained PA was protective and may be more achievable for the most inactive.
NEK11 as a candidate high-penetrance melanoma susceptibility gene
Authors: Christodoulou Eirini , van Doorn Remco , Visser Mijke , Teunisse Amina , Versluis Mieke , van der Velden Pieter , Hayward Nicholas K , Jochemsen Aart , Gruis Nelleke
Published: November 2019

Background

A proportion of patients diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma reports a positive family history. Inherited variants in CDKN2A and several other genes have been shown to predispose to melanoma; however, the genetic basis of familial melanoma remains unknown in most cases. The objective of this study was to provide insight into the genetic basis of familial melanoma.

Methods

In order to identify novel melanoma susceptibility genes, whole exome sequencing (WES) analysis was applied in a Dutch family with melanoma. The causality of a candidate variant was characterised by performing cosegregation analysis in five affected family members using patient-derived tissues and digital droplet PCR analysis to accurately quantify mutant allele frequency. Functional in-vitro studies were performed to assess the pathogenicity of the candidate variant.

Results

Application of WES identified a rare, nonsense variant in the NEK11 gene (c.1120C>T, p.Arg374Ter), cosegregating in all five affected members of a Dutch family. NEK11 (NIMA-related Kinase 11) is involved in the DNA damage response, enforcing the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint. In a melanoma from a variant carrier, somatic loss of the wildtype allele of this putative tumour suppressor gene was demonstrated. Functional analyses showed that the NEK11 p.Arg374Ter mutation results in strongly reduced expression of the truncated protein caused by proteasomal degradation.

Conclusion

The NEK11 p.Arg374Ter variant identified in this family leads to loss-of-function through protein instability. Collectively, these findings support NEK11 as a melanoma susceptibility gene.
Return to work after critical illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Kamdar Biren B , Suri Rajat , Suchyta Mary R , Digrande Kyle F , Sherwood Kyla D , Colantuoni Elizabeth , Dinglas Victor D , Needham Dale M , Hopkins Ramona O
Published: November 2019

Background

Survivors of critical illness often experience poor outcomes after hospitalisation, including delayed return to work, which carries substantial economic consequences.

Objective

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of return to work after critical illness.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Cochrane Library from 1970 to February 2018. Data were extracted, in duplicate, and random-effects meta-regression used to obtain pooled estimates.

Results

Fifty-two studies evaluated return to work in 10 015 previously employed survivors of critical illness, over a median (IQR) follow-up of 12 (6.25–38.5) months. By 1–3, 12 and 42–60 months’ follow-up, pooled return to work prevalence (95% CI) was 36% (23% to 49%), 60% (50% to 69%) and 68% (51% to 85%), respectively (τ2=0.55, I2=87%, p=0.03). No significant difference was observed based on diagnosis (acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) vs non-ARDS) or region (Europe vs North America vs Australia/New Zealand), but was observed when comparing mode of employment evaluation (in-person vs telephone vs mail). Following return to work, 20%–36% of survivors experienced job loss, 17%–66% occupation change and 5%–84% worsening employment status (eg, fewer work hours). Potential risk factors for delayed return to work include pre-existing comorbidities and post-hospital impairments (eg, mental health).

Conclusion

Approximately two-thirds, two-fifths and one-third of previously employed intensive care unit survivors are jobless up to 3, 12 and 60 months following hospital discharge. Survivors returning to work often experience job loss, occupation change or worse employment status. Interventions should be designed and evaluated to reduce the burden of this common and important problem for survivors of critical illness.

Trial registration number

PROSPERO CRD42018093135.
Electromagnetic instability and Schwinger effect in the Witten–Sakai–Sugimoto model with D0–D4 background
Authors: Cai Wenhe , Li Kang-le , Li Si-wen
Published: November 2019

Using the Witten–Sakai–Sugimoto model in the D0–D4 background, we holographically compute the vacuum decay rate of the Schwinger effect in this model. Our calculation contains the influence of the D0-brane density which could be identified as the $$\theta $$θ angle or chiral potential in QCD. Under the strong electromagnetic fields, the instability appears due to the creation of quark–antiquark pairs and the associated decay rate can be obtained by evaluating the imaginary part of the effective Euler–Heisenberg action which is identified as the action of the probe brane with a constant electromagnetic field. In the bubble D0–D4 configuration, we find the decay rate decreases when the $$\theta $$θ angle increases since the vacuum becomes heavier in the present of the glue condensate in this system. And the decay rate matches to the result in the black D0–D4 configuration at zero temperature limit according to our calculations. In this sense, the Hawking–Page transition of this model could be consistently interpreted as the confined/deconfined phase transition. Additionally there is another instability from the D0-brane itself in this system and we suggest that this instability reflects to the vacuum decay triggered by the $$\theta $$θ angle as it is known in the $$\theta $$θ-dependent QCD.
Scotogenic cobimaximal Dirac neutrino mixing from $$\Delta (27)$$ and $$U(1)_\chi $$
Authors: Ma Ernest
Published: November 2019

In the context of$$SU(3)_C \times SU(2)_L \times U(1)_Y \times U(1)_\chi $$SU(3)C×SU(2)L×U(1)Y×U(1)χ, where$$U(1)_\chi $$U(1)χcomes from$$SO(10) \rightarrow SU(5) \times U(1)_\chi $$SO(10)→SU(5)×U(1)χ, supplemented by the non-Abelian discrete$$\Delta (27)$$Δ(27)symmetry for three lepton families, Dirac neutrino masses and their mixing are radiatively generated through dark matter. The gauge$$U(1)_\chi $$U(1)χsymmetry is broken spontaneously. The discrete$$\Delta (27)$$Δ(27)symmetry is broken softly and spontaneously. Together, they result in two residual symmetries, a global$$U(1)_L$$U(1)Llepton number and a dark symmetry, which may be$$Z_2$$Z2,$$Z_3$$Z3, or$$U(1)_D$$U(1)Ddepending on what scalar breaks$$U(1)_\chi $$U(1)χ. Cobimaximal neutrino mixing, i.e.$$\theta _{13} \ne 0$$θ13≠0,$$\theta _{23} = \pi /4$$θ23=π/4, and$$\delta _{CP} = \pm \pi /2$$δCP=±π/2, may also be obtained.
Structure and magnetic properties of PP+Fe3O4 nanocomposites depending on manufacturing techniques
Authors: Ramazanov M. A. , Shirinova H. A. , Hajiyeva F. V. , Karimova A. Kh.
Published: November 2019

The structures and magnetic properties of the PP[Formula: see text]+[Formula: see text]Fe3O4 nanocomposites manufactured by different technological techniques were studied in this work. Polymeric nanocomposite materials based on PP[Formula: see text]+[Formula: see text]Fe3O4 were obtained by two technological methods: hot pressing and extrusion. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and AFM investigations of nanocomposites were carried out for structure analysis. It was found that the distribution of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the polymer matrix for nanocomposites obtained by the hot pressing method is uniform and monodisperse. Compared to this, the heterogeneous and inhomogeneous distribution of nanoparticles in the polymer matrix for the samples that were produced through extrusion method was observed. Furthermore, the nanocomposite samples produced via the extraction method have a lower surface regularity rather than those obtained by hot pressing. M(H) and M(T) studies of polymer nanocomposite samples synthesized through both technological methods were performed. Studies have shown that for relatively low concentrated samples — PP[Formula: see text]+[Formula: see text]10% Fe3O4, the values of the saturation magnetization were close, but the magnetization of nanocomposites obtained by heat pressing was slightly higher than the other samples. This is because the samples obtained by hot pressing method are characterized by higher uniformity and structure that is called “flat packaging”.
A high-performance graphene based asymmetric supercapacitor
Authors: Bokhari Syeda Wishal , Siddique Ahmad Hassan , Singh Harshpreet , Hayat Muhammad Dilawer , Zhu Shenmin , Gao Wei
Published: November 2019

We present the design of a high-performance 2 V asymmetric supercapacitor made of graphene-based hybrid nanocomposites in 1 M KOH electrolyte. rGO-CNT-FeOOH (GC-F) was used as the cathode and rGO-CNC-MnO2 (GC-M) as the anode. Both composites well balanced each other in the asymmetric device and gave a high electrochemical performance. The energy density of this ASC is 66.6 W h kg[Formula: see text] at 3.8 kW kg[Formula: see text] power density with an excellent capacitance retention of 88% after 3000 galvanostatic charge-discharge cycles.
Comic-guided speech synthesis
Authors: Wang Yujia , Wang Wenguan , Liang Wei , Yu Lap-Fai
Published: November 2019

We introduce a novel approach for synthesizing realistic speeches for comics. Using a comic page as input, our approach synthesizes speeches for each comic character following the reading flow. It adopts a cascading strategy to synthesize speeches in two stages: Comic Visual Analysis and Comic Speech Synthesis. In the first stage, the input comic page is analyzed to identify the gender and age of the characters, as well as texts each character speaks and corresponding emotion. Guided by this analysis, in the second stage, our approach synthesizes realistic speeches for each character, which are consistent with the visual observations. Our experiments show that the proposed approach can synthesize realistic and lively speeches for different types of comics. Perceptual studies performed on the synthesis results of multiple sample comics validate the efficacy of our approach.
The reduced immersed method for real-time fluid-elastic solid interaction and contact simulation
Authors: Brandt Christopher , Scandolo Leonardo , Eisemann Elmar , Hildebrandt Klaus
Published: November 2019

We introduce the Reduced Immersed Method (
RIM
) for the real-time simulation of two-way coupled incompressible fluids and elastic solids and the interaction of multiple deformables with (self-)collisions. Our framework is based on a novel discretization of the
immersed boundary equations of motion
, which model fluid and deformables as a single incompressible medium and their interaction as a unified system on a fixed domain combining Eulerian and Lagrangian terms. One advantage for real-time simulations resulting from this modeling is that two-way coupling phenomena can be faithfully simulated while avoiding costly calculations such as tracking the deforming fluid-solid interfaces and the associated fluid boundary conditions. Our discretization enables the combination of a PIC/FLIP fluid solver with a reduced-order Lagrangian elasticity solver. Crucial for the performance of RIM is the efficient transfer of information between the elasticity and the fluid solver and the synchronization of the Lagrangian and Eulerian settings. We introduce the concept of
twin subspaces
that enables an efficient reduced-order modeling of the transfer. Our experiments demonstrate that RIM handles complex meshes and highly resolved fluids for large time steps at high framerates on off-the-shelf hardware, even in the presence of high velocities and rapid user interaction. Furthermore, it extends reduced-order elasticity solvers such as Hyper-Reduced Projective Dynamics with natural collision handling.
Non-linear sphere tracing for rendering deformed signed distance fields
Authors: Seyb Dario , Jacobson Alec , Nowrouzezahrai Derek , Jarosz Wojciech
Published: November 2019

Signed distance fields (SDFs) are a powerful
implicit
representation for modeling solids, volumes and surfaces. Their infinite resolution, controllable continuity and robust constructive solid geometry operations, coupled with smooth blending, enable powerful and intuitive sculpting tools for creating complex SDF models. SDF metric properties also admit efficient surface rendering with sphere tracing. Unfortunately, SDFs remain incompatible with many popular direct deformation techniques which re-position a surface via its
explicit
representation. Linear blend skinning used in character articulation, for example, directly displaces each vertex of a triangle mesh. To overcome this limitation, we propose a variant of sphere tracing for directly rendering deformed SDFs. We show that this problem reduces to integrating a non-linear ordinary differential equation. We propose an efficient numerical solution, with controllable error, which first automatically computes an initial value along each cast ray before walking conservatively along a curved ray in the undeformed space according to the signed distance. Importantly, our approach does not require knowledge, computation or even global existence of the inverse deformation, which allows us to readily apply many existing forward deformations. We demonstrate our method's effectiveness for interactive rendering of a variety of popular deformation techniques that were, to date, limited to explicit surfaces.
Checkerboard patterns with black rectangles
Authors: Peng Chi-Han , Jiang Caigui , Wonka Peter , Pottmann Helmut
Published: November 2019

Checkerboard patterns with black rectangles can be derived from quad meshes with orthogonal diagonals. First, we present an initial theoretical analysis of these quad meshes. The analysis reveals many possible applications in geometry processing and also motivates the numerical optimization for aesthetic and functional checkerboard pattern design. Second, we describe an optimization algorithm that transforms initial 2D and 3D quad meshes into quad meshes with orthogonal diagonals. Third, we present a 2D checkerboard pattern design framework based on integer programming inspired by the logo design of the 2020 Olympic games. Our results show a variety of 2D and 3D checkerboard patterns that can be derived from 2D or 3D quad meshes with orthogonal diagonals.
Carpentry compiler
Authors: Wu Chenming , Zhao Haisen , Nandi Chandrakana , Lipton Jeffrey I. , Tatlock Zachary , Schulz Adriana
Published: November 2019

Traditional manufacturing workflows strongly decouple design and fabrication phases. As a result, fabrication-related objectives such as manufacturing time and precision are difficult to optimize in the design space, and vice versa. This paper presents HL-HELM, a high-level, domain-specific language for expressing abstract, parametric fabrication plans; it also introduces LL-HELM, a low-level language for expressing concrete fabrication plans that take into account the physical constraints of available manufacturing processes. We present a new compiler that supports the real-time, unoptimized translation of high-level, geometric fabrication operations into concrete, tool-specific fabrication instructions; this gives users immediate feedback on the physical feasibility of plans as they design them. HELM offers novel optimizations to improve accuracy and reduce fabrication time as well as material costs. Finally, optimized low-level plans can be interpreted as step-by-step instructions for users to actually fabricate a physical product. We provide a variety of example fabrication plans in the carpentry domain that are designed using our high-level language, show how the compiler translates and optimizes these plans to generate concrete low-level instructions, and present the final physical products fabricated in wood.
The camera offset space
Authors: Hladky Jozef , Seidel Hans-Peter , Steinberger Markus
Published: November 2019

Potential visibility has historically always been of importance when rendering performance was insufficient. With the rise of virtual reality, rendering power may once again be insufficient, e.g., for integrated graphics of head-mounted displays. To tackle the issue of efficient potential visibility computations on modern graphics hardware, we introduce the camera offset space (COS). Opposite to how traditional visibility computations work---where one determines which pixels are covered by an object under all potential viewpoints---the COS describes under which camera movement a sample location is covered by a triangle. In this way, the COS opens up a new set of possibilities for visibility computations. By evaluating the pairwise relations of triangles in the COS, we show how to efficiently determine occluded triangles. Constructing the COS for all pixels of a rendered view leads to a complete potentially visible set (PVS) for complex scenes. By fusing triangles to larger occluders, including locations between pixel centers, and considering camera rotations, we describe an exact PVS algorithm that includes all viewing directions inside a view cell. Implementing the COS is a combination of real-time rendering and compute steps. We provide the first GPU PVS implementation that works without preprocessing, on-the-fly, on unconnected triangles. This opens the door to a new approach of rendering for virtual reality head-mounted displays and server-client settings for streaming 3D applications such as video games.
Curve-pleated structures
Authors: Jiang Caigui , Mundilova Klara , Rist Florian , Wallner Johannes , Pottmann Helmut
Published: November 2019

In this paper we study pleated structures generated by folding paper along curved creases. We discuss their properties and the special case of principal pleated structures. A discrete version of pleated structures is particularly interesting because of the rich geometric properties of the principal case, where we are able to establish a series of analogies between the smooth and discrete situations, as well as several equivalent characterizations of the principal property. These include being a conical mesh, and being flat-foldable. This structure-preserving discretization is the basis of computation and design. We propose a new method for designing pleated structures and reconstructing reference shapes as pleated structures: we first gain an overview of possible crease patterns by establishing a connection to pseudogeodesics, and then initialize and optimize a quad mesh so as to become a discrete pleated structure. We conclude by showing applications in design and reconstruction, including cases with combinatorial singularities. Our work is relevant to fabrication in so far as the offset properties of principal pleated structures allow us to construct curved sculptures of finite thickness.
Mandoline
Authors: Tao Michael , Batty Christopher , Fiume Eugene , Levin David I. W.
Published: November 2019

Although geometry arising "in the wild" most often comes in the form of a surface representation, a plethora of geometrical and physical applications require the construction of volumetric embeddings either of the geometry itself or the domain surrounding it. Cartesian cut-cell-based mesh generation provides an attractive solution in which volumetric elements are constructed from the intersection of the input surface geometry with a uniform or adaptive hexahedral grid. This choice, especially common in computational fluid dynamics, has the potential to efficiently generate accurate, surface-conforming cells; unfortunately, current solutions are often slow, fragile, or cannot handle many common topological situations. We therefore propose a novel, robust cut-cell construction technique for triangle surface meshes that explicitly computes the precise geometry of the intersection cells, even on meshes that are open or non-manifold. Its fundamental geometric primitive is the intersection of an arbitrary segment with an axis-aligned plane. Beginning from the set of intersection points between triangle mesh edges and grid planes, our bottom-up approach robustly determines cut-edges, cut-faces, and finally cut-cells, in a manner designed to guarantee topological correctness. We demonstrate its effectiveness and speed on a wide range of input meshes and grid resolutions, and make the code available as open source.
Video-guided real-to-virtual parameter transfer for viscous fluids
Authors: Takahashi Tetsuya , Lin Ming C.
Published: November 2019

In physically-based simulation, it is essential to choose appropriate material parameters to generate desirable simulation results. In many cases, however, choosing appropriate material parameters is very challenging, and often tedious trial-and-error parameter tuning steps are inevitable. In this paper, we propose a real-to-virtual parameter transfer framework that identifies material parameters of viscous fluids with example video data captured from real-world phenomena. Our method first extracts positional data of fluids and then uses the extracted data as a reference to identify the viscosity parameters, combining forward viscous fluid simulations and parameter optimization in an iterative process. We evaluate our method with a range of synthetic and real-world example data, and demonstrate that our method can identify the hidden physical variables and viscosity parameters. This set of recovered physical variables and parameters can then be effectively used in novel scenarios to generate viscous fluid behaviors visually consistent with the example videos.