bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films Technique Predicts Sediment Nickel Toxicity to the Amphipod Melita plumulosa
Authors: Gillmore Megan L. , Price Gwilym A.V. , Golding Lisa A. , Stauber Jenny L. , Adams Merrin S. , Simpson Stuart L. , Smith Ross E.W. , Jolley Dianne F.
Published: December 2020

The geographical shift of nickel mining to small island countries of the Southeast Asia and Melanesia region has produced a need to assess the environmental risk associated with increased sediment nickel exposure to benthic estuarine/marine biota. Chemical measurements of nickel concentration and potential bioavailability, including the use of diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT), were compared to effects on 10-d reproduction of the epibenthic estuarine/marine amphipod Melita plumulosa in nickel-spiked sediments and field-contaminated sediments with different characteristics. The 10% effect concentrations (EC10s) for amphipod reproduction ranged from 280 to 690 mg/kg total recoverable nickel, from 110 to 380 mg/kg dilute acid–extractable nickel, and from 34 to 87 μg Ni/m2/h DGT-labile nickel flux. Nickel bioavailability was lower in sediments with greater total organic carbon, clay content, and percentage of fine particles. Measurements of DGT-labile nickel flux at the sediment–water interface integrated exposure to nickel from porewater, overlying water, and ingested sediment exposure pathways and were found to have the strongest relationship with the biological response. At most, there was a 29% reduction in 10-d M. plumulosa reproduction relative to the control when exposed to nickel from field-contaminated sediments collected from nickel laterite mining regions of New Caledonia. The DGT technique can be used as a complementary tool to measure the bioavailability of nickel in estuarine/marine sediments, especially sediments that are in nickel laterite mining regions where there are no or few toxicity data available for determining biological effects on local species. Based on the combined data set of the 3 nickel-spiked sediments a DGT-labile nickel EC10 threshold of 50 (30–69) μg Ni/m2/h was determined. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1266–1278. © 2020 SETAC
Improved ultra‐high performance liquid chromatographic method for simultaneous determination of five gout‐related metabolites in human serum
Authors: Kang Lu , Liu Ju , Zhang Hongyang , Jiang Min , Jin Yidian , Zhang Min , Hu Ping
Published: December 2020

Creatinine and purines are gout‐related metabolites commonly quantified by liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet and mass spectrometry. However, the high cost of liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry hindered its extensive use in ordinary hospitals and clinical laboratories. Using the traditional liquid chromatography method, the full separation of these metabolites in complex biological samples is still not achieved. In this study, an improved ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet spectroscopy method was reported for quantitative determination of five gout‐related metabolites (i.e., creatinine, uric acid, hypoxanthine, xanthine, and inosine) in human serum within 10 min. A UHPLC system equipped with a hydrophilic C18 column was used to improve separation, shorten analysis time, and increase analysis throughput. The performance of the method was validated by evaluating linearity (squared correlation coefficient > 0.9991), recovery (92.8–100.0%, with relative standard deviation < 4.7%), accuracy (relative errors < 14.6%), precision (0.2‐4.1% for intraday and 2.1‐7.3% for interday) and stability (‐14.1 to 8.3% in autosampler for 12 h and ‐13.3 to 2.2% for freeze‐thaw cycles). This method was successfully applied to quantify gout‐related metabolites in serum samples of healthy controls and gout patients, which was expected to be used in the clinical investigation of gout at different stages.
Scar Dancing Syndrome: Peripheral Trauma Induced Involuntary Hyperkinesia around Surgical Incision
Authors: Yang Xiaodong , Li Hongxia , Hallett Mark , Wan Xinhua , Wu Yiwen
Published: December 2020

Background

Peripherally induced movement disorders represent a rare and debated complication of peripheral trauma. It is difficult to determine a causal relationship between peripheral injuries and subsequent movement disorders.

Cases

Here, we introduce and characterize four patients with post‐surgical scar‐associated movement disorders, a peripherally‐induced rippling movement disorder confined to the muscles just under a long surgical incision scar, appearing weeks to months after surgery. This novel ‘scar dancing’ syndrome does not spread to adjacent muscles and persists during sleep.

Conclusion

Scar dancing syndrome expands the phenotypic spectrum of peripherally induced movement disorders, in which movement disorder is confined to a long surgical incision site.
Patient with CATSPER3 mutations‐related failure of sperm acrosome reaction with successful pregnancy outcome from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
Authors: Wang Jiaxiong , Tang Hui , Zou Qinyan , Zheng Aiyan , Li Hong , Yang Shenmin , Xiang Jingjing
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study is intended to investigate the candidate pathogenic gene in a patient with primary infertility but without the defect in routine semen parameters from a consanguineous family and explore the potential impacts of mutations on assisted reproductive technology outcome.

Methods

Whole‐exome sequencing (WES) was carried out. A variant in his family found by WES was verified by Sanger sequencing. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was applied to obtain a successful outcome.

Results

A Cation Channel of Sperm 3(CATSPER3) homozygous variant (NM_ 178019.3:exon5:c.707T>A, p.L236*) was identified for the first time. The anti‐CD46 immunofluorescence analysis revealed the failure of sperm acrosome reaction (AR) caused by the mutation. ICSI treatment was successful.

Conclusion

This is the first report of a homozygous pathogenic CATSPER3 mutation. This mutation may cause male infertility with the failure of AR but without the defect in routine semen parameters. ICSI was supposed to be the most appropriate therapy.
Accessibility of support structures in topology optimization for additive manufacturing
Authors: van de Ven Emiel , Ayas Can , Langelaar Matthijs , Maas Robert , van Keulen Fred
Published: December 2020

Additive manufacturing (AM) and topology optimization (TO) have a synergetic relation, as AM can produce complex TO designs, and TO provides high‐performance parts that utilize the form freedom provided by AM. Recently, TO has been tailored more toward AM with the inclusion of the minimum allowable overhang angle as a design constraint: resulting designs can be built without any support structures. This work is an extension thereof, by allowing support structures only if they are accessible, such that they can be removed after manufacturing. This is achieved by applying a conventional overhang filter twice, combined with basic operations such as geometry inversion, union, and intersection. The result is an accessibility‐aware overhang filter that can be incorporated in TO. Compared with conventional overhang filtered designs, the accessibility filter results in increased part performance and better convergence behavior. Furthermore, a modular filter structure is presented to easily construct the accessibility filter, and its effectiveness is demonstrated on several numerical cases.
Housing costs, self‐employment, and fertility
Authors: Florida Richard , Mellander Charlotta , King Karen
Published: December 2020

The decline in fertility across advanced nations is a well‐known fact. Becker famously argued that declining rates of childbirth were the by‐product of higher levels of economic development and human capital. Recently, it has been suggested that two additional factors might lead to declining rates of childbirth—the higher housing costs of expensive cities and the change in the nature of work and employment from more regular and secure full‐time work to less secure arrangements, like self‐employment. Our research examines the effect of these two classes of factors—housing costs and self‐employment—on fertility, in regard to both the rate of childbirth and the delay in the age at which people have children. We use detailed panel data covering all Swedish individuals in their prime childbearing years (20–45) for the 10‐year period 2007–2016. Our findings indicate that the likelihood of having a child is affected negatively by increased housing costs and positively by self‐employment. Both result in a delay in the parental age at which children are born. Of the two, self‐employment has a relatively large effect.
The effect of barberry (Berberis vulgaris) consumption on flow‐mediated dilation and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with hypertension: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Emamat Hadi , Asadian Sanaz , Zahedmehr Ali , Ghanavati Matin , Nasrollahzadeh Javad
Published: December 2020

Hypertension is considered as an important cardiovascular risk factor and evidence suggests that hypertension and endothelial dysfunction reinforce each other. Polyphenol‐rich foods, such as barberry can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Our aim was to investigate the effects of barberry consumption on vascular function and inflammatory markers in hypertensive subject. In this randomized controlled parallel trial, 84 hypertensive subjects of both genders (aged 54.06 ± 10.19 years; body mass index 28.02 ± 2.18 kg/m2) were randomly allocated to consume barberry (10 g/day dried barberry) or placebo for 8 weeks. Before and after the intervention, changes in brachial flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) and plasma macrophage/monocyte chemo‐attractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1), vascular cellular adhesion molecule‐1, and intracellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) were measured. An intention‐to‐treat analysis was performed. Compared to placebo (n = 42), barberry consumption (n = 42) improved FMD (B [95% CI] was 6.54% [4.39, 8.70]; p < .001) and decreased plasma ICAM‐1 (B [95% CI] was −1.61 ng/ml [−2.74, −0.48]; p = .006). MCP‐1 was significantly lower in the barberry group compared with the placebo group (B [95% CI] was −37.62 pg/ml [−72.07, −3.17]; p = .033). Our results indicate that barberry consumption improves FMD and has a beneficial effect on plasma ICAM‐1 and MCP‐1 in hypertensive patients. This trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trial (IRCT) with number IRCT20160702028742N8.
Recent Advances and Future Perspectives of Single‐Photon Avalanche Diodes for Quantum Photonics Applications
Authors: Ceccarelli Francesco , Acconcia Giulia , Gulinatti Angelo , Ghioni Massimo , Rech Ivan , Osellame Roberto
Published: December 2020

Photonic quantum technologies promise a revolution of the world of information processing, from simulation and computing to communication and sensing, thanks to the many advantages of exploiting single photons as quantum information carriers. In this scenario, single‐photon detectors play a key role. On the one hand, superconducting nanowire single‐photon detectors (SNSPDs) are able to provide remarkable performance on a broad spectral range, but their applicability is often limited by the need of cryogenic operating temperatures. On the other hand, single‐photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) overcome the intrinsic limitations of SNSPDs by providing a valid alternative at room temperature or slightly below. In this paper, the authors review the fundamental principles of the SPAD operation and provide a thorough discussion of the recent progress made in this field, comparing the performance of these devices with the requirements of the quantum photonics applications. In the end, the authors conclude with their vision of the future by summarizing prospects and unbeaten paths that can open new perspectives in the field of photonic quantum information processing.
Genistein enhances the effects of L‐asparaginase on inducing cell apoptosis in human leukemia cancerHL‐60 cells
Authors: Hsiao Yin‐Chen , Chueh Fu‐Shin , Ma Yi‐Shih , Lien Jin‐Cherng , Hsia Te‐Chun , Huang Wen‐Wen , Chou Yu‐Cheng , Chen Po‐Yuan , Chung Jing‐Gung , Chen Hung‐Yi , Liu Kuo‐Ching
Published: December 2020

Genistein (GEN) has been shown to induce apoptotic cell death in various human cancer cells. L‐asparaginase (Asp), a clinical drug for leukemia, has been shown to induce cell apoptosis in leukemia cells. No available information concerning GEN combined with Asp increased the cell apoptosis compared to GEN or Asp treatment alone. The objective of this study is to evaluate the anti‐leukemia activity of GEN combined with Asp on human leukemia HL‐60 cells in vitro. The cell viability, the distribution of cell cycle, apoptotic cell death, and the level of ΔΨmwere examined by flow cytometric assay. The expressions of apoptosis‐associated proteins were measured by western blotting. GEN combined with Asp revealed a more significant decrease in total viable cells and induced a higher percentage of G2/M phase arrest, DNA damage, and cell apoptosis than that of GEN or Asp treatment only in HL‐60 cells. Furthermore, the combined treatments (GEN and Asp) showed a higher decrease in the level of ΔΨmthan that of GEN or Asp treatment only. These results indicated that GEN combined with Asp induced mitochondria dysfunction by disrupting the mitochondrial membrane potential. The results from western blotting demonstrated that the treatment of GEN combined with Asp showed a higher increase in the levels of Bax and Bak (pro‐apoptotic proteins) and an active form of caspase‐3 and a higher decrease in Bcl‐2 (anti‐apoptotic protein) than that of GEN or Asp treatment alone. GEN significantly enhances the efficiency of Asp on cytotoxic effects (the induction of apoptosis) in HL‐60 cells.
Cellular quiescence in budding yeast
Authors: Sun Siyu , Gresham David
Published: December 2020

Cellular quiescence, the temporary and reversible exit from proliferative growth, is the predominant state of all cells. However, our understanding of the biological processes and molecular mechanisms that underlie cell quiescence remains incomplete. As with the mitotic cell cycle, budding and fission yeast are preeminent model systems for studying cellular quiescence owing to their rich experimental toolboxes and the evolutionary conservation across eukaryotes of pathways and processes that control quiescence. Here, we review current knowledge of cell quiescence in budding yeast and how it pertains to cellular quiescence in other organisms, including multicellular animals. Quiescence entails large‐scale remodeling of virtually every cellular process, organelle, gene expression, and metabolic state that is executed dynamically as cells undergo the initiation, maintenance, and exit from quiescence. We review these major transitions, our current understanding of their molecular bases, and highlight unresolved questions. We summarize the primary methods employed for quiescence studies in yeast and discuss their relative merits. Understanding cell quiescence has important consequences for human disease as quiescent single‐celled microbes are notoriously difficult to kill and quiescent human cells play important roles in diseases such as cancer. We argue that research on cellular quiescence will be accelerated through the adoption of common criteria, and methods, for defining cell quiescence. An integrated approach to studying cell quiescence, and a focus on the behavior of individual cells, will yield new insights into the pathways and processes that underlie cell quiescence leading to a more complete understanding of the life cycle of cells.

Take Away

Quiescent cells are viable cells that have reversibly exited the cell cycle

Quiescence is induced in response to a variety of nutrient starvation signals

Quiescence is executed dynamically through three phases: initiation, maintenance, and exit

Quiescence entails large‐scale remodeling of gene expression, organelles, and metabolism

Single‐cell approaches are required to address heterogeneity among quiescent cells
The budding yeast transition to quiescence
Authors: Miles Shawna , Bradley Graham T. , Breeden Linda L.
Published: December 2020

A subset of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells in a stationary phase culture achieve a unique quiescent state characterized by increased cell density, stress tolerance, and longevity. Trehalose accumulation is necessary but not sufficient for conferring this state, and it is not recapitulated by abrupt starvation. The fraction of cells that achieve this state varies widely in haploids and diploids and can approach 100%, indicating that both mother and daughter cells can enter quiescence. The transition begins when about half the glucose has been taken up from the medium. The high affinity glucose transporters are turned on, glycogen storage begins, the Rim15 kinase enters the nucleus and the accumulation of cells in G1 is initiated. After the diauxic shift (DS), when glucose is exhausted from the medium, growth promoting genes are repressed by the recruitment of the histone deacetylase Rpd3 by quiescence‐specific repressors. The final division that takes place post‐DS is highly asymmetrical and G1 arrest is complete after 48 h. The timing of these events can vary considerably, but they are tightly correlated with total biomass of the culture, suggesting that the transition to quiescence is tightly linked to changes in external glucose levels. After 7 days in culture, there are massive morphological changes at the protein and organelle level. There are global changes in histone modification. An extensive array of condensin‐dependent, long‐range chromatin interactions lead to genome‐wide chromatin compaction that is conserved in yeast and human cells. These interactions are required for the global transcriptional repression that occurs in quiescent yeast.
Failure Analysis of Rheocast Cylinder Head Covers of Hypereutectic Al–Si Alloys
Authors: Feng Jian
Published: December 2020

The purpose of the present study is to determine the cause of failures of semisolid rheocast cylinder head covers of hypereutectic modified LM30 alloys. The covers, manufactured by rheocasting, a process that consists of the incorporation and homogeneous distribution of the reinforcements in semisolid metal (SSM) before die casting, were shot-peened after heat treatment to increase the fatigue resistance. However, these engine components failed during operation after a short service time. The major flaws were located by radiography. The microstructure was controlled by metallography. Significant interactions between shot peening and surface/subsurface contaminants were identified by surface morphology and fractography. The fatigue properties of hypereutectic alloys were investigated by a high-frequency vibrophore. It was identified that the failure was related to the cleanliness of SSM as well as the rheocasting process. Recommendations were given to prevent the recurrence of similar failures.
Water vapor transmission properties of acrylic organic coatings
Authors: Kovács Réka Lilla , Daróczi Lajos , Barkóczy Péter , Baradács Eszter , Bakonyi Eszter , Kovács Szilvia , Erdélyi Zoltán
Published: December 2020

In this work, we evaluate the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), the permeability (P), solubility (S), and diffusion (D) coefficients of Paraloid B44, Paraloid B72, and Incralac coatings in the temperature range of 5–35°C. The Arrhenius function—diffusion activation energy and preexponential factor—has also been determined from the data:$$D_{B44} = 35.2\;{\text{cm}}^{2} \;{\text{s}}^{ - 1} \exp \left( { - 25\;{\text{kJ mol}}^{ - 1} /{\text{RT}}} \right)$$DB44=35.2cm2s-1exp-25kJ mol-1/RT;$$D_{B72} = 9.5\;{\text{cm}}^{2} \;{\text{s}}^{ - 1} \exp \left( { - 23\;{\text{kJ mol}}^{ - 1} /{\text{RT}}} \right)$$DB72=9.5cm2s-1exp-23kJ mol-1/RT;$$D_{\text{Incralac}} = 622.8\;{\text{cm}}^{2} \;{\text{s}}^{ - 1} { \exp }\left( { - 28\;{\text{kJ mol}}^{ - 1} /{\text{RT}}} \right)$$DIncralac=622.8cm2s-1exp-28kJ mol-1/RT. These resins are important coating materials, for example, for conservators to protect metallic artifacts, such as statues, against corrosion. Despite Paraloid B44 and B72 resins being considered as reference materials in conservation practice, that is, new coating materials (either water vapor retarders or transmitters) are often compared to them, there are no comprehensive data for the quantities describing the vapor permeability (P, S, D) of these materials. The measurements are based on the ISO cup-method using substrate/coating composite samples. The strength of this technique is that it can also be used when the coating is non-self-supporting; nevertheless,P,S,andDcan be deduced for the coating layer itself, and it seems to be a standardizable procedure for comparative performance testing of coating materials. Paraloid B72 layers exhibited higher WVTRs—from 39 to 315 g m−2day−1as the temperature increased from 5 to 35°C—compared to Paraloid B44 and Incralac coatings—from 17 to 190 g m−2 day−1, respectively. The transmission rate parameters were also compared to the results of corrosion tests. Incralac was the most effective corrosion inhibitor, and the performance of the B44 was better than the B72, which is in good agreement with the transmission rate tests.
NUT Carcinoma Arising from the Parotid Gland: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Saik Wei-Ning , Da Forno Philip , Thway Khin , Khurram Syed Ali
Published: December 2020

NUT carcinoma is an aggressive carcinoma with an overall poor survival outcome. The mediastinum and head and neck area, especially the sinonasal region, are among the common sites of disease. Histopathological diagnosis of NUT carcinoma is often very challenging due to its overlapping features with other poorly differentiated carcinomas. We report a case of NUT carcinoma arising from the parotid gland of a young female patient. Primary NUT carcinoma of salivary gland is very rare, with only 15 such cases reported in the literature to date. Our case highlights the diagnostic challenges associated with such lesions.
Explorative analysis of a score predicting the therapy response of patients with metastatic, castration resistant prostate cancer undergoing radioligand therapy with 177Lu-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen
Authors: Huang Kai , Schatka Imke , Rogasch Julian M. M. , Lindquist Randall L. , De Santis Maria , Erber Barbara , Radojewski Piotr , Brenner Winfried , Amthauer Holger
Published: December 2020

Objective

Up to 60% of patients with metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) treated with 177Lu prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) radioligand therapy (RLT) achieves a partial biochemical response with a decrease of > 50% in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. The remaining fractions, however, do not respond to RLT. The aim of this explorative analysis was to identify pre-therapeutic factors for the prediction of response.

Methods

46 patients [age = 68 years (50–87)] with mCRPC who consecutively underwent RLT with 177Lu PSMA [median applied activity = 6 GBq (2.9–6.2)] were included and analysed retrospectively. The association of different clinical and laboratory factors and parameters from pre-therapeutic 68Ga PSMA positron emission tomography (PET) with the outcome of RLT was tested (Fisher’s test). Outcome was defined as PSA changes 8 weeks after second RLT [partial response (PR), PSA decrease > 50%; progressive disease (PD), PSA increase ≥ 25%; stable disease (SD), others]. Significant predictive factors were combined in a predictive score.

Results

30% showed a post-treatment PR (median 73% PSA decrease), 35% SD (median 17% PSA decrease) and 35% PD (median 42% PSA increase). Significant predictors for PD were alkaline phosphatase (ALP) > 135 U/l (p = 0.002), PSA > 200 ng/ml (p = 0.036), and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the “hottest lesion” in pre-therapeutic PET < 45 (p = 0.005). The predictive score including PSA, ALP and SUVmax could separate 2 distinct groups of patients: ≤ 2 predictive factors (19% PD) and 3 predictive factors (90% PD).

Conclusion

The presented predictive score allowed a pre-therapeutic estimate of the expected response to 2 cycles of RLT. As our study was retrospective, prospective trials are needed for validation.
Arsenic and Old Graves
Authors: Meyers Maureen S. , Breetzke David , Holt Henry
Published: December 2020

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, arsenic was used as an embalming agent in the United States. In 1996, Konefes and McGee brought the potential danger of arsenic poisoning during excavation to the attention of archaeologists. They developed methodology that was later refined by the present authors. This article discusses the history of arsenic as an embalming agent, explores socioeconomic and demographic factors that might suggest the presence of arsenic in certain burials, and presents methods for testing arsenic in archaeological contexts. We also discuss environmental impact mitigation considerations and review examples of arsenic testing in archaeological contexts.
Public Opinions and Conspiracy Thinking Toward the COVID-19 Outbreak in Iraqi Kurdistan
Authors: Abdulah Deldar Morad , Saeed Mahir Sadullah
Published: December 2020

Objective:

The public’s perceptions toward the COVID-19 crisis and the government’s attempts to handle the crisis are critically noteworthy. The public opinions toward the COVID-19 crisis were explored in this study.

Methods:

In this report, 1102 participants were included from 2 popular social media platforms from the Duhok Governorate in Iraqi Kurdistan between June 2 and 22, 2020, through an online technique.

Results:

The study revealed that 14.0% of the participants believed that there is no COVID-19 in this region, and 20.1% had no concerns about the disease spread. This study revealed that 27.4% had conspiracy thinking about the COVID-19 outbreak, including that the outbreak is a plot against/of the Kurdistan Region Government, 16.4% and 19.3%, respectively. The outbreak caused considerable changes in participants’ lives (85.8%). The participants who had conspiracy thinking were younger (27.0 vs 30.0; P = 0.001) and had a higher level of education (37.50% high school and under, 26.0% college and above, 16.2% illiterate: P < 0.001). In addition, they had a private job (43.7%), and were unemployed (23.9%; P < 0.001), and had negative views on the TV information (38.9% vs 17.5%; P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

A considerable percentage of the public exhibits conspiracy thinking toward the COVID-19 crisis in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Surveillance under dispute: Conceptualising narrative legitimation politics
Authors: Smith Ochoa Christopher , Gadinger Frank , Yildiz Taylan
Published: December 2020

Current debates about surveillance demonstrate the complexity of political controversies whose uncertainty and moral ambiguities render normative consensus difficult to achieve. The question of how to study political controversies remains a challenge for IR scholars. Critical security studies scholars have begun to examine political controversies around surveillance by exploring changing security practices in the everyday. Yet, (de)legitimation practices have hitherto not been the focus of analysis. Following recent practice-oriented research, we develop a conceptual framework based on the notion of ‘narrative legitimation politics’. We first introduce the concept of ‘tests’ from Boltanski's pragmatic sociology to categorise the discursive context and different moral reference points (truth, reality, existence). Second, we combine pragmatic sociology with narrative analysis to enable the study of dominant justificatory practices. Third, we develop the framework through a practice-oriented exploration of the Snowden controversy with a focus on the US and Germany. We identify distinct justificatory practices in each test format linked to narrative devices (for example, plots, roles, metaphors) whose fluid, contested dynamics have the potential to effect change. The framework is particularly relevant for IR scholars interested in legitimacy issues, the normativity of practices, and the power of narratives.
Ambel
Authors: Arnold Laura
Published: December 2020

Ambel (ISO 639-3: wgo) is an Austronesian language spoken by approximately 1600 people on the island of Waigeo in the Raja Ampat archipelago (West Papua province, Indonesia). Within Austronesian, Ambel belongs to the South Halmahera-West New Guinea (SHWNG) subbranch (see Blust 1978); within SHWNG, Ambel is classified as a Raja Ampat–South Halmahera language (RASH; Remijsen 2001:32–37; Kamholz 2014). Other languages spoken in Raja Ampat include Maˈya, Matbat, Biga, Batta, and several closely-related varieties on Salawati island (all RASH); Biak (a non-RASH SHWNG language); and varieties of Malay, in particular Papuan Malay. While historically Maˈya and Biak were used as lingua francas throughout the archipelago, these days Malay is the dominant language. The spread of Malay in recent decades has been facilitated by improvements in telecommunications and infrastructure in the region; the government-backed immigration of Indonesians from the overcrowded western islands of the nation to the more sparsely populated Papua; and a rapidly growing tourist industry throughout Raja Ampat.
Theoretical insights into the dissociation process for dissociative electron attachment to adenine and its tautomer
Authors: Zhang Ying , Wang Xing , Xu Zhongfeng
Published: December 2020

The ab initio molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using an atom-centered density matrix propagation method are carried out in the first time to investigate the dissociative electron attachment (DEA) processes of adenine and its tautomer in the gas phase. Since the incoming electron are captured on the lowest π∗ anti-bond orbital, which is led to the different N–H bond, the C–H bond and the C–N bond are broken. The dominant anion observed in DEA dissociation process is the closed-shell dehydrogenated anion (Ade − H)−. The additional anions (Ade − NH2)− and (Ade − 2H)− are also obtained in ADMP simulation. The results are well consistent with the previous DEA experimental results. Thus, the ADMP method is used to gain a more intuitive and better understanding of the necessary dissociation process in the DEA experiment.
Relationship between protein intake and bone architecture or bone mineral density among dynapenic-obese older adults
Authors: Buckinx Fanny , Peyrusque Eva , Bass Alec , Noirez Philippe , Aubertin-Leheudre Mylène
Published: December 2020

Objective:

The current study aimed to assess the relationship between protein intake and bone parameters among dynapenic-obese older adults.

Design:

The current study is a secondary analysis with an a posteriori and exploratory design.

Setting:

Subjects were recruited from the community via social communication (flyers and meetings in community centres) in the Great Montreal area.

Participants:

Twenty-six subjects were divided a posteriori into two groups according to their usual protein intake: PROT−: < 1 g/kg per d (n 13; women: 53·8 %; 66·5 (sd 3·3) years) and PROT+: > 1·2 g/kg per d (n 13; women: 61·5 %; 67·2 (sd 2·7) years).

Results:

Both groups were comparable for age (PROT−: 66·5 (sd 3·3) v. PROT+: 67·2 (sd 2·7) years, P = 0·61) and gender (women: PROT−: n 7; 53·8 % v. PROT+: n 8; 61·5 %, P = 0·69). The PROT− group had a higher marrow area (P = 0·049), a greater bone compressive strength (P = 0·048) and a larger total bone area (P = 0·045) than the PROT+ group. However, no significant difference between the two groups was observed regarding body composition (fat and lean masses) or muscle composition.

Conclusions:

A lower protein intake seems to be associated with bone sizes, which influence bone strength, but do not influence bone density among dynapenic-obese older people.
The End of Song: Improvisation as Social Critique in Brazil
Authors: McNALLY JAMES
Published: December 2020

This article addresses an emerging phenomenon in which Brazilian popular musicians have begun to depart from popular song (canção popular) in favour of free improvisation in response to rising authoritarianism. As a case study, I examine the creative project Carta Branca, which brings together popular and experimental musicians from styles such as MPB and hip-hop to perform freely improvised concerts. Following a consideration of the history of Braziliancanção popular, the article discusses how contemporary popular musicians engage in free improvisation as an alternative means of musical critique. I contend that their actions constitute evidence of a broader ‘post-canção’ moment, with the potential to facilitate more flexible and collective ways of responding to Brazil's reactionary moment. The article further discusses how the musicians’ improvisational turn fosters a renewed engagement with a form of cultural improvisation tied to understandings of national identity and being in the world specific to Brazil.
Feasibility and acceptability of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) or acupuncture for insomnia and related distress among cancer caregivers
Authors: Applebaum Allison J. , Buda Kara , Hoyt Michael A. , Shaffer Kelly , Garland Sheila , Mao Jun J.
Published: December 2020

Objective

Insomnia is a common, distressing, and impairing psychological outcome experienced by informal caregivers (ICs) of patients with cancer. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and acupuncture both have known benefits for patients with cancer, but such benefits have yet to be evaluated among ICs. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of CBT-I and acupuncture among ICs with moderate or greater levels of insomnia.

Method

Participants were randomized to eight sessions of CBT-I or ten sessions of acupuncture.

Results

Results highlighted challenges of identifying interested and eligible ICs and the impact of perception of intervention on retention and likely ultimately outcome.

Significance of the results

Findings suggest preliminary support for non-pharmacological interventions to treat insomnia in ICs and emphasize the importance of matching treatment modality to the preferences and needs of ICs.
A Wagnerian Battle for Souls: Parsifal and the Crisis in American Protestantism, 1882–1904
Authors: Strauch Richard
Published: December 2020

The Metropolitan Opera premiere of Richard Wagner's Parsifal in December 1903 stirred what was arguably the first American religious controversy over an artistic event to claim national attention in the twentieth century. Although the outcome was predictable – the protests appeared only to fuel box office success – the significance lies in what this controversy reveals about the music drama's most ardent opponents and supporters at a key moment in American religious history. The 1903 Parsifal controversy unfolded in the midst of a crisis in American Protestantism, as conservative establishment Protestants defended their weakening hold on American culture, and their theologically liberal brethren viewed that same culture as both a source of spiritual inspiration and a cause for redemption. Drawing primarily upon accounts published in the New York press, nationally circulated periodicals (including strongly partisan contributions to the debate by The Musical Courier), and the writings of several prominent Protestant clergy and lay leaders, this reception study argues that the religious controversy surrounding the 1903 Parsifal production was a substantive skirmish in this American Protestant crisis, and brought forward competing interpretations of the music drama which highlighted the cultural implications of what had been, until that point, largely a theological dispute. Conservative response fastened onto elements of the drama found to be sacrilegious, while liberal response was conditioned by its kinship to the nineteenth-century phenomenon of Kunstreligion, and a broad view of redemption that extended beyond the individual soul to the artwork and the artist, and to all of culture.
Physical Instability of Individuals Exposed to Storm‐Induced Coastal Flooding: Vulnerability of New Yorkers During Hurricane Sandy
Authors: Wang Yifan , Marsooli Reza
Published: December 2020

Flood risk assessment requires a quantitative understanding of hazards and vulnerability. In the coastal built environment, the human's vulnerability to combined hazards due to the floodwater and winds is an integral component of flood risks. The present study aims to reveal the human vulnerability to storm‐induced coastal flooding, focusing on New York City during Hurricane Sandy. We develop a physics‐based model to quantify individuals' physical vulnerability, both adults and children, to compound hazards of floodwater and winds. The model accounts for the failure of individuals caused by physical instability due to slipping and toppling. The governing equations consider the balance between the driving and resisting forces and moments applied to an individual concurrently exposed to floodwater and winds. We first calibrate the model using existing measurements in the literature and then implement it to study the vulnerability of New York residents in Manhattan to coastal flooding during Hurricane Sandy. Model results indicate that when combined floodwater and wind hazards were at their highest‐level during Sandy, the majority of flooded areas were mainly a hazardous zone for adults and either a failure or drowning zone for children. About 5.4% and 47.4% of the total flooded area became a failure zone, and 19.9% and 42.4% became a drowning zone for adults and children, respectively. We conclude that winds can have a significant impact on the physical instability of individuals. For example, model results for children show that neglecting winds results in a reduction of 97.7% in the area of the failure zone.
Biphasic P2/O3-Na2/3Li0.18Mn0.8Fe0.2O2: a structural investigation
Authors: Stansby Jennifer H. , Avdeev Maxim , Brand Helen E. A. , Gonzalo Elena , Drewett Nicholas E. , Ortiz-Vitoriano Nagore , Sharma Neeraj , Rojo Teófilo
Published: December 2020

The P2/O3 layered oxide system is thought to benefit from a synergistic enhancement, resulting from the presence of both phases, which makes it a promising cathode material for Na-ion battery applications.
Mild and efficient copper-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of oximes with 2-aminobenzyl alcohols at room temperature: synthesis of polysubstituted quinolines
Authors: Liu Yan-Yun , Wei Yang , Huang Zhi-Hui , Liu Yilin
Published: December 2020

A simple and efficient protocol for the synthesis of polysubstituted quinolines at room temperature has been developed by ligand-free Cu-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of oxime acetates with 2-aminobenzyl alcohols.
Secure information broadcasting analysis in an indoor VLC system with imperfect CSI
Authors: Ambrish  , Garg Parul , Sharma Prabhat Kumar , Gupta Akash
Published: December 2020

In this paper, the physical layer security of an indoor visible light communication system, that consists of two transmission light‐emitting diodes to broadcast the information towards the legitimate user, is investigated. Further, a secure LED selection scheme is proposed to select an LED that can perform secure information broadcasting, in the presence of an active and/or passive eavesdropper. The probability of secure information broadcasting is obtained in terms of the positive secrecy rate which is defined under the constraints of known or unknown imperfect channel state information of both legitimate and eavesdropping links. The channel state information (CSI) knowledge of each transmitting link is estimated with the use of a minimum mean square error technique. The performance metrics of the system are defined in terms of the average secrecy capacity and secrecy outage probability parameters. Further, the performance of the system is compared with the conventional stand‐alone VLC system by varying various physical parameters. Further, analytical results are corroborated with the computer simulation results.
Analysis and optimization of a 12/14 double‐stator flux‐switching machine using low cost magnet
Authors: Kazemi Sangdehi Seyed Milad , Asadi Farough , Abdollahi Seyed Ehsan , Gholamian Sayyed Asghar
Published: December 2020

Flux‐switching permanent magnet (FSPM) machine attracted a great deal of attention for industrial applications owing to its high efficiency and high torque/power densities. However, on the downside, it suffers from high cost of rare‐earth permanent magnets (REPMs). Although employing ferrite magnets remarkably reduces the cost of material, ferrite magnet lower energy product will negatively affect the electromagnetic performance of this machine. As a solution, the double‐stator flux‐switching permanent magnet (DSFSPM) machine has been presented in this paper to improve the electromagnetic performance of a conventional ferrite based FSPM counterpart. In this regard, a new analytical approach followed by a brief discussion of the influence of rotor pole number on the electromagnetic performance of two DSFSPM machines with 10‐ and 14‐pole rotors are studied. It is shown that 12/14 DSFSPM machine with ferrite magnets generates almost 30% more developed torque than the other with 10‐pole rotor. Then, a comprehensive comparison on the electromagnetic performances of a 12/14 DSFSPM machine with ferrite magnets, and two 12/14 FSPM machines with REPMs and ferrite magnets are investigated by finite element method. Besides, a cost study highlights the monetary beneficial of the proposed 12/14 DSFSPM machine for the competitive EVs market. Furthermore, a laboratory scale 12/14 DSFSPM machine is designed based on analytical approach, optimized by Taguchi optimization method, and experimentally tested to validate both analytical and FEM results.
Withdrawn: Evaluation method for supply capability of multiple energy sources in integrated energy microgrid considering reliability constraints
Authors: Liu Xiaoou
Published: December 2020

The following article, Xiaoou, L., 'Evaluation method for supply capability of multiple energy sources in integrated energy microgrid considering reliability constraints', was withdrawn on the 12th October 2020 at the request of the author and in agreement with the Editor‐in‐Chief and the Institution of Engineering and Technology. This was because of errors found in the results.
A method of inpainting moles and acne on the high‐resolution face photos
Authors: Li Xuewei , Li Xueming , Zhang Xianlin , Liu Yang , Liang Jiayi , Guo Ziliang , Zhai Keyu
Published: December 2020

With the rapid development of mobile phones, more and more high‐resolution photos are taken. The demand for high‐resolution image inpainting is becoming increasingly urgent. In order to repair high‐resolution face images automatically and quickly, this paper proposes an improved generative adversarial networks method. Firstly, we made a high‐resolution dataset for training and testing, and abandoned the traditional 256256 size data. Secondly, since the existing methods can only repair the mask with fixed size and shape on the image, when the global average pooling layer is used in the network, the improved network can repair the moles and acne with arbitrary sizes and shapes on the human face photos. Finally, in order to achieve optimal performance of the network, a mixed loss function is used in training. The experimental results prove that our method has not only achieved good results in qualitative results, but also achieved excellent results in quantitative results.
Physical and chemical evaluation of the use of diesel composite fuel based on ricinic oil and bioethanol as fuel for diesel power plant
Authors: Sadov A.A. , Novopashin L.A. , Denezhko L.V. , Cherkasov Yu.B.
Published: December 2020

The purpose of the article is to evaluate physical and chemical properties of mixtures based on ricinic oil and bioethanol, followed by determining the optimal concentrations of elements and the processing method. The study used methods for calculating the physical and chemical parameters of complex multicomponent mixtures with subsequent experimental verification of the accepted assumptions and hypotheses validity. The results of the study showed that heat treatment of ricinic oil by heating up to 330 °C allows for a chemical reaction of modification of ricinic oil (dehydration and splitting) in order to obtain products suitable for mixing with petroleum, and thanks to additional ultrasound treatment, it is possible to provide a higher degree of dispersion of emulsified products and increase the shelf life. The presented analytical method for evaluating and optimizing the physical and chemical properties of mixtures allows for preliminary optimization of their composition and excluding unsuitable mixtures for further research. Laboratory studies aimed at determining physical and chemical parameters of mixtures confirm the results of theoretical studies and according to the results, mixtures with a content of biological components of no more than 60% are identified, which correspond to the indicators of diesel fuel and are recommended for use.
Digital mapping of solonchak complexes using Sentinel-2A data
Authors: Suleymanov Azamat , Gabbasova Ilyusya , Komissarov Mikhail
Published: December 2020

Land salinization is an up-to-date issue being broadly studied all over the world. In Russia, salinization processes are predominantly observed in the southern regions, where the main areas of arable land are situated. This research is devoted to mapping of saline lands with the help of satellite data. The study was performed on a 100-hectare plot in the Trans-Ural steppe zone (Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia). A correlation was determined between the level of soil salinity and the main spectral indices associated with Sentinel-2A satellite data. Regression models used 5 salinity indices, vegetation index NDVI, and values of soil conductivity. Linear, quadratic, and logarithmic functions were used. By calculation, the salinity index 5 (G×R)/B demonstrated the best correlation values with the salinity level of (R=0.88, R2=0.77) while using the quadratic function. The vegetation index NDVI revealed no correlation, owing to the poor development or dried-up condition of vegetation. On the basis of the developed regression models, salinity maps are drawn, in which the areas of solonchak complexes are defined.
Methodological issues of improving the system of meteorological support of aviation for agricultural purposes
Authors: Moiseeva Natalia , Kovalenko Gennady , Demchuk Vladimir
Published: December 2020

The direction of the agro-industrial complex development is considered through the use of agricultural aviation and unmanned aerial vehicles, in particular, the issues of integrated application of methods for meteorological conditions forecasting for solving problems of meteorological support for agricultural aviation are considered. The analysis of the impact of climate change on the development of dangerous weather events and complex weather conditions in areas located in different geographical zones was carried out, and their regional specificity was revealed. The identified climatic features of the considered areas indicate the priority importance of developing a regional observation network. It is assumed that the development and technical modernization of the meteorological network will significantly increase the efficiency of meteorological support for the agro-industrial complex. The article also discusses the use of various types of meteorological information in the model of regional meteorological support for aircraft flights in agricultural areas proposed by the authors. The model is based on a systematic approach in which the “crew - aircraft” system is considered as a single dynamic system that is continuously influenced by changing environmental factors.