bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pt Nanoparticles Decorated on Fe2O3/N, P-Doped Mesoporous Carbon for Enhanced Oxygen Reduction Activity and Durability
Authors: Ravichandran Sabarinathan , Bhuvanendran Narayanamoorthy , Peng Kai , Zhang Weiqi , Xu Qian , Su Huaneng
Published: August 2020

The Pt–Fe2O3 nanoparticles embedded over N, P-doped carbon (Pt–Fe2O3/NPC) was successfully synthesized by chemical reduction method demonstrating an enhanced electrocatalytic efficacy in alkaline media toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The surface morphology of Pt–Fe2O3/NPC has been characterized by electron microscopy scanning, X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy transmission, Raman spectra, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The ORR electrocatalytic activity of Pt–Fe2O3/NPC was found to be the superior mass activity of 0.120 mA µg−1, which are almost twice higher than those for Pt–Fe2O3/VC (0.068 mA µg−1) and Pt/C (0.061 mA µg−1) catalysts. The durability tests revealed that the Pt–Fe2O3/NPC exhibited enhanced stability observed from the order of electrochemical active surface area (ECA) loss determined as Pt–Fe2O3/NPC (45.67%) <Pt–Fe2O3/VC (62.5%) <(Pt/C (72.13%) after 5000 cycles. This present investigation unveiled a facile approach to develop the number of active sites with the combination between P–Fe2O3 and N, P-doped carbon for improved electrocatalytic performance toward ORR.
Weighted Internal Model Control-Proportional Integral Derivative Control Scheme Via Fractional Gradient Descent Algorithm
Authors: Jain Shivam , Hote Yogesh V.
Published: August 2020

An adaptive controller design technique based on internal model control (IMC) scheme is proposed in this paper. Multiple IMC controllers having different values of filter time constants and exhibiting widely different performance are combined via weight update rule. The weight update rule, formulated via convex combination of integral and fractional order gradient descent algorithms, assigns time varying weights to individual candidate controllers to obtain an enhanced performance over the individual candidate controllers. The beauty of the proposed technique is that it employs the simplicity of one degree-of-freedom (1DOF) IMC structure to achieve an improved performance over existing 2DOF control schemes. The efficacy of the proposed technique is demonstrated via three illustrative examples and via experimental validation on the hardware setup of dc servosystem. An extensive comparative analysis in terms of simulation plots and performance indices offers a testimony to the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Bipartite Consensus Control for a Swarm of Robots
Authors: Liu Jun , Li Hengyu , Ji Jinchen , Luo Jun
Published: August 2020

This paper studies the bipartite consensus problem of a swarm of robots whose dynamics are formulated by Lagrangian equations. Two distributed bipartite consensus control protocols are proposed for a swarm of robots without a leader or with a virtual leader. For the nonleader case, the networked Lagrangian system can reach static bipartite consensus under the control protocol developed, and the final convergent states can be explicitly determined by the specific structure of the Laplacian matrix associated with the cooperative–competitive network topology. For the virtual leader case, all the followers can track the leader's state in a bipartite formation to realize bipartite tracking consensus. Finally, the simulation results are given to verify the theoretical results.
Eco-Driving of Connected and Automated Vehicle With Preceding Driver Behavior Prediction
Authors: Ozkan Mehmet Fatih , Ma Yao
Published: August 2020

The development of vehicle connectivity and autonomy in the ground transportation sector is not only able to enhance traffic safety and driving comfort as well as fuel economy. This study presents a receding-horizon optimization-based control strategy integrated with the preceding vehicle speed prediction model to achieve an eco-driving strategy for connected and automated vehicles (CAVs). In the real traffic scenario where the CAV follows the preceding vehicle on the road, a gated recurrent unit (GRU) network is used to predict the behavior of the preceding vehicle by utilizing the historical inter-vehicle information collected through on-board sensors. Then, a nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) algorithm is adopted for CAV to minimize the accumulated fuel consumption within the preview horizon. The NMPC approach solves the fuel-optimal speed profile of the CAV, considering a predicted short-term speed preview of the preceding vehicle. With the awareness of the preview speed conditions, the fuel consumption of the CAV is reduced by avoiding unnecessary braking and acceleration, especially during transient traffic conditions. The Pareto front framework is used to examine a trade-off between the vehicle speed prediction accuracy, computational burden, and the fuel consumption of the CAV in the proposed GRU-NMPC design. To analyze the effectiveness of the GRU-NMPC design, adaptive cruise control with constant time headway policy (ACC-CTH) is adopted as a benchmark control design. Comparison results show significant fuel economy improvement of the proposed design and expose possible fuel benefits from vehicle autonomy and sensor fusion technology.
Fatigue Life of Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu Solder Alloy Under Combined Cyclic Shear and Constant Tensile/Compressive Loads
Authors: Dale Travis , Singh Yuvraj , Bernander Ian , Subbarayan Ganesh , Handwerker Carol , Su Peng , Glasauer Bernard
Published: August 2020

Solder joints in electronic assemblies experience damage due to cyclic thermomechanical loading that eventually leads to fatigue fracture and electrical failure. While solder joints in smaller, die-sized area-array packages largely experience shear fatigue due to thermal expansion mismatch between the component and the substrate, larger area-array packages experience a combination of cyclic shear and axial tensile/compressive loads due to flexure of the substrate. Additionally, on larger processor packages, the attachment of heatsinks further exacerbates the imposed axial loads, as does package warpage. With the increase in size of packages due to 2.5D heterogeneous integration, the above additional axial loads can be significant. Thus, there exists a critical need to understand the impact on fatigue life of solder joints with superposed compressive/tensile loads on the cyclic shear loads. In this paper, we describe a carefully constructed multi-axial microprecision mechanical tester as well as fatigue test results on Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu (SAC305) solder joints subjected to controlled cyclic shear and constant compressive/tensile loads. The tester design allows one to apply cyclic shear loads up to 200 N while maintaining a constant axial load of up to 38 N in tension or compression. The tester is capable of maintaining the axial load to within a tolerance of ±0.5 N during the entirety of fatigue experiment. Carefully constructed test specimens of Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu solder joints were isothermally fatigued under systematically increased compressive and tensile loads imposed on the test specimen subject to repeated loading (R = 0) under lap-shear. In general, the imposition of the superposed compressive load increases the fatigue life of the solder joint compared to application of pure cyclic shear, while the imposition of the superposed tensile load decreases the fatigue life. At larger compressive loads, friction between fractured surfaces is responsible for significant energy dissipation during the cyclic load–unload cycles.
A Review of Manufacturing Process Control
Authors: Landers Robert G. , Barton Kira , Devasia Santosh , Kurfess Thomas , Pagilla Prabhakar , Tomizuka Masayoshi
Published: August 2020

Smart manufacturing concepts are being integrated into all areas of manufacturing industries, from the device level (e.g., intelligent sensors) to the efficient coordination of business units. Vital components of any manufacturing enterprise are the processes that transform raw materials into components, assemblies, and finally products. It is the manufacturing process where smart manufacturing is poised to make substantial impact through process control, i.e., the intelligent manipulation of process variables to increase operation productivity and part quality. This article discusses three areas of manufacturing process control: control-oriented modeling, sensing and monitoring, and the design and construction of controllers. The discussion will center around the following manufacturing processes: machining, grinding, forming, joining, and additive. While many other important processes exist, the discussions of control of these mechanical manufacturing processes will form a framework commonly applied to these processes and the discussion will form a framework to provide insights into the modeling, monitoring, and control of manufacturing processes more broadly. Conclusions from these discussions will be drawn, and future research directions in manufacturing process control will be provided. This article acknowledges the contributions of two of the pioneering researchers in this field, Dr. Yoram Koren and Dr. Galip Ulsoy, who have made seminal contributions in manufacturing process control and continued to build the body of knowledge over the course of many decades.
Toward a Mechanistic Model of Stress Corrosion Cracking in PHWR Fuel Sheaths
Authors: Oussoren Andrew , Chan Paul , Wowk Diane , Prudil Andrew
Published: August 2020

This work builds on the iodine-induced stress corrosion cracking (ISCC) model of Lewis and Kleczek by integrating the fuel performance model fuel and sheath modeling tool (FAST) to provide thermal and mechanical analysis of the fuel sheath, which was previously required as input parameters. The iodine transport methodology of the Lewis–Kleczek model has been modified to utilize the more mechanistic diffusion model in FAST, and an empirical surface multiplier term has been derived to predict iodine release rates under normal operating conditions based on measured release rates from in-reactor sweep gas tests. A fracture mechanics analysis is implemented using threshold stress intensity values and crack growth rates reported in literature. A correlation to predict crack initiation has been derived by analysis of a database of power histories with known ISCC defects. This correlation is based on the change in sheath hoop strain during a power ramp and is shown to be more accurate at discerning failure versus nonfailure than the correlations used in the previous Lewis–Kleczek model and FUELOGRAMS. Failure time prediction of the model is compared against power ramp test FFO-104 performed at the National Research Experimental (NRX) reactor. Fuel failure is predicted to occur 27% faster than experimentally measured; failure time is explored in a series of sensitivity studies to suggest areas for further development. The model improvements represent a step forward in the mechanistic modeling of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR) nuclear fuel.
Effects of acoustic nonlinearity on pulse-echo attenuation coefficient estimation from tissue-mimicking phantoms
Authors: Coila Andres , Oelze Michael L.
Published: August 2020

The ultrasonic attenuation coefficient (ACE) can be used to classify tissue state. Pulse-echo spectral-based attenuation estimation techniques, such as the spectral-log-difference method (SLD), account for beam diffraction effects using a reference phantom having a sound speed close to the sound speed of the sample. Methods like SLD assume linear propagation of ultrasound and do not account for potential acoustic nonlinear distortion of the backscattered power spectra in both sample and reference. In this study, the ACE of a sample was computed and compared using the SLD with two independent references (high attenuating and low attenuating phantoms but with similar B/A values) and over several pressure levels. Both numerical and physical tissue-mimicking phantoms were used in the study. The results indicated that the biases in ACE increased when using a reference having low attenuation, whereas the high attenuating reference produced more consistent ACE. Furthermore, increments in ACE vs input pressure were correlated to the log-ratio of Gol'dberg numbers between the sample and reference (R2=0.979 in simulations and R2=0.734 in experiments). Therefore, the results suggest that to reduce bias in ACE using spectral-based methods, both the sound speed and the Gol'dberg number of the reference phantom should be matched to the sample.
A Randomized Study on the Effects of Minds in Motion and Yoga on Motor Proficiency and Academic Skills Among Elementary School Children
Authors: Terson de Paleville Daniela G.L. , Immekus Jason C.
Published: August 2020

Background: Physical activity is critical for the healthy development and well-being of children. Specifically, physical activity is associated with improvements in coordination, balance, attention, and behavior among elementary school-aged children. However, for many children, particularly those belonging to minority groups, opportunities to engage in quality physical activity programs outside school settings are limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the whether a physical activity program called Minds in Motion (MiM) The Maze before school, as compared with yoga, meets the criteria of the Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program framework as a before-school program to improve overall physical activity and academic performance among elementary school-age students. Methods: A total of 48 children attending an urban public school with large minority representation in the Midwest were randomly assigned to MiM-The Maze or yoga. Participants were assessed on motor proficiency, behavior, balance, and academic skills before and after training. Training consisted of either yoga or MiM-The Maze 30 minutes per day before school, 5 times per week for 12 weeks. Results: MiM-The Maze and yoga group students showed significant improvements in academic skills. Conclusions: MiM-The Maze is feasible and affordable before-school program to promote students’ classroom behavior in elementary school students.
The structure of the blue whirl revealed
Authors: Chung Joseph D. , Zhang Xiao , Kaplan Carolyn R. , Oran Elaine S.
Published: August 2020

We show the structure of a newly discovered spinning flame, the blue whirl, which burns liquid hydrocarbon fuels with no soot.
Response to Comment on “Activation of methane to CH
3
+
: A selective industrial route to methanesulfonic acid”
Authors: Díaz-Urrutia Christian , Ott Timo
Published: August 2020

Roytman and Singleton argue that our proposed electrophilic mechanism for the sulfonation of methane in superacid conditions is “not plausible.” We clarify certain terms that might have caused misinterpretation of our proposed mechanism and supplement the discussion. We reaffirm that an electrophilic mechanism may be operative under our reaction conditions.
Engage with animal welfare in conservation
Authors: Sekar Nitin , Shiller Derek
Published: August 2020

Conservation could better promote not just the quantity of species but the quality of animal life
Global maps of the magnetic field in the solar corona
Authors: Yang Zihao , Bethge Christian , Tian Hui , Tomczyk Steven , Morton Richard , Del Zanna Giulio , McIntosh Scott W. , Karak Bidya Binay , Gibson Sarah , Samanta Tanmoy , He Jiansen , Chen Yajie , Wang Linghua
Published: August 2020

The magnetic field in the Sun's corona

The solar corona is the outermost layer of the Sun's atmosphere, consisting of hot, diffuse, and highly ionized plasma. The magnetic field in this region is expected to drive many of its physical properties but has been difficult to measure with observations. Yang
et al.
used near-infrared imaging spectroscopy to determine the electron density and magnetohydrodynamic wave speed in the corona. By combining these measurements, they derived maps of the magnetic field throughout the entire observable corona. The method could potentially be used to produce routine magnetic field maps for the corona that are similar to those already available for the Sun's surface.

Science
, this issue p.
694
Opening the floodgates at Fukushima
Authors: Buesseler Ken O.
Published: August 2020

Tritium is not the only radioisotope of concern for stored contaminated water
Interferon responses in viral pneumonias
Authors: Grajales-Reyes Gary E. , Colonna Marco
Published: August 2020

Are interferon-mediated antiviral immune responses beneficial or detrimental in COVID-19?
Expanding the brain researcher's toolkit
Authors: Gradinaru Viviana
Published: August 2020

Better delivery vectors and opsins enable precise, minimally invasive neuromodulation
A comparison of four serological assays for detecting anti–SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in human serum samples from different populations
Authors: Grzelak Ludivine , Temmam Sarah , Planchais Cyril , Demeret Caroline , Tondeur Laura , Huon Christèle , Guivel-Benhassine Florence , Staropoli Isabelle , Chazal Maxime , Dufloo Jeremy , Planas Delphine , Buchrieser Julian , Rajah Maaran Michael , Robinot Remy , Porrot Françoise , Albert Mélanie , Chen Kuang-Yu , Crescenzo-Chaigne Bernadette , Donati Flora , Anna François , Souque Philippe , Gransagne Marion , Bellalou Jacques , Nowakowski Mireille , Backovic Marija , Bouadma Lila , Le Fevre Lucie , Le Hingrat Quentin , Descamps Diane , Pourbaix Annabelle , Laouénan Cédric , Ghosn Jade , Yazdanpanah Yazdan , Besombes Camille , Jolly Nathalie , Pellerin-Fernandes Sandrine , Cheny Olivia , Ungeheuer Marie-Noëlle , Mellon Guillaume , Morel Pascal , Rolland Simon , Rey Felix A. , Behillil Sylvie , Enouf Vincent , Lemaitre Audrey , Créach Marie-Aude , Petres Stephane , Escriou Nicolas , Charneau Pierre , Fontanet Arnaud , Hoen Bruno , Bruel Timothée , Eloit Marc , Mouquet Hugo , Schwartz Olivier , van der Werf Sylvie
Published: August 2020

Different serological assays measuring anti–SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and their neutralizing activity in samples from individuals with severe and mild COVID-19 are compared.
Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of International Travelers with Enteric Fever and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles of Their Isolates: a GeoSentinel Analysis
Authors: Hagmann Stefan H. F. , Angelo Kristina M. , Huits Ralph , Plewes Katherine , Eperon Gilles , Grobusch Martin P. , McCarthy Anne , Libman Michael , Caumes Eric , Leung Daniel T. , Asgeirsson Hilmir , Jensenius Mogens , Schwartz Eli , Sánchez-Montalvá Adrian , Kelly Paul , Pandey Prativa , Leder Karin , Bourque Daniel L. , Yoshimura Yukihiro , Mockenhaupt Frank P. , van Genderen Perry J. J. , Odolini Silvia , Schlagenhauf Patricia , Connor Bradley A. , Hamer Davidson H.
Published: August 2020

Enteric fever, caused by
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhi (
S
. Typhi) and
S. enterica
serovar Paratyphi (
S
. Paratyphi), is a common travel-related illness. Limited data are available on the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns of these serovars among travelers. Records of travelers with a culture-confirmed diagnosis seen during or after travel from January 2007 to December 2018 were obtained from GeoSentinel. Traveler demographics and antimicrobial susceptibility data were analyzed.
Sharing a β-Glucan Meal: Transcriptomic Eavesdropping on a Bacteroides ovatus-Subdoligranulum variabile-Hungatella hathewayi Consortium
Authors: Centanni Manuela , Sims Ian M. , Bell Tracey J. , Biswas Ambarish , Tannock Gerald W.
Published: August 2020

The microbial community, mostly composed of bacterial species, residing in the human gut degrades and ferments polysaccharides derived from plants (dietary fiber) that would not otherwise be digested. In this way, the collective metabolic actions of community members extract additional energy from the human diet. While the variety of bacteria present in the microbial community is well known, the formation of bacterial consortia, and the consequent interactions that result in the digestion of dietary polysaccharides, has not been studied extensively. The importance of our work was the establishment, under laboratory conditions, of a consortium of gut bacteria that formed around a dietary constituent commonly present in cereals. This enabled the metabolic interplay between the bacterial species to be studied. This kind of knowledge is required to construct an interactive, metabolic blueprint of the microbial community that inhabits the human gut.
Coxiella burnetii-Infected NK Cells Release Infectious Bacteria by Degranulation
Authors: Matthiesen Svea , Zaeck Luca , Franzke Kati , Jahnke Rico , Fricke Charlie , Mauermeir Michael , Finke Stefan , Lührmann Anja , Knittler Michael R.
Published: August 2020

Natural killer (NK) cells are critically involved in the early immune response against various intracellular pathogens, includingCoxiella burnetiiandChlamydia psittaci.Chlamydia-infected NK cells functionally mature, induce cellular immunity, and protect themselves by killing the bacteria in secreted granules. Here, we report that infected NK cells do not allow intracellular multiday growth ofCoxiella, as is usually observed in other host cell types.
Laboratory Evaluation of a Lateral-Flow Cell for Molecular Detection of First-Line and Second-Line Antituberculosis Drug Resistance
Authors: Catanzaro Donald G. , Colman Rebecca E. , Linger Yvonne , Georghiou Sophia B. , Kukhtin Alexander V. , Seifert Marva , Holmberg Rebecca C. , Mshaiel Haifa , Chiles Peter , Hillery Naomi , Cooney Christopher G. , Rodwell Timothy C.
Published: August 2020

Despite the WHO’s call for universal drug susceptibility testing for all patients being evaluated for tuberculosis (TB), a lack of rapid diagnostic tests which can fully describe TB resistance patterns is a major challenge in ensuring that all persons diagnosed with drug-resistant TB are started on an appropriate treatment regime. We evaluated the accuracy of the Akonni Biosystems XDR-TB TruArray and lateral-flow cell (XDR-LFC), a novel multiplex assay to simultaneously detect mutations across seven genes that confer resistance to both first- and second-line anti-TB drugs.
The
sps
Genes Encode an Original Legionaminic Acid Pathway Required for Crust Assembly in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Dubois Thomas , Krzewinski Frederic , Yamakawa Nao , Lemy Christelle , Hamiot Audrey , Brunet Loïc , Lacoste Anne-Sophie , Knirel Yuryi , Guerardel Yann , Faille Christine
Published: August 2020

Bacillus
species are a major economic and food safety concern of the food industry because of their food spoilage-causing capability and persistence. Their persistence is mainly due to their ability to form highly resistant spores adhering to the surfaces of industrial equipment. Spores of the
Bacillus subtilis
group are surrounded by the crust, a superficial layer which plays a key role in their adhesion properties. However, knowledge of the composition and structure of this layer remains incomplete. Here, for the first time, we identified a nonulosonic acid (Leg) at the surfaces of bacterial spores (
B. subtilis
). We uncovered a novel Leg biosynthesis pathway, and we demonstrated that Leg is required for proper crust assembly. This work contributes to the description of the structure and composition of
Bacillus
spores which has been under way for decades, and it provides keys to understanding the importance of carbohydrates in
Bacillus
adhesion and persistence in the food industry.
Detailed Analyses of Zika Virus Tropism in Culex quinquefasciatus Reveal Systemic Refractoriness
Authors: MacLeod Hannah J. , Dimopoulos George
Published: August 2020

Understanding which mosquito species transmit an emerging arbovirus is critical to effective vector control. During the Zika virus epidemic in 2015 to 2016,
Aedes
mosquitoes were confirmed as vectors. However, studies addressing the vector status of
Culex quinquefasciatus
mosquitoes presented conflicting evidence and remain an outstanding source of confusion in the field. Here, we established a robust cell-based assay to identify infectious titers of Zika virus and assessed the virus titers in
C. quinquefasciatus
by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). We found that while low levels of virus were detected in
C. quinquefasciatus
, these titers did not correspond to infectious virus, and these mosquitoes did not transmit virus in the saliva. We also present evidence that the virus may enter
Culex
cells before infection is disrupted. Our findings are important for future studies incriminating vector species using qRT-PCR for virus detection and offer new information on how virus transmission is blocked by mosquitoes.
Signaling Pathways Governing the Caspofungin Paradoxical Effect in Aspergillus fumigatus
Authors: Papon Nicolas , Morio Florent , Sanglard Dominique
Published: August 2020

Aspergillus fumigatus
is responsible for a wide range of diseases affecting several million people worldwide. Currently, a few families of antifungals are available to fight aspergillosis, and we are facing a worrisome increase in resistance to azoles, the drugs used for both first-line treatment and prophylaxis of invasive aspergillosis. In this context, some of the latest antifungals, i.e., echinocandins, have gained attention. Even though acquired resistance to echinocandins is yet uncommon in
A. fumigatus
clinical isolates, some strains exhibit another characteristic that relies on their capacity to grow at suprainhibitory echinocandin concentrations
in vitro
.
Posttranslational Control of PlsB Is Sufficient To Coordinate Membrane Synthesis with Growth in Escherichia coli
Authors: Noga Marek J. , Büke Ferhat , van den Broek Niels J. F. , Imholz Nicole C. E. , Scherer Nicole , Yang Flora , Bokinsky Gregory
Published: August 2020

How do bacterial cells grow without breaking their membranes? Although the biochemistry of fatty acid and membrane synthesis is well known, how membrane synthesis is balanced with growth and metabolism has remained unclear. This is partly due to the many control points that have been discovered within the membrane synthesis pathways. By precisely establishing the contributions of individual pathway enzymes, our results simplify the model of membrane biogenesis in the model bacterial species
Escherichia coli
. Specifically, we found that allosteric control of a single enzyme, PlsB, is sufficient to balance growth with membrane synthesis and to ensure that growing
E. coli
cells produce sufficient membrane. Identifying the signals that activate and deactivate PlsB will resolve the issue of how membrane synthesis is synchronized with growth.
Bioinformatic Mapping of Opine-Like Zincophore Biosynthesis in Bacteria
Authors: Morey Jacqueline R. , Kehl-Fie Thomas E.
Published: August 2020

Bacteria must acquire essential nutrients, including zinc, from their environment. For bacterial pathogens, this necessitates overcoming the host metal-withholding response known as nutritional immunity. A novel type of zinc uptake mechanism that involves the bacterial production of a small zinc-scavenging molecule was recently described in the human pathogens
Staphylococcus aureus
,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, and
Yersinia pestis
, as well as the soil-associated bacterium
Paenibacillus mucilaginosus
. This suggests that zincophores may be important for zinc acquisition in diverse environments. In this study, we sought to identify other zincophore-producing bacteria using bioinformatics. We identified almost 250 unique zincophore-producing species, including human and animal pathogens, as well as isolates from soil, rhizosphere, plant, and marine habitats. Crucially, we observed diversity at the amino acid and gene organization levels, suggesting that many of these species are producing unique zincophores. Together, our findings highlight the importance of zincophores for a broad array of bacteria living in diverse environments.
Macular hole morphology and measurement using an automated three-dimensional image segmentation algorithm
Authors: Chen Yunzi , Nasrulloh Amar V , Wilson Ian , Geenen Caspar , Habib Maged , Obara Boguslaw , Steel David H W
Published: August 2020

Objective

Full-thickness macular holes (MH) are classified principally by size, which is one of the strongest predictors of anatomical and visual success. Using a three-dimensional (3D) automated image processing algorithm, we analysed optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of 104 MH of patients, comparing MH dimensions and morphology with clinician-acquired two-dimensional measurements.

Methods and Analysis

All patients underwent a high-density central horizontal scanning OCT protocol. Two independent clinicians measured the minimum linear diameter (MLD) and maximum base diameter. OCT images were also analysed using an automated 3D segmentation algorithm which produced key parameters including the respective maximum and minimum diameter of the minimum area (MA) of the MH, as well as volume and surface area.

Results

Using the algorithm-derived values, MH were found to have significant asymmetry in all dimensions. The minima of the MA were typically approximately 90° to the horizontal, and differed from their maxima by 55 μm. The minima of the MA differed from the human-measured MLD by a mean of nearly 50 μm, with significant interobserver variability. The resultant differences led to reclassification using the International Vitreomacular Traction Study Group classification in a quarter of the patients (p=0.07).

Conclusion

MH are complex shapes with significant asymmetry in all dimensions. We have shown how 3D automated analysis of MH describes their dimensions more accurately and repeatably than human assessment. This could be used in future studies investigating hole progression and outcome to help guide optimum treatments.
Promoting hot debriefing in an emergency department
Authors: Gilmartin Stephen , Martin Laura , Kenny Siobhain , Callanan Ian , Salter Nigel
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Debriefing is a process of communication that takes place between a team following a clinical case. Debriefing facilitates discussion of individual and team level performance and identifies points of excellence as well as potential errors made. This helps to develop plans to improve subsequent performance. While the American Heart Association and the UK Resuscitation Council recommend debriefing following every cardiac arrest attended by a healthcare professional, it has not become part of everyday practice. In the emergency department (ED), this is in part attributable to time pressures and workload. Hot debriefing is a form of debriefing which should occur ‘there and then’ following a clinical event. The aim of this quality improvement project was to introduce hot debriefing to our ED following all cardiac arrests.

Methods

The STOP5 model used was originally created by Drs Craig Walker, Laura McGregor and Sara Robinson in 2017, in partnership with Edinburgh Emergency Medicine, the Scottish Centre for Clinical Human Factors and NHS Education Scotland. Additional headings for discussion that specifically focus on cardiac arrest management were added to the model by the project team. This tool was then introduced to the ED for use after all cardiac arrests. The team lead was asked to complete a debrief form. These completed hot debrief forms were collated monthly and compared with the department’s cardiac arrest register. Any changes made to cardiac arrest management following hot debriefing were recorded. Qualitative feedback was obtained through questionnaires.

Results

During the 6-month study period, 42% of all cardiac arrest cases were followed by a hot debrief. Practice changes were made to resus room equipment, practitioners’ non-technical skills and the department’s educational activities. 95% of participants felt the hot debriefing tool was of ‘just right’ duration, 100% felt the process helped with their clinical practice, and 90% felt they benefited psychologically from the process.

Conclusion

The introduction of a hot debriefing tool in our department has led to real-world changes to cardiac arrest care. The process benefits participants’ clinical practice as well as psychological well-being.
A pharmacist-led pilot using a performance dashboard to improve psychotropic medication use in a skilled nursing facility
Authors: Bell Kristin , Hartmann Christine , Baughman Amy Wisteria
Published: August 2020

Objectives

Inappropriate use of psychotropic medications in the elderly, particularly those with dementia, is a critical safety and quality concern. This pilot quality improvement study used a novel Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Psychotropic Drug Safety Initiative performance dashboard (PDSI dashboard) to implement a pharmacist-led intervention to improve psychotropic medication prescribing practices in a VA skilled nursing facility (SNF). While clinical dashboard data have become commonplace, literature describing successful implementation for improved clinical care is scant.

Methods

This study took place from November 2015 to February 2016 at a 112-bed VA SNF. A pharmacist used the PDSI dashboard to identify ‘actionable’ patients with potentially inappropriate psychotropic prescribing and then completed chart reviews to confirm clinical indications. The pharmacist provided recommendations to providers for dose reductions or deprescribing via in-person communication and notes written in the electronic medical record. SNF providers completed anonymous surveys about their experience in receiving recommendations.

Results

Over a 5-month period, the PDSI dashboard identified 21 patients with potentially inappropriate psychotropic medication use, with approximately one new patient identified each week. Prescribing recommendations were accepted 66% of the time. All seven SNF providers reported that recommendations were helpful in improving their psychotropic prescribing practices.

Conclusions

The PDSI dashboard was efficient and effective in identifying patients at risk for inappropriate use of psychotropic medications. A clinical pharmacist was essential for implementing and communicating recommendations from the dashboard to providers.
Intratumoral TIGIT+ CD8+ T-cell infiltration determines poor prognosis and immune evasion in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer
Authors: Liu Zhaopei , Zhou Quan , Wang Zewei , Zhang Hongyu , Zeng Han , Huang Qiuren , Chen Yifan , Jiang Wenbin , Lin Zhiyuan , Qu Yang , Xiong Ying , Bai Qi , Xia Yu , Wang Yiwei , Liu Li , Zhu Yu , Xu Le , Dai Bo , Guo Jianming , Wang Jiajun , Chang Yuan , Zhang Weijuan
Published: August 2020

Background

T-cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT) is identified as a novel checkpoint receptor that can facilitate immune escape via mediating T-cell exhaustion in tumors. However, the clinical significance and immune contexture correlation of intratumoral TIGIT+ CD8+ T-cells remain to be further explored in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).

Methods

259 patients with MIBC from two clinical centers (Zhongshan Hospital, n=141; Shanghai Cancer Center, n=118) were analyzed to evaluate the prognostic value and immune contexture association of TIGIT+ CD8+ T-cells through immunohistochemistry. Fresh tumor tissue samples from 26 patients with MIBC were examined to discover the phenotype of this CD8 subpopulation by flow cytometry.

Results

High infiltration of intratumoral TIGIT+ CD8+ T-cells predicted poor overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in MIBC. For patients with stage II MIBC with low infiltration of TIGIT+ CD8+ cells, adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) could significantly prolong their OS and RFS. Intratumoral TIGIT+ CD8+ T-cell abundance was correlated with impaired CD8+ T-cell cytotoxicity and exhibited production of immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10. Further analysis of tumor-infiltrating immune cell landscape revealed TIGIT+ CD8+ T-cells were associated with suppressive immune contexture, including Th2 cells, regulatory T-cells, mast cells and neutrophils.

Conclusion

Intratumoral TIGIT+ CD8+ T-cell abundance could serve as an independent prognosticator for clinical outcome and a predictive biomarker for inferior ACT responsiveness. Intratumoral TIGIT+ CD8+ T-cell abundance correlated with dampened CD8+ T-cell antitumor immunity and immunosuppressive contexture abundance, highlighting a tumor-promoting role of TIGIT+ CD8+ T-cells.
Pemphigus foliaceus in two pet Nigerian Dwarf goats
Authors: Piccione Michelle Lauren , Layne Elizabeth A , Shaw Gillian C
Published: August 2020

Two male Nigerian Dwarf pet goats from a group of three living in rural southern Wisconsin, USA, presented at the same time with an eight‐month history of pruritus and marked crusting on head, axillae and inguinal regions. Parasite investigations were negative, and there was no response to antiparasitic treatment. Fungal and bacterial cultures did not reveal a cause. Histopathology was consistent with a diagnosis of pemphigus foliaceus, and goats were treated with immunosuppressive doses of injectable dexamethasone sodium phosphate. After six weeks of treatment, clinical remission was achieved, and immunosuppressive therapy was continued. Three months later, goat 2 developed presumptive viral pneumonia; necropsy reported presumptive caprine arthritis encephalitis virus. One year into treatment, goat 1 developed similar clinical signs and was euthanased. In goats, pemphigus foliaceus is rare and can be treated using glucocorticoids, but as in other species, chronic immunosuppression increases susceptibility to infections.
Removal of a retrobulbar wooden foreign body trapped in the orbital fissure by lateral orbitotomy and mandibular coronoidectomy in a French bulldog
Authors: Saban Charles , Gory Guillaume , Cabon Quentin
Published: August 2020

A four‐year‐old dog is presented with severe ocular pain, right eye swelling and slight exophthalmos, three days after partial removal of a wooden foreign body stuck under the right eye through the canthus medialis. A CT scan showed the presence of the foreign body in the retrobulbar space, trapped into the orbital fissure medially to the right branch of the mandible. Removal of the foreign body was performed by lateral orbitotomy associated with coronoidectomy of the vertical branch of the right hemimandible. The optical nerve was entirely torn by the foreign body. After postoperative recovery, the clinical outcome was good apart from unilateral blindness. The dog lives a normal life according to the owners’ evaluation. This case is the first description of the surgical treatment by the combination of lateral orbitotomy and mandibular coronoidectomy of an identified retrobulbar foreign body, medial to the mandible, stuck into the orbital fissure.
Hydrologic impacts of climate change in relation to Ontario’s source water protection planning program
Authors: Livingston T. , McBean E. , Marchildon M. , Gharabaghi B.
Published: August 2020

Water management activities are currently predicated on the assumption of a stationary climate, despite the reality of climate change. Hydrologic impacts of climate change for three sub-watersheds north of Toronto for 2041–70 were investigated using the precipitation-runoff modeling system to model six global climate model projections from each of representative concentration pathway (RCP) 2.6, RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5. Annual groundwater recharge, evapotranspiration, and the 7Q20 low streamflow statistic were projected to change from 1976–2005 conditions by −2.2% to +20.5%, +0.9% to +14.4%, and −25.5% to +9.8%, respectively. Seasonal shifts included an earlier date of peak streamflow for the majority of simulations and a +14.0% to +103.9% increase in winter recharge. A steady-state MODFLOW model was employed as a preliminary assessment into the effects of climate change on source water protection outputs. The results of this research further the understanding of climate change impacts on human and ecological systems in southern Ontario.
Development of a liquid scintillator based active fission target for FIPPS
Authors: Kandzia F. , Belier G. , Michelagnoli C. , Aupiais J. , Barani M. , Dudouet J. , Düllmann Ch. E. , Iskra Ł. W. , Jentschel M. , Kim Y. H. , Köster U. , Turturica A.
Published: August 2020

An active fission target has been developed for the FIPPS instrument at ILL, enabling for the first time an efficient suppression of $$\upbeta $$
β
-delayed $$\upgamma $$
γ
rays in high-resolution and high-efficiency $$\upgamma $$
γ
-ray spectroscopy of fission fragments at a neutron beam. The target is based on a liquid scintillator in which the actinide is dissolved, resulting in a 4$$\pi $$
π
fragment detection. Measurements have been performed with $$^{233, 235}$$

233
,
235

U, with a fission tagging efficiency of 97.8(25)%. The high efficiency, together with the good time resolution of the scintillator target, provide high-selectivity data for $$\upgamma $$
γ
-ray spectroscopy studies of fission fragments.
On the generalised eigenvalue method and its relation to Prony and generalised pencil of function methods
Authors: Fischer M. , Kostrzewa B. , Ostmeyer J. , Ottnad K. , Ueding M. , Urbach C.
Published: August 2020

We discuss the relation of a variety of different methods to determine energy levels in lattice QCD simulations: the generalised eigenvalue, the Prony, the generalised pencil of function and the Gardner methods. All three former methods can be understood as special cases of a generalised eigenvalue problem. We show analytically that the leading corrections to an energy $$E_l$$

E
l

in all three methods due to unresolved states decay asymptotically exponentially like $$\exp (-(E_{n}-E_l)t)$$

exp
(
-

(

E
n

-

E
l

)

t
)

. Using synthetic data we show that these corrections behave as expected also in practice. We propose a novel combination of the generalised eigenvalue and the Prony method, denoted as GEVM/PGEVM, which helps to increase the energy gap $$E_{n}-E_l$$

E
n

-

E
l

. We illustrate its usage and performance using lattice QCD examples. The Gardner method on the other hand is found less applicable to realistic noisy data.
Effect of magnetic field on the charge and thermal transport properties of hot and dense QCD matter
Authors: Rath Shubhalaxmi , Patra Binoy Krishna
Published: August 2020

We have studied the effect of strong magnetic field on the charge and thermal transport properties of hot QCD matter at finite chemical potential. For this purpose, we have calculated the electrical conductivity ($$\sigma _\mathrm{el}$$σel) and the thermal conductivity ($$\kappa $$κ) using kinetic theory in the relaxation time approximation, where the interactions are subsumed through the distribution functions within the quasiparticle model at finite temperature, strong magnetic field and finite chemical potential. This study helps to understand the impacts of strong magnetic field and chemical potential on the local equilibrium by the Knudsen number ($$\Omega $$Ω) through $$\kappa $$κ and on the relative behavior between thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity through the Lorenz number (L) in the Wiedemann–Franz law. We have observed that, both $$\sigma _\mathrm{el}$$σel and $$\kappa $$κ get increased in the presence of strong magnetic field, and the additional presence of chemical potential further increases their magnitudes, where $$\sigma _\mathrm{el}$$σel shows decreasing trend with the temperature, opposite to its increasing behavior in the isotropic medium, whereas $$\kappa $$κ increases slowly with the temperature, contrary to its fast increase in the isotropic medium. The variation in $$\kappa $$κ explains the decrease of the Knudsen number with the increase of the temperature. However, in the presence of strong magnetic field and finite chemical potential, $$\Omega $$Ω gets enhanced and approaches unity, thus, the system may move slightly away from the equilibrium state. The Lorenz number ($$\kappa /(\sigma _\mathrm{el} T))$$κ/(σelT)) in the abovementioned regime of strong magnetic field and finite chemical potential shows linear enhancement with the temperature and has smaller magnitude than the isotropic one, thus, it describes the violation of the Wiedemann–Franz law for the hot and dense QCD matter in the presence of a strong magnetic field.
On the equipartition theorem and black holes non-Gaussian entropies
Authors: Abreu Everton M. C. , Neto Jorge Ananias , Barboza Edésio M. , Mendes Albert C. R. , Soares Bráulio B.
Published: August 2020

In this letter we have shown that, from the standard thermodynamic functions, the mathematical form of an equipartition theorem may be related to the algebraic expression of a particular entropy initially chosen to describe the black hole event horizon. Namely, we have different equipartition expressions for distinct statistics. To this end, four different mathematical expressions for the entropy have been selected to demonstrate our objective. Furthermore, a possible phase transition is observed in the heat capacity behavior of the Tsallis and Cirto entropy model.
Working Capital Management and Firm Performance Relationship: An Empirical Investigation of Australasian Firms
Authors: Kayani Umar Nawaz , De Silva Tracy-Anne , Gan Christopher
Published: August 2020

This paper examines the empirical relationship between working capital management (WCM) and firm performance (FP) for Australasian publicly listed firms. Australia and New Zealand are attractive investment destinations due to their business friendly environments. The past two decades have seen increased academic attention in studies linking WCM and FP across various parts of globe. The empirical relationship between WCM-FP has not been sufficiently examined in regards to Australian and New Zealand firms. This study measures the role of WCM during the 2008 global financial crisis in both Australia and New Zealand firms. This study uses System General Method of Moments to address the endogeneity problem in order to reduce the possibility of biased results. The results show that WCM has a significant relationship with FP. More specifically, the Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) and the Inventory Conversion Period (ICP) exhibit negative relationships with FP indicating that a reduction in the CCC and the ICP help to improve FP in Australasian firms. However, in the case of the Average Collection Period (ACP) and the Average Payment Period (APP), the results vary between both countries. In Australia, the ACP has no significant relationship, whereas APP has a positive relationship. This is contrary in the case of New Zealand firms. Another important finding is that firms in both markets were relatively efficient collecting their receivables during the 2008 global financial crisis period. These findings provide new empirical evidence that WCM matters for improving FP in Australasian firms.
A Unified Framework for Sparse Online Learning
Authors: Zhao Peilin , Wang Dayong , Wu Pengcheng , Hoi Steven C. H.
Published: August 2020

The amount of data in our society has been exploding in the era of big data. This article aims to address several open challenges in big data stream classification. Many existing studies in data mining literature follow the batch learning setting, which suffers from low efficiency and poor scalability. To tackle these challenges, we investigate a unified online learning framework for the big data stream classification task. Different from the existing online data stream classification techniques, we propose a unified Sparse Online Classification (SOC) framework. Based on SOC, we derive a second-order online learning algorithm and a cost-sensitive sparse online learning algorithm, which could successfully handle online anomaly detection tasks with the extremely unbalanced class distribution. As the performance evaluation, we analyze the theoretical bounds of the proposed algorithms and conduct an extensive set of experiments. The encouraging experimental results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed algorithms over the state-of-the-art techniques on multiple data stream classification tasks.