bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Automated Hybrid Approach for Generating Requirements Trace Links
Authors: Wang Bangchao , Peng Rong , Wang Zhuo , Wang Xiaomin , Li Yuanbang
Published: August 2020

Trace links between requirements and software artifacts provide available traceability information and in-depth insights for different stakeholders. Unfortunately, establishing requirements trace links is a tedious, labor-intensive and fallible task. To alleviate this problem, Information Retrieval (IR) methods, such as Vector Space Model (VSM), Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI), and their variants, have been widely used to establish trace links automatically. But with the widespread use of agile development methodology, artifacts that can be used to generate automatic tracing links are getting shorter and shorter, which decreases the effects of traditional IR-based trace link generation methods. In this paper, Biterm Topic Model–Genetic Algorithm (BTM–GA), which is effective in managing short-text artifacts and configuring initial parameters, is introduced. A hybrid method VSM[Formula: see text]BTM–GA is proposed to generate requirements trace links. Empirical experiments conducted on five real and frequently-used datasets indicate that (1) the hybrid method VSM+BTM[Formula: see text]GA outperforms the others, and its results can achieve the “Good” level, where recall and precision are no less than 70% and 30%, respectively; (2) the performance of the hybrid method is stable and (3) BTM–GA can provide a number of “hard-to-find” trace links that complement the candidate trace links of VSM.
Total evidence or taxonomic congruence? A comparison of methods for combining biological evidence
Authors: Villalobos-Cid Manuel , Salinas Francisco , Inostroza-Ponta Mario
Published: August 2020

Phylogenetic inference proposes an evolutionary hypothesis for a group of taxa which is usually represented as a phylogenetic tree. The use of several distinct biological evidence has shown to produce more resolved phylogenies than single evidence approaches. Currently, two conflicting paradigms are applied to combine biological evidence: taxonomic congruence (TC) and total evidence (TE). Although the literature recommends the application of these paradigms depending on the congruence of the input data, the resultant evolutionary hypotheses could vary according to the strategy used to combine the biological evidence biasing the resultant topologies of the trees. In this work, we evaluate the ability of different strategies associated with both paradigms to produce integrated evolutionary hypotheses by considering different features of the data: missing biological evidence, diversity among sequences, complexity, and congruence. Using datasets from the literature, we compare the resultant trees with reference hypotheses obtained by applying two inference criteria: maximum parsimony and likelihood. The results show that methods associated with TE paradigm are more robust compared to TC methods, obtaining trees with more similar topologies in relation to reference trees. These results are obtained regardless of (1) the features of the data, (2) the estimated evolutionary rates, and (3) the criteria used to infer the reference evolutionary hypotheses.
Organic Amendments for Pathogen and Nematode Control
Authors: Rosskopf Erin , Di Gioia Francesco , Hong Jason C. , Pisani Cristina , Kokalis-Burelle Nancy
Published: August 2020

The loss of methyl bromide as a soil fumigant and minimal advances in the development and registration of new chemical fumigants has resulted in a resurgence of interest in the application of organic amendments (OAs) for soilborne plant pathogen and plant-parasitic nematode management. Significant progress has been made in the characterization of OAs, application of strategies for their use, and elucidation of mechanisms by which they suppress soilborne pests. Nonetheless, their utility is limited by the variability of disease control, expense, and the logistics of introducing them into crop production systems. Recent advances in molecular techniques have led to significant progress in the elucidation of the role of bacteria and fungi and their metabolic products on disease suppression with the addition of OAs. Biosolarization and anaerobic soil disinfestation, developed to manipulate systems and favor beneficial microorganisms to maximize their impact on plant pathogens, are built on a strong historical research foundation in OAs and the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of disease-suppressive soils. This review focuses on recent applications of OAs and their potential for the management of soilborne plant pathogens and plant-parasitic nematodes, with emphasis primarily on annual fruit and vegetable production systems.
Coronary and cerebral metabolism-blood flow coupling and pulmonary alveolar ventilation-blood flow coupling may be disabled during acute carbon monoxide poisoning
Authors: Coburn Ronald F.
Published: August 2020

This article introduces and supports a postulate that the tissue hypoxia component of carbon monoxide poisoning results in part from impairment of physiological adaptation mechanisms whereby tissues can match regional blood flow to O2uptake, and the lung can match regional blood flow to alveolar ventilation.
Stability Analysis of Optimal Trajectory for Nonlinear Optimal Control Problems
Authors: Deng Hongyong , Zhang Wei , Shen Changchun
Published: August 2020

Due to the need for numerical calculation and mathematical modelling, this paper focuses on the stability of optimal trajectories for optimal control problems. The basic ideas and techniques are based on the compactness of the optimal trajectory set and set-valued mapping theorem. Through lack of optimal control stability, the result of generic stability for optimal trajectories is obtained under the perturbations of the right-hand side functions of the state equations; in the sense of Baire category, the right-hand side functions of the state equations of optimal control can be approximated by other functions.
The Protective Effects of 18β-Glycyrrhetinic Acid on Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis in Mice via Suppression of mTOR/STAT3 Signaling
Authors: Chen Haiming , Liu Huazhen , Tang Bin , Chen Yuchao , Han Ling , Yu Jingjie , Yan Yuhong , Lu Chuanjian
Published: August 2020

Psoriasis is recognized as an autoimmune and inflammatory dermatosis, which is estimated to affect 2-3% of the population worldwide. 18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), one of the main ingredients of Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.), has been shown to have numerous pharmacological effects such as antioxidative, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, it remains to be explored whether GA has antipsoriatic effect on psoriasis. In this study, we evaluated the protective effect of GA on psoriasis and its mechanisms of action in imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like mouse model. Results indicated that GA dramatically improved psoriatic lesions and reduced psoriasis area and severity index scores. GA also suppressed the mRNA levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-17, IL-23, and IL-1β in the skin and increased the proportion of CD4+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in both lymph nodes and spleens. Its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities may be related to its suppression of the STAT3 and mTOR signaling. In conclusion, GA ameliorated the symptoms of psoriasis, at least in part, through inhibition of inflammatory cytokines and STAT3/mTOR signaling and activation of Tregs in both lymph nodes and spleens. These effects are expected to be beneficial in the treatment and prevention of psoriasis.
Onkologische Rehabilitation: Was Patienten wollen
Authors: Dauelsberg Timm
Published: August 2020

Introduction: Rehabilitation for cancer patients aims at preventing and reducing the physical, mental, social and existential consequences of a cancer disease and its treatment. The aim of this study is to describe the patients’ self-perceived interest in participating in cancer rehabilitation (CR). Material and methods: A total of 1179 cancer patients, diagnosed with 28 different cancer diagnoses, from November 2015 to October 2016, were identified via the national cancer quality registers. A questionnaire was developed for the purpose of this study, the Cancer Rehabilitation Interest. The questionnaire comprises 16 different rehabilitation activities. This study describes what activities the patients are interested to participate in. Results: The response rate was 62% and the final sample comprised 728 patients. The rehabilitation activities wanted by the cancer patients were Psychoeducational support group together with others with the same cancer diagnosis, Open lectures on cancer, Individual weight training with a physiotherapist and Personal support from a social worker. Most interested in cancer rehabilitation were women, younger patients, university educated patients and those who had received their diagnosis ≥12 months prior. Patients with a mandatory educational level had the lowest interest in all suggested activities compared with those having medium or high education. Conclusions: The interest of cancer rehabilitation of all approached patients in this study were 21%. Most interested were women, young patients, university educated and those who received their diagnosis ≥12 months earlier. About 30% of the participating cancer patients reported an interest of information and supportive groups, physical training and support from a hospital social worker. Patients with low level of education reported a low interest in CR. There are limitations in rehabilitation accessibility and that might affect a person’s motivation to participate in this study.
Association of
APOL1
Genotypes With Measures of Microvascular and Endothelial Function, and Blood Pressure in MESA
Authors: Chen Teresa K. , Katz Ronit , Estrella Michelle M. , Post Wendy S. , Kramer Holly , Rotter Jerome I. , Tayo Bamidele , Mychaleckyj Josyf C. , Wassel Christina L. , Peralta Carmen A.
Published: August 2020

Background

APOL1
high‐risk genotypes are associated with increased risk for hypertension‐attributed kidney disease among Black adults in the United States. Biopsy studies show differences in kidney vasculature by
APOL1
status; less is known about the variants' associations with systemic vascular and endothelial function. Whether
APOL1
risk variants are associated with blood pressure (BP) is also uncertain.

Methods and Results

Using linear regression, we examined cross‐sectional associations of
APOL1
risk genotypes (high=2 risk alleles, low=0 or 1 risk allele) with subclinical measures of vascular function (small arterial elasticity, n=1586; large arterial elasticity, n=1586; ascending aortic distensibility, n=985) and endothelial function (flow‐mediated dilation, n=777). Using linear mixed‐effects models, we studied longitudinal associations of
APOL1
risk genotypes with BP (n=1619), adjusting for age, sex, and African ancestry. Among 1619 (12%
APOL1
high‐risk) Black participants in MESA (Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis), mean age was 62 years old, 58% had hypertension, and mean systolic BP was 131 mm Hg at baseline. At examination 1 (2000–2002), there was no significant difference in small arterial elasticity, large arterial elasticity, ascending aortic distensibility, or flow‐mediated dilation in participants with
APOL1
high‐ versus low‐risk genotypes (
P
>0.05 for all). Over a mean follow‐up of 7.8 years, relative annual changes in systolic and diastolic BP and pulse pressure did not differ significantly by
APOL1
risk status (between‐group differences of −0.20, −0.14, and −0.25, respectively;
P
>0.05 for all).

Conclusions

Among Black participants in MESA,
APOL1
high‐risk genotypes were not associated with subclinical vascular and endothelial function or BP trajectories. The relationship of
APOL1
with kidney disease may be intrinsic to the kidney rather than through peripheral effects on systemic vasculature or BP.
The Purpose of Purification in Leviticus 16: A Proposition Pertaining to Priestly Prepositions
Authors: Baden Joel S.
Published: August 2020

The general function of the ritual described in Leviticus 16 is well known: it removes the impurities and the sins – unintentional and intentional – of the Israelites. A number of factors, however, contribute to obscure both some of the details about how the ritual operates and how it is conceived within the broader priestly ideology. This paper will attempt to clarify some issues relating to this text, with particular attention to the use of prepositions therein.
No Home in this World: The Case against John Yoo before the International Criminal Court
Authors: Romm Jake
Published: August 2020

Former Office of Legal Counsel lawyer John Yoo’s criminal liability for the U.S. Torture Program has been a topic of debate ever since the so-called ‘Torture Memos’ came to light. The debate has primarily focused on the criminal case against Yoo under domestic U.S. law or under abstract notions of ‘international law’. In light of the International Criminal Court’s investigation into the situation in Afghanistan there is reason to hope for a possible indictment of Yoo. This article fills in a gap in the literature surrounding Yoo’s culpability by straightforwardly delineating the prima facie case against John Yoo under the Rome Statute.
On Childbirth Rituals in Modern Dagestani Cities: Islam, Traditions, Innovations
Authors: Bulatov Bashir , Seferbekov Magomedkhabib , Seferbekov Ruslan
Published: August 2020

The article explores some aspects of modern childbirth rituals and practices among the city dwellers of Dagestan, focusing on their syncretic nature and the mixture of traditional and new customs. Proper Islamic religious ceremonies occupy a significant place in the childbirth rituals, among them being mawlid, on the occasion of the birth, name-giving of a new-born, circumcision, visiting ziyarats, etc. Traditional ceremonies include the custom of treating a new mother with flour porridge, putting a child in a traditional cradle, the first hair-cut ceremony, the loss of the first tooth, the first steps of the child, etc. Some of the popular rites were invented in the Soviet and post-Soviet times.
Did Jesus Anticipate Suffering a Violent Death?
Authors: Barber Michael Patrick
Published: August 2020

This article enters into the debate over the place of memory studies in Jesus research by examining the question of whether or not Jesus anticipated his demise, analyzing the method and arguments of Dale Allison’s, Constructing Jesus (2010) as a test case. It responds to criticisms of Allison’s work, demonstrating that his approach relies on more than a mere appeal to the general trustworthiness of early memories about Jesus. Although critical of the standard ‘criteria of authenticity,’ Allison makes his case for the eschatological character of Jesus’ perspective by highlighting other indicators of historical plausibility. In sum, this paper demonstrates that memory research has much to offer Jesus studies, though its application must be carefully supplemented with other considerations.
Kinship in the Diplomacy of Theoderic the Great
Authors: Bespalchikova Yana
Published: August 2020

This article addresses the active matrimonial diplomacy of Theoderic the Great, its textual design, kin rhetoric and its possible patterns. The main issue of this article is the attempt to understand whether there were any Germanic patterns of behaviour that correlate with the Latin rhetorical design of Theoderic’s matrimonial diplomacy. The main source used is the Variae, a letter collection of Cassiodorus Senator.
Christian Identity of the Crimean Goths
Authors: Vinogradov Andrey , Korobov Maksim
Published: August 2020

The newly found Gothic inscriptions from Crimea reopened the question of the Christian identity of the Crimean Goths in its interrelation with the Greek-Byzantine environment. The Mangup graffito I.1 and the Late Medieval inscription from Bakhchysarai both contain the acronymised formula ‘(Saviour) God Jesus’ which we think was a purposeful declaration of the Gothic community’s Orthodox Nicene allegiance. The expanded variant of Ps. 76:15 in the graffito of Mangup proves its liturgical character and the involvement of the Crimean Goths with Byzantine liturgical processes. The alternative counting of weekdays which from the 11th century onwards is epigraphically attesed in the Gothic eparchy in Crimea may have its origin in the Gothic church calendar of the 4th–5th century and have influenced neighbouring peoples of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.
‘Perfidious Goth’, Holy Martyrs Cult and the Memory of Roman Troops in 5th Century Edessa
Authors: Muravyev Alexey
Published: August 2020

The present article deals with the literary image of a Gothic man who happened to be in Edessa in the 5th century AD as a part of Roman auxiliary troops. He is reported to marry there a local girl under pretext of being a celibatarian. Having left Syria for Gothia, it turned out that he was married and had children. The Syrian wife became a slave and suffered a lot before returning miraculously back to Edessa. From the comparative study of the sources it becomes clear that the Gothic auxiliary troops were summoned to Edessa in connection with the advance of the Huns. Notwithstanding the common equation of Goths and Getae, the Gothic soldier in question was Germanic and not Getan (Dacian). The last question is the character of the marriage gift he presented for his temporary marriage.
Pitch Accent and Melody in Aeschylean Song
Authors: Conser Anna
Published: August 2020

This article presents empirical evidence that pitch accents played a role in the antistrophic songs of Aeschylus’ tragedies, and argues that the accentual melodies preserved in the texts can usefully contribute to our interpretation of tragic lyric. Following a general Introduction, Section 2 provides an overview of the historical principles by which pitch accent and melody are coordinated in the ancient musical documents, and considers how these principles would apply in the context of tragedy’s antistrophic song. Section 3 presents the results of a computational study of pitch accent responsion across all the extant lyrics of Aeschylus, finding the overall degree of responsion to be statistically significant compared to prose and verse control groups. In Section 4, I demonstrate how the melodic traces preserved in pitch accent patterns can be meaningfully related to the lyrics they accompany, using an example from the Kommos of Libation Bearers (434-43).
A Classical Athenian Grave (No 48, 470–50 BC) and Its Content from the Area between the So-Called ‘Ēriai’ Gate and the Dipylon
Authors: Kokkoliou Antonia
Published: August 2020

During a rescue excavation a section of a cemetery dated between the Geometric and Hellenistic periods came to light, approximately 300 metres away from the archaeological site of the Kerameikos, along the ancient road that linked the route of the Dēmosion Sēma with the road that passed through the so-called ‘Ēriai’ Gate, and near the Sanctuary of Artemis Aristē and Callistē. Of the 91 graves that were unearthed, two are of particular interest. This paper offers an in-depth discussion of Grave 48, dated to 470-50 BC, which belongs to a boy aged between ten and thirteen years. The grave contains lekythoi, a strigil, a lyre and an aulos, deposited as grave goods next to his left arm. The grave goods that characterize the life of the dead are buried along with the body and symbolize their unlived future: hence they express the unbounded grief which the death of unmarried young men inevitably causes. The paper attempts to analyse the grave goods as symbols of the life of the deceased, and interpret the presence of the lyre in children’s graves.
Pseudo-Psellus’ Synopsis of Music
Authors: Di Mambro Sofia
Published: August 2020

This paper focuses on some quotations of Pseudo-Psellus’ treatise on music. Three quotations are provided and discussed: the well-known one by Manuel Bryennius, and two others by Joannes Zonaras and Michael Italicus. The Byzantine tendency to preserve pagan contents within Christian categories, together with the unique presence of this text in the overview of the ancient theoretical tradition, may be the main reasons for its wide circulation in the Byzantine world.
For a Modest Human Exceptionalism
Authors: Kruks Sonia
Published: August 2020

The “new materialisms” offer an important critique of “human exceptionalism,” challenging deeply held conceptions of “man” as a “sovereign subject.” However, they tend to overstate their claims by ignoring those qualities of freedom that still remain distinctive to human life. This article turns to Beauvoir to make a case for a more “modest” human exceptionalism: while she also grounds the human inextricably in the material, Beauvoir offers fuller resources than do new materialisms for examining human freedom and human responsibility to resist its oppression.
Simone de Beauvoir et les romancières anglo-saxonnes
Authors: Cordet Ambre-Aurélie
Published: August 2020

Dans Le Deuxième Sexe comme dans les Mémoires d’ une jeune fille rangée, Simone de Beauvoir, pour composer ses études de femmes, s’ appuie aussi bien sur des ouvrages considérés comme « sérieux » que sur des romans. Parmi ces derniers, un corpus d’ œuvres de romancières anglo-saxonnes publiées au tournant des XIXe et XXe siècles apparaît comme fondamental pour la formation de Beauvoir, à la fois en tant que féministe et en tant qu’ autrice.
Notes on the Typological Prehistory of Ghilyak
Authors: Gruzdeva Ekaterina , Janhunen Juha A.
Published: August 2020

This paper discusses the typological evolution of Ghilyak (Nivkh), a small “Palaeo-Asiatic” language family also known as Amuric, distributed in the Amur-Sakhalin region of the Russian Far East. In some respects, especially in the phonology, morphophonology, and phonotactics, Ghilyak shows features absent in the other languages of the region, most of which represent the so-called “Altaic” areal-typological complex. At the same time, Ghilyak shares with its neighbours several “Altaic” features, especially in the morphosyntax, including suffixally marked number and case, as well as nominalized and converbialized verbs. An analysis of the data shows that Ghilyak has been affected by at least two processes of typological transformation which have, either successively or in parallel, both “Altaicized” and “de-Altaicized” its linguistic structure. The reasons of these transformations can be sought in the substratal, adstratal, and superstratal impact of the neighbouring “Altaic” and “non-Altaic” languages. This allows us to place the typological prehistory of Ghilyak in a context shared by other languages of the North Pacific Rim, notably Tungusic and Koreanic.
Isotomurus graminis Fjellberg (Collembola: Isotomidae) new for Iran, key to Iranian species in genus with comment on the validity of photographic records
Authors: MAYVAN MAHMOOD MEHRAFROOZ , GREENSLADE PENELOPE
Published: August 2020

As part of a comparison of the collembolan fauna in soil of forest, grasslands and broadacre agriculture in north east Iran, several pale green specimens were found that complied with all characters of Isotomurus prasinus (Reuter, 1891) and keyed out as such in Potapov (2001) except that the body covering consisted of smooth mesochaetae and not ciliated chaetae as are present in prasinus according to Potapov (2001). On a more extensive examination of the recent literature, it was clear that the Iranian specimens belonged to the species Isotomurus graminis Fjellberg, 2007 described six years later. In his description, Fjellberg (2007) notes that some specimens of the new species could have previously been identified as I. prasinus in spite of having a different chaetotaxic covering. He also notes that, in a number of characters, it is identical with Isotomurus unifasciatus (Börner, 1901) but the colour differentiates them as this latter species usually has a broad, pigmented, longitudinal dorsal stripe.
Challenges for organismic taxonomical revisions in the age of phylogenomics: A response to Zhang et al. (2019)
Authors: TRUJANO-ORTEGA MARYSOL , ÁVALOS-HERNÁNDEZ OMAR , CALLAGHAN CURTIS J. , GARCÍA-VÁZQUEZ URI OMAR , LUIS-MARTÍNEZ ARMANDO , LLORENTE-BOUSQUETS JORGE
Published: August 2020

Tribe Emesidini Seraphim, Freitas & Kaminski (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae) is distributed in America from southwest Canada to Brazil and Paraguay, and includes 57 species and 54 subspecies (Callaghan & Lamas 2004; Penz & DeVries 2006; Gallard 2008; Pelham 2008; De la Maza & De la Maza 2017 a,b; Kaminski et al. 2017; Seraphim et al. 2018; Trujano-Ortega et al. 2018; Zhang et al. 2019). The tribe has great taxonomic, morphological and ecological diversity, as well as wide geographic and seasonal variation. This great variation and broad geographic range of some genera entail the need for a taxonomic review (Espeland et al. 2015; Trujano-Ortega et al. 2018).
The Modulation of miR-195-TGF-β/Smad3 Pathway on Proliferation, Apoptosis and Invasion of Glioma Cells
Authors: Wang Gang , Zhao Wenjun , Chen Hailin , Bai Ruobin , Hou Boru , Zhao Zhiyong , Wang Dengfeng , Wang Dong , Ren Haijun
Published: August 2020

Glioma is one of the most common malignant tumors of the central nervous system with the high incidence. The abnormal expression of Smad3 is related to the occurrence, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance of various kinds of tumors. It was reported that the decreased expression
of miR-195 was related to the onset of glioma. This study aims to explore whether miR-195 plays an important role in regulating Smad3 and influencing the cell biology of glioma. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to determine the target complementary binding site between miR-195 and Smad3.
The expressions of miR-195 and Smad3 mRNA were measured in tumor tissue of patients with glioma.In vitro culture, SHG-44 cells were divided into 2 groups: miR-NC group, miR-195 mimic group. The expression of miR-195 was detected by qRT-PCR, and expression of Smad3 was measured by western
blot. Apoptosis was detected by flow detection. Cell proliferation and cell invasion ability was detected by Ed U staining and Transwell experiments respectively. Our result showed that, compared with that of the carcinoma tissue, the expressions of miR-195 and Smad3 in glioma tissue were
decreased significantly. Compared with normal glial cells HEB, the expression of miR-195 was decreased significantly, whereas the expression of Smad3 was increased significantly. The transfection of miR-195 mimic significantly reduced the expression Smad3 and p-Smad3, which significantly reduced
the ability of cell proliferation, and increased apoptosis. In conclusion, miR195 can target regulate proliferation, apoptosis and invasion of glioma cells through TGF-β /Smad3 pathway.
Neuroprotective Effects of Dilong on Cerebral Infarction in Rats
Authors: Dai Qijun , Xu Qin , Xu Pei , Yu Hongmei , Ding Yueqin
Published: August 2020

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of Dilong on cerebral infarction (CI) in a rat model. Methods: The neurological function of rats was evaluated with the mNSS. The expression of neurotrophic factors was determined using immunohistochemical method
and western blotting. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining was arranged to observe the histopathologic changes. The infarct volume of brain in rats was arranged through TTC stain. Apoptosis was investigated by terminal dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. The expressions of oxidative stress
markers and pro-inflammatory cytokines were examined using ELISA assay. Results: Rats with CI manifested neurological impairment, elevated BDNF and NGF expression, augmented infarct area, enhanced neuronal apoptosis, increased antioxidant enzyme activities, decreased malondialdehyde
(MDA) content in brain tissues, and accelerated production of inflammatory cytokines. With the treatment of Dilong, the neurological impairment, neuronal apoptosis, oxidative damage and inflammatory injury were all attenuated. Conclusion: Dilong could ameliorate CI in rats by anti-oxidant
and antiinflammatory effects.
Impact of the Mesoscale Range on Error Growth and the Limits to Atmospheric Predictability
Authors: Leung Tsz Yan , Leutbecher Martin , Reich Sebastian , Shepherd Theodore G.
Published: August 2020

Global numerical weather prediction (NWP) models have begun to resolve the mesoscale k−5/3 range of the energy spectrum, which is known to impose an inherently finite range of deterministic predictability per se as errors develop more rapidly on these scales than on the larger scales. However, the dynamics of these errors under the influence of the synoptic-scale k−3 range is little studied. Within a perfect-model context, the present work examines the error growth behavior under such a hybrid spectrum in Lorenz’s original model of 1969, and in a series of identical-twin perturbation experiments using an idealized two-dimensional barotropic turbulence model at a range of resolutions. With the typical resolution of today’s global NWP ensembles, error growth remains largely uniform across scales. The theoretically expected fast error growth characteristic of a k−5/3 spectrum is seen to be largely suppressed in the first decade of the mesoscale range by the synoptic-scale k−3 range. However, it emerges once models become fully able to resolve features on something like a 20-km scale, which corresponds to a grid resolution on the order of a few kilometers.
Spring Dust Mass Flux over the Tibetan Plateau during 2007–19 and Connections with North Atlantic SST Variability
Authors: Xu Chao , Ma Yaoming , Ma Jiehua , You Chao , Wang Huijun
Published: August 2020

Dust is the major aerosol type over the Tibetan Plateau (TP), and the TP plays an important role in forming the spring dust belt across the Northern Hemisphere in the upper troposphere. Estimated spring dust mass flux (DMF) showed a significant declining trend over the TP during 2007–19. The total spring DMF across the TP (TDMFTP) was mainly affected by DMFs over the Tarim Basin, while the spring DMF across the TP in the midtroposphere was also connected with DMFs over the northwest Indian Peninsula and central Asia. Interannual variability of spring TDMFTP was strongly correlated with the North Atlantic winter sea surface temperature (SST) tripole. A cold preceding winter induced by the North Atlantic winter SST tripole over midlatitude Eurasia promotes dust activities in the subsequent spring. The North Atlantic winter SST tripole anomalies persist into the subsequent spring and induce a corresponding atmosphere response. Enhanced atmospheric baroclinicity develops over northwest China and the northern Indian Peninsula during spring, which is attributed to surface thermal forcing induced by the positive winter SST tripole phase. A strong positive North Atlantic winter SST tripole anomaly strengthens the upper-level westerly jets, enhancing airflow toward the TP midtroposphere; together, these circulation patterns cause anomalous cyclonic conditions in the lower troposphere, especially over the Tarim Basin, via the eastward propagation of a Rossby wave train. These atmospheric circulation conditions are likely to increase the frequency of dust occurrence and promote the transport of dust onto the TP.
Performance Evaluation of a Smart Mobile Air Temperature and Humidity Sensor for Characterizing Intracity Thermal Environment
Authors: Cao Chang , Yang Yichen , Lu Yang , Schultze Natalie , Gu Pingyue , Zhou Qi , Xu Jiaping , Lee Xuhui
Published: August 2020

Heat stress caused by high air temperature and high humidity is a serious health concern for urban residents. Mobile measurement of these two parameters can complement weather station observations because of its ability to capture data at fine spatial scales and in places where people live and work. In this paper, we describe a smart temperature and humidity sensor (Smart-T) for use on bicycles to characterize intracity variations in human thermal conditions. The sensor has several key characteristics of internet of things (IoT) technology, including lightweight, low cost, low power consumption, ability to communicate and geolocate the data (via the cyclist’s smartphone), and the potential to be deployed in large quantities. The sensor has a reproducibility of 0.03°–0.05°C for temperature and of 0.18%–0.33% for relative humidity (one standard deviation of variation among multiple units). The time constant with a complete radiation shelter and moving at a normal cycling speed is 9.7 and 18.5 s for temperature and humidity, respectively, corresponding to a spatial resolution of 40 and 70 m. Measurements were made with the sensor on street transects in Nanjing, China. Results show that increasing vegetation fraction causes reduction in both air temperature and absolute humidity and that increasing impervious surface fraction has the opposite effect.
Suicide ideation versus suicide attempt: Examining overlapping and differential determinants in a large cohort of patients with depression and/or anxiety
Authors: Wiebenga Jasper XM , Eikelenboom Merijn , Heering Henriette D , van Oppen Patricia , Penninx Brenda WJH
Published: August 2020

Objective:

Individuals with a depressive and/or anxiety disorder are known to have an elevated risk of suicide. However, these diagnoses alone are insufficient at differentiating patients with suicide ideation that attempt suicide from those that do not. Few studies examined such differences in an ideation-to-action framework. Using this framework, extensive multivariate testing was performed to examine differences between suicidal patients with and without a suicide attempt.

Method:

Data were from 1576 respondents with a depressive and/or anxiety disorder, participating in the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety. Logistic regression analyses were used to analyze associations between sociodemographic, clinical, personality, and psychosocial risk factors and suicide ideation and attempt.

Results:

Patients with suicide ideation could be uniquely distinguished from non-suicidal patients by more years of education, presence of a depressive disorder (vs anxiety disorder) and higher introversion. Patients with suicide ideation and a past suicide attempt could be uniquely distinguished from non-suicidal patients by a younger age of onset, a lifetime alcohol use disorder, more external locus of control and lower levels of social support. Within the group of patients with suicide ideation, patients with a suicide attempt were more likely to have childhood trauma and lower education, and be of non-Western descent than patients with suicide ideation and no past attempt.

Conclusion:

This study found that although various clinical, personality and psychosocial characteristics distinguish patients with suicide ideation from non-suicidal patients, many of these often-cited factors do not distinguish patients with a suicide attempt from those who only think about suicide. However, childhood trauma, lower education and non-Western descent could aid in detecting suicide attempt risk among patients with suicide ideation.
Mental health services for individuals at risk of suicide in Peru: Attitudes and perspectives of mental health professionals
Authors: Alonzo Dana , Zapata Pratto Dafne Aida
Published: August 2020

Background:

Mental Health professionals often have to deal with at-risk individuals in crises and lack specialized training on suicide risk assessment and intervention. This study examined mental health professionals’ attitudes toward at-risk individuals and their perceptions of the quality of training and treatment available for assessing and intervening with this population.

Methods:

A total of 32 mental health professionals (13 psychiatrists, 16 psychologists, 2 psychiatric nurses; 1 social assistant) from highly vulnerable communities in Lima, Peru discussed their perceptions in four focus groups conducted by the authors.

Results:

Participants reported glaring deficiencies in all areas explored including training, knowledge and skills regarding suicide assessment and management. In addition, using ground theory analysis, three domains of findings emerged representing barriers and facilitators of treatment engagement, risk and protective factors of suicide and pros and cons of the current mental health care system including micro-, mezzo- and macro-level factors. The most frequently identified barrier was the perception that suicide is illegal; facilitator was family involvement; risk factor was poor parenting; protective factor was religious beliefs; pro of mental health care system was establishment of community-based services and con of mental health care system was lack of access to psychiatrists.

Conclusion:

The lack of specialized training available in the institutions that are designed to prepare mental health professionals for working with at-risk individuals is notable and has a direct and known impact self-identified by helping professionals. The need and desire for targeted training is palpable and essential to address growing rates of suicide, particularly among youth, in Peru.
CGRP Modulates Orofacial Pain through Mediating Neuron-Glia Crosstalk
Authors: Liang H. , Hu H. , Shan D. , Lyu J. , Yan X. , Wang Y. , Jian F. , Li X. , Lai W. , Long H.
Published: August 2020

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) plays a crucial role in the modulation of orofacial pain, and we hypothesized that CGRP mediated a neuron-glia crosstalk in orofacial pain. The objective of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms whereby CGRP mediated trigeminal neuron-glia crosstalk in modulating orofacial pain. Orofacial pain was elicited by ligating closed-coil springs between incisors and molars. Trigeminal neurons and satellite glial cells (SGCs) were cultured for mechanistic exploration. Gene and protein expression were determined through immunostaining, polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot. Orofacial pain was evaluated through the rat grimace scale. Our results revealed that the expressions of CGRP were elevated in both trigeminal neurons and SGCs following the induction of orofacial pain. Intraganglionic administration of CGRP and olcegepant exacerbated and alleviated orofacial pain, respectively. The knockdown of CGRP through viral vector-mediated RNA interference was able to downregulate CGRP expressions in both neurons and SGCs and to alleviate orofacial pain. CGRP upregulated the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase through the p38 signaling pathway in cultured SGCs. In turn, L-arginine (nitric oxide donor) was able to enhance orofacial pain by upregulating CGRP expressions in vivo. In cultured trigeminal neurons, L-arginine upregulated the expression of CGRP, and this effect was diminished by cilnidipine (N-type calcium channel blocker) while not by mibefradil (L-type calcium channel blocker). In conclusion, CGRP modulated orofacial pain through upregulating the expression of nitric oxide through the p38 signaling pathway in SGCs, and the resulting nitric oxide in turn stimulated CGRP expression through N-type calcium channel in neurons, building a CGRP-mediated positive-feedback neuron-glia crosstalk.
Medicine, connoisseurship, and the animal body
Authors: Wragge-Morley Alexander
Published: August 2020

This essay reconsiders the links between medicine, connoisseurship, and aesthetic theory in early eighteenth-century Britain. Taking a satire on the body of the physician and collector John Woodward as its starting point, I show that medicine and connoisseurship shared a deep preoccupation with the possibility that the animal body could excessively influence the workings of the mind. Pursuing this line of argument, moreover, I will reconsider the place of mind–body dualism in eighteenth-century British medicine and aesthetics. With the exception of materialists such as the philosopher-physician Bernard Mandeville, medics and aesthetic theorists tended to identify the exercise of judgment with the operations of a disembodied mind, unsullied by the embodied mechanisms of the lower body. In practice, however, the insistence that the most refined forms of judgment depended on the presence and activity of a disembodied, immaterial soul was less meaningful than it seems. When confronted by failures of judgment, medics and connoisseurs alike sought explanations in the mechanisms of the animal body. Whether or not they believed in the immateriality of the soul, they pictured the mind as a malfunctioning animal machine, to be cured through the material agency of medical therapeutics.
Transient pressure behavior of horizontal well in gas reservoirs with arbitrary boundary
Authors: Ning Bo , Xu Jiafeng , Jiang Jing , Cheng Minhua
Published: August 2020

Transient pressure analysis is a crucial tool to forecast the production performance during the exploration and production process in gas reservoirs. Usually, a regular shaped outer boundary is assumed in previous studies for well-testing analysis, which is just a simplification of practical cases and cannot reflect the actual boundaries of reservoirs. In this paper, a mathematical model is established to analyze the transient pressure behaviors of a horizontal well in an arbitrarily shaped gas reservoir. Dimensionless treatment, Laplace transformation, and boundary element method are applied in solving the model, which is verified by comparing with the results from the source function method. Based on the Stehfest numerical inversion method, the models of single-porosity media and dual-porosity media are solved respectively. Then, the time-domain curves of pseudo pressure and its derivative are obtained, and the flow regimes are identified. Finally, the impacts of some critical parameters on pressure transient behaviors are analyzed, including storativity ratio, interporosity coefficient, well length, and well orientation. This paper presents an effective way to handle complex external boundary problems in gas reservoirs.
Intrahepatic manifestation and distant extrahepatic disease in alveolar echinococcosis: a multicenter cohort study
Authors: Graeter Tilmann , Shi Rong , Bao Haihua , Liu Wenya , Li Weixia , Jiang Yi , Schmidberger Julian , Brumpt Eleonore , Delabrousse Eric , Kratzer Wolfgang ,   the XUUB consortium
Published: August 2020

Background

The main endemic areas of alveolar echinococcosis (AE) are in central Europe and western China. The infiltration of intrahepatic vascular and bile ducts as well as extrahepatic disease can lead to complications and may increase morbidity in AE.

Purpose

To evaluate the vascular/biliary involvement of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE) and distant extrahepatic disease at each of four locations in Germany, France, and China.

Material and Methods

Contrast-enhanced abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of patients with HAE, 200 in total, were evaluated by five examiners. AE liver lesions were classified according to Kodama’s classification. Furthermore, distant extrahepatic manifestations were documented with additionally performed imaging modalities. Vascular/biliary involvement of hepatic manifestations as well as the presence of extrahepatic manifestations were correlated with the respective Kodama type of the liver lesion.

Results

Distant extrahepatic AE manifestations were significantly more frequent in China than in Europe (12/100 vs. 3/100; Fisher’s exact test: P=0.0286). A significant relationship exists between presence of distant extrahepatic disease manifestation and size of the AE liver lesion (132.53 ± 48.65 vs. 92.49 ± 50.06; P = 0.0030). Vascular/biliary involvement is significantly more frequent in China than in Europe (86/100 vs. 65/100; χ2 = 11.92; P = 0.0006). Vascular/biliary involvement depends on lesion size (111.10 ± 47.44 vs. 47.36 ± 24.36; P<0.0001). Different types of AE liver lesions are associated with differences in vascular/biliary involvement and extrahepatic manifestations.

Conclusion

Vascular/biliary involvement and presence of distant extrahepatic manifestations depend on size of the HAE lesions and are more frequently detected in China. Different MRI morphological patterns influence vascular/biliary involvement and the occurrence of distant extrahepatic manifestations.
Postoperative expressive aphasia associated with intravenous midazolam administration: a 5-year retrospective case-control study
Authors: Oh Saecheol , Chung Jihyun , Baek Sujin , Park Yoo Jung
Published: August 2020

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of intravenous midazolam-induced postoperative expressive aphasia (EA).

Methods

The incidence rate, risk ratio, and contributing factors to intravenous midazolam-induced postoperative EA were analyzed retrospectively in 6756 orthopedic patients. A telephone interview was conducted with patients with EA after surgery.

Results

Patients were allocated to either the midazolam group (n = 6178) or no-midazolam group (n = 578). Twelve patients developed EA in the midazolam group, with an incidence of 0.19%, and no patient developed EA in the no-midazolam group. The mean age of EA patients was 70 years, and 92% were women. Among them, 75% received general anesthesia, and the mean dose of midazolam was 1.8 mg. EA was reversed in nine of 12 (75%) patients within 4 minutes of flumazenil administration, and >60 minutes were required to reverse EA in the other three patients (25%).

Conclusion

Intravenous midazolam administration for preoperative sedation caused transient EA in 0.19% of patients, especially elderly women who received general anesthesia, and EA could be reversed by flumazenil.
Trade unions and industrial regeneration in North West Tasmania: Moving beyond lock-in?
Authors: Barton Ruth
Published: August 2020

As the North West coast of Tasmania, Australia, has deindustrialised, the region’s unions have lost membership, power and relevance. This process of deindustrialisation opens up possibilities for the unions to become involved in regeneration as regional development actors and, by moving outside the workplace and engaging with the community, renew and revitalise themselves. But many unions have found it difficult to move beyond their traditional forms of action and relationships. This article uses the concept of lock-in, and draws on semi-structured interviews, two forums and a workshop, to detail the way the North West coast unions attempted to break from the confines of the workplace and out into the community. Their attempts to do this were uneven and contested. They were, to varying degrees, locked-in and constrained by their traditional relationships with politicians and their own members. At another level they were locked-out from participating in regeneration decisions by long standing relationships between governments and business and their antagonism towards the unions. Although the unions attempted to reimagine themselves, there remained a pattern of regional lock-in where long-standing relationships continued and limited and hindered the unions’ ability to participate in regeneration debates and activities.
Voltage and frequency control of wind–diesel power system through adaptive sliding mode control of superconducting magnetic energy storage
Authors: Thoker Zahid Afzal , Lone Shameem Ahmad
Published: August 2020

The random nature of wind power along with active and reactive load changes results in both frequency and voltage fluctuations in a wind–diesel power system. In order to improve the dynamic performance by regulating the frequency as well as voltage of the system, an adaptive sliding mode control strategy is proposed on superconducting magnetic energy storage unit interfaced with a wind–diesel power system. Sliding mode control strategy developed with the superconducting magnetic energy storage unit achieves fast and effective exchange of real and reactive power via firing angle control of the converter. With the help of suitable switching surface design and use of adaptive control law, chattering elimination and controller robustness is achieved. This work is carried out in MATLAB/Simulink, and simulation results presented shows a positive impact of proposed scheme.