bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consensus tracking control of discrete‐time second‐order agents over switching signed digraphs with arbitrary antagonistic relations
Authors: Shi Lei , Cheng Yuhua , Zhang Xilin , Shao Jinliang
Published: June 2020

This article studies the problem of consensus tracking control for second‐order agents in multiagent systems over switching signed digraphs. Compared with the existing consensus tracking works on the structurally balanced signed digraph where the antagonistic relations exist only between two independent subgroups, this article explores a more general case for the first time, in the sense that the antagonistic relation is allowed between any two agents. On the basis of the design of a cooperation‐antagonism environment‐based distributed algorithm, suitable model transformation vectors are utilized to convert the stability of original system into a product convergence problem of time‐varying superstochastic matrices. By analyzing the convergence, algebraic conditions between positive and negative weights are established to ensure that all followers can eventually reach the leader's state under switching signed digraphs with arbitrary antagonistic relations. Simulation examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of our results.
Performance improvements of a sweet pepper harvesting robot in protected cropping environments
Authors: Lehnert Chris , McCool Chris , Sa Inkyu , Perez Tristan
Published: June 2020

Using robots to harvest sweet peppers in protected cropping environments has remained unsolved despite considerable effort by the research community over several decades. In this paper, we present the robotic harvester, Harvey, designed for sweet peppers in protected cropping environments that achieved a 76.5% success rate on 68 fruit (within a modified scenario) which improves upon our prior work which achieved 58% on 24 fruit and related sweet pepper harvesting work which achieved 33% on 39 fruit (for their best tool in a modified scenario). This improvement was primarily achieved through the introduction of a novel peduncle segmentation system using an efficient deep convolutional neural network, in conjunction with three‐dimensional postfiltering to detect the critical cutting location. We benchmark the peduncle segmentation against prior art demonstrating an improvement in performance with a score of 0.564 compared to 0.302. The robotic harvester uses a perception pipeline to detect a target sweet pepper and an appropriate grasp and cutting pose used to determine the trajectory of a multimodal harvesting tool to grasp the sweet pepper and cut it from the plant. A novel decoupling mechanism enables the gripping and cutting operations to be performed independently. We perform an in‐depth analysis of the full robotic harvesting system to highlight bottlenecks and failure points that future work could address.
Effect of Nanoporous Structure on the Catalytic Activity of Nanoporous Palladium for Hydrogenation of Nitro Compounds
Authors: Zhao Yuhui , Feng Xiujuan , Li Yanhui , Zhang Wei , Yamamoto Yoshinori , Bao Ming
Published: June 2020

The effect of nanoporous structure on the catalytic activity of palladium catalysts for hydrogenation of nitro compounds was investigated. The order of the catalytic activity of the six types of nanoporous palladium (PdNPore) catalysts produced was very similar to the order of their specific surface area. Compared with other catalysts synthesized in this study, the PdNPore catalyst (Pd86Al14) with a ligament size of 20 nm and specific surface area of 40.81 m2 g−1 exhibited relatively high activity. The hydrogenation reactions of various nitro compounds proceeded smoothly with good functional group tolerance in the presence of this PdNPore catalyst under mild conditions. Moreover, the PdNPore catalyst could be simply recovered and reused several times without any loss of activity.
Diaryl‐λ3‐iodane Woven Supramolecular Architecture of Polyoxometalate
Authors: Xiong Zhelun , Wang Fang , Ke Degang , Wang Yu , Huang Bo , Xiao Zicheng , Wu Pingfan
Published: June 2020

For the first time, diaryl‐λ3‐iodane was employed as the cation of polyoxometalate (POM). The derivative exhibits a fascinating supramolecular architecture, which originates from halogen bonds between the cations and POM anion clusters. It is also the first proof of woven supramolecular architecture constructed by pure halogen bonds using POMs as multi‐dentate electron donors, providing a new vision for the design of POM‐based supramolecular architectures.
The Malleable Excited States of Benzothiadiazole Dyes and Investigation of their Potential for Photochemical Control
Authors: Warner Caroline C. , Thooft Andrea M. , Norris Sean R. , Lampkin Bryan J. , Demirci Selin K. , VanVeller Brett
Published: June 2020

A new design strategy to control the efficiency of a photocleavage reaction based on changing the nature of the excited state is presented. A novel class of photoactive compounds has been synthesized by combining the classical o‐nitrobenzyl scaffold with an environmentally sensitive dye, 4‐amino‐nitrobenzothiazole. Irradiation in a polar solvent led to an excited state that was inoperative for photochemistry whereas excitation in a nonpolar solvent led to an excited state that was photochemically active. While our design hypothesis tests true for the on/off control of a photochemical process, an alternative photochemical ring‐opening of the heterocycle appears to be the preferred process in contrast to the intended photocleavage process.
A Corrosion‐Resistant and Dendrite‐Free Zinc Metal Anode in Aqueous Systems
Authors: Han Daliang , Wu Shichao , Zhang Siwei , Deng Yaqian , Cui Changjun , Zhang Lina , Long Yu , Li Huan , Tao Ying , Weng Zhe , Yang Quan‐Hong , Kang Feiyu
Published: June 2020

Rechargeable aqueous zinc (Zn) ion‐based energy storage systems have been reviving recently because of their low cost and high safety merits; however, they still suffer from the problems of corrosion and dendrite growth on Zn metal anodes that cause gas generation and early battery failure. Unfortunately, the corrosion problem has not received sufficient attention until now. Here, it is pioneeringly demonstrated that decorating the Zn surface with a dual‐functional metallic indium (In) layer, acting as both a corrosion inhibitor and a nucleating agent, is a facile but effective strategy to suppress both drastic corrosion and dendrite growth. Symmetric cells assembled with the treated Zn electrodes can sustain up to 1500 h of plating/stripping cycles with an ultralow voltage hysteresis (54 mV), and a 5000 cycle‐life is achieved for a prototype full cell. This work will instigate the further development of aqueous metal‐based energy storage systems.
A Triple‐Gradient Host for Long Cycling Lithium Metal Anodes at Ultrahigh Current Density
Authors: Le TrungHieu , Liang Qinghua , Chen Ming , Yang Ciqing , Yu Zhihao , Cheng Jie , Kang Feiyu , Yang Ying
Published: June 2020

The viable Li metal anodes (LMAs) are still hampered by the safety concerns resulting from fast Li dendrite growth and huge volume expansion during cycling. Herein, carbon nanofiber matrix anchored with MgZnO nanoparticles (MgZnO/CNF) is developed as a flexible triple‐gradient host for long cycling LMAs. The superlithiophilic MgZnO nanoparticles significantly increase the wettability of CNF for fast and homogeneous infusion with molten Li. The in‐built potential and lithiophilic gradients constructed after an in situ lithiation of MgZnO and CNF enable nearly zero Li nucleation overpotential and homogeneous deposition of lithium at different scales. As such, the LMAs based on MgZnO/CNF achieve long cycling life and small overpotential even at a record‐high current density of 50 mA cm−2 and a high areal capacity of 10 mAh cm−2. A full cell paring with this designed LMA and LiFePO4 exhibits a capacity retention up to 82% after 600 cycles at a high rate of 5 C. A Li‐ion capacitor also shows an impressive capacity retention of 84% at 5 A g−1 after 10 000 cycles. Such a Li@MgZnO/CNF anode is a promising candidate for Li‐metal energy storage systems, especially working under ultrahigh current density.
Domestic energy usage and its' health implications on residents of the Ese‐Odo and Okitipupa local government areas of Ondo state, Nigeria
Authors: Adetayo Olorunjuwon David , Adeyinka Samson Ajibola , Agbabiaka Hafeez Idowu
Published: June 2020

This study examined domestic energy usage and its health implication on residents of Ese‐Odo and Okitipupa Local Government Areas (LGA), of Ondo State. Systematic random sampling was used to select 103 and 156 respondents in Ese‐Odo and Okitipupa LGA, respectively. It was established that environmental and socio‐economic related attributes influenced residents' choice of domestic energy type. Similarly, burns, blindness, stroke, cataract and pulmonary diseases were the most prevalent self‐reported ill‐health. A relatively weak correlation between domestic energy usage and ill‐health is experienced by the residents. Therefore, the study concluded that the use of traditional energy types had significant adverse effects on the health of the residents in Okitipupa and Ese‐Odo LGAs of Ondo State.
E‐waste in the world today: An overview of problems and a proposal for improvement in Brazil
Authors: de Albuquerque Carlos Alberto , Mello Carlos Henrique Pereira , Gomes José Henrique de Freitas , Santos Valquíria Claret dos , Zara Julia Vidigal
Published: June 2020

Environmental issues have been at the center of society's concerns for a long time. Recently, this kind of concern is growing even more due to the damage caused to the environment by electrical and electronic product waste. Based on this same concern, this work aimed to analyze, through a literature review, the production and treatment of electronic waste in today's world, with an emphasis on Brazil and China. The articles reviewed point to an increase in the production of this type of waste, in both Brazil and China, and reveal that the current processes of treatment of electronic waste mostly aim to obtain profit through the recovery of precious metals such as copper. This paper concluded that although Brazil is one of the major producers of e‐waste, more than 90% of its e‐waste has not had a proper final destination. This deficiency in e‐waste treatment in Brazil is mainly due to financial factors and the lack of a robust educational policy focused on the environment. Thus, this work suggests the implementation of an effective educational policy aimed at environmental conservation, as well as investments in research on recycling methods in Brazil, especially on the use of e‐waste as an aggregate in the manufacture of concrete.
Utility assessment of an Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for detection of subclinical cases of caseous lymphadenitis in small ruminant flocks
Authors: Costa Lina , Huerta Belén , Galán‐Relaño Ángela , Gómez‐Gascón Lídia , Almeida Anabela , Viegas Inês , Maldonado Alfonso
Published: June 2020

The actual prevalence of CLA (caseous lymphadenitis) in small ruminant flocks is underestimated in many countries, and because it is not a notifiable disease, it will continue to spread without data and information about its real economic impact. The difficulty in the accurate identification of the causative agent in internal subclinical cases allows the disease to spread within and between flocks. This research intends to assess the utility of an ELISA (enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay) test in the detection of internal subclinical cases of CLA in farms and to simultaneously add data on the seroprevalence of the disease in Portugal. Sera from 756 small ruminants, 70% sheep (528/756) and 30% goats (228/756) were screened for antibodies against Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis using the ELISA technique based on a recombinant phospholipase D (ELITEST CLA # CK105A®). The animals showing internal lesions (n ꞊ 58) were sampled for the identification of the aetiological agent. In this investigation, the prevalence of CLA was 34% (258/756), with the ELISA test showing a low specificity (78%) and high sensitivity (100%). The proof was able to detect 57% (13/23) of subclinical cases of CLA confirmed by postmortem examination and conventional PCR (polymerase chain reaction). The results also reveal that goats have a higher propensity for the disease, and dairy farms and non‐extensive production units appear to be more susceptible to CLA. This research clarifies an actual problem and pointed out the importance of CLA in small ruminant herds in Portugal. Finally seems to demonstrate that the ELISA test is a good diagnostic tool for use in CLA eradication programmes.
Paleoenvironmental humanities: Challenges and prospects of writing deep environmental histories
Authors: Hussain S.T. , Riede F.
Published: June 2020

Environmental uncertainty, climate change, and ecological crisis loom large in the present and permeate scenarios of potential futures. To understand these predicaments and prepare for potentially catastrophic scenarios, there have been repeated calls to explore the diverse human–climate relations of human societies in the past. The archeological record offers rich datasets on human–environment articulations reflected in artifacts, ecofacts, and their relational entanglements. Much of these human–environment conjugations are, in the absence of written records, only accessible archeologically, yet that discipline has played little role in the “environmental turn” of the humanities or the climate change debate. In an effort to articulate archeological research traditions with these concerns, we frame the notion of the paleoenvironmental humanities (pEH): a deep‐time training ground for current ideas and theories on the interrelationship of human behavior, climate, and environmental change. The key objective of the pEH is to offer a rejoinder between ecological reductionism and the adoption of full‐scale environmental relativism, opening up new interpretive and comparative terrain for the examination of human–climate relations. We probe the potential of this perspective by drawing on insights from Pleistocene archeology. The long‐term temporalities of the Pleistocene, we argue, promote alternative imaginaries of the human–climate nexus and draw attention to similarly long‐term futures. We end our proposal with a reflection on the responsibility of archeological practitioners to balance hopeful narratives of human adaptability with those of societal collapse, countering the emergent linkage between climate skepticism and right‐wing nationalism, and to bring such issues to public attention.

This article is categorized under:

Climate, History, Society, Culture > Disciplinary Perspectives
Offshore wind turbine reliability and operational simulation under uncertainties
Authors: Dao Cuong D. , Kazemtabrizi Behzad , Crabtree Christopher J.
Published: June 2020

The fast‐growing offshore wind energy sector brings opportunities to provide a sustainable energy resource but also challenges in offshore wind turbine (OWT) operation and maintenance management. Existing operational simulation models assume deterministic input reliability and failure cost data, whereas OWT reliability and failure costs vary depending on several factors, and it is often not possible to specify them with certainty. This paper focuses on modelling reliability and failure cost uncertainties and their impacts on OWT operational and economic performance. First, we present a probabilistic method for modelling reliability data uncertainty with a quantitative parameter estimation from available reliability data resources. Then, failure cost uncertainty is modelled using fuzzy logic that relates a component's failure cost to its capital cost and downtime. A time‐sequential Monte Carlo simulation is presented to simulate operational sequences of OWT components. This operation profile is later fed into a fuzzy cost assessment and coupled with a wind power curve model to evaluate OWT availability, energy production, operational expenditures and levelised cost of energy. A case study with different sets of reliability data is presented, and the results show that impacts of uncertainty on OWT performance are magnified in databases with low components' reliability. In addition, both reliability and cost uncertainties can contribute to more than 10% of the cost of energy variation. This research can provide practitioners with methods to handle data uncertainties in reliability and operational simulation of OWTs and help them to quantify the variability and dependence of wind power performance on data uncertainties.
Ecological and human health risk assessment
Authors: Choudri B. S. , Al‐Nasiri Noura , Charabi Yassine , Al‐Awadhi Talal
Published: June 2020

The literature review presented in this paper includes the ecological and human health risk assessment in the form of receptors in the environment. The main objective of this review to highlight a summary of the many studies undertaken in the year 2019. The first part of the review covers the papers published on the health risk assessment related to human and ecological health. This article focuses on methods and tools utilized for the analysis of scientific studies and the data. The review provides main issues such as interpretation of data, uncertainty, and policies related to the management of risks. The ecological and human health risk assessment is divided into two main sections. Each of these sections presents in broad the risk assessment process namely pollution studies, remediation, and tools required for the management of natural resources and the environment.
Lessons Learned from Spectranomics: Wet Tropical Forests
Authors: Martin Roberta E.
Published: June 2020

One of the major struggles for biodiversity science is how to measure biodiversity at scales relevant for conservation and management, particularly in wet tropical forests where vast, largely inaccessible landscapes and enormous taxonomic variation make field-based approaches alone infeasible, and current Earth-observing satellites are unable to detect compositional differences or forest functional changes over time. The Spectranomics approach was developed to link plant canopy functional traits to their spectral properties with the objective of providing time-varying, scalable methods for remote sensing (RS) of forest biodiversity. In this chapter we explain key components of Spectranomics and highlight some of the major lessons learned over the past decade as we developed the program in tropical forests sites around the world.
Using Remote Sensing for Modeling and Monitoring Species Distributions
Authors: Pinto-Ledezma Jesús N. , Cavender-Bares Jeannine
Published: June 2020

Interpolated climate surfaces have been widely used to predict species distributions and develop environmental niche models. However, the spatial coverage and density of meteorological sites used to develop these surfaces vary among countries and regions, such that the most biodiverse regions often have the most sparsely sampled climatic data. We explore the potential of satellite remote sensing (S-RS) products—which have consistently high spatial and temporal resolution and nearly global coverage—to quantify species-environment relationships that predict species distributions. We propose several new environmental metrics that take advantage of high temporal resolution in S-RS data and compare these approaches to classic climate-only approaches using the live oaks (Quercus section Virentes) as a case study. We show that models perform similarly but for some species, particularly in understudied regions, show less precision in predicting spatial distribution. These results provide evidence supporting efforts to enhance environmental niche models and species distribution models (ENMs/SDMs) with S-RS data and, when combined with other approaches for species detection, will likely enhance our ability to monitor biodiversity globally.
Laguerre Ensemble: Correlators, Hurwitz Numbers and Hodge Integrals
Authors: Gisonni Massimo , Grava Tamara , Ruzza Giulio
Published: June 2020

We consider the Laguerre partition function and derive explicit generating functions for connected correlators with arbitrary integer powers of traces in terms of products of Hahn polynomials. It was recently proven in Cunden et al. (Ann. Inst. Henri Poincaré D, to appear) that correlators have a topological expansion in terms of weakly or strictly monotone Hurwitz numbers that can be explicitly computed from our formulae. As a second result, we identify the Laguerre partition function with only positive couplings and a special value of the parameter $$\alpha =-1/2$$

α
=
-
1
/
2

with the modified GUE partition function, which has recently been introduced in Dubrovin et al. (Hodge-GUE correspondence and the discrete KdV equation. arXiv:1612.02333) as a generating function for Hodge integrals. This identification provides a direct and new link between monotone Hurwitz numbers and Hodge integrals.
Banach-Valued Modulation Invariant Carleson Embeddings and Outer-$$L^p$$ Spaces: The Walsh Case
Authors: Amenta Alex , Uraltsev Gennady
Published: June 2020

We prove modulation invariant embedding bounds from Bochner spaces$$L^p(\mathbb {W};X)$$Lp(W;X)on the Walsh group to outer-$$L^p$$Lpspaces on the Walsh extended phase plane. The Banach spaceXis assumed to be UMD and sufficiently close to a Hilbert space in an interpolative sense. Our embedding bounds imply$$L^p$$Lpbounds and sparse domination for the Banach-valued tritile operator, a discrete model of the Banach-valued bilinear Hilbert transform.
Experimental investigations on longitudinal-torsional vibration-assisted milling of Ti-6Al-4V
Authors: Rinck Philipp M. , Gueray Alpcan , Kleinwort Robin , Zaeh Michael F.
Published: June 2020

In vibration-assisted milling (VAM), an additional high-frequency oscillation is superimposed on the kinematics of a conventional machining process. This generates oscillations of the cutting edge in the range of a few micrometers, thereby causing a high-frequency change in the cutting speed and/or the feed. Consequently, a reduction of cutting forces, an increase of the tool life, and an improvement of the workpiece quality can be achieved. This paper shows and compares the effects of longitudinal and longitudinal-torsional (L-T) vibrations on the cutting force, the tool life, and the surface quality when milling Ti-6Al-4V. In comparison with the conventional milling process, the cutting forces are significantly reduced and the surface finish of the workpiece can be improved by introducing ultrasonic vibrations to the milling process. Longitudinal-torsional vibration assistance showed better overall process performance than the pure longitudinal vibration assistance.
QT Variability Index is Correlated with Autonomic Nerve Activity in Healthy Children
Authors: Kusuki Hirofumi , Tsuchiya Yuka , Mizutani Yuri , Nishio Miki , Oikawa Shota , Nagata Rina , Kiriyanagi Yumi , Horio Kayo , Kojima Arisa , Uchida Hidetoshi , Kojima Namiko , Saito Kazuyoshi , Sadanaga Tsuneaki , Hata Tadayoshi
Published: June 2020

The QT variability index (QTVI), which measures the instability of myocardial repolarization, is usually calculated from a single electrocardiogram (ECG) recording and can be easily applied in children. It is well known that frequency analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) can detect autonomic balance, but it is not clear whether QTVI is correlated with autonomic tone. Therefore, we evaluated the association between QTVI and HRV to elucidate whether QTVI is correlated with autonomic nerve activity. Apparently, healthy 320 children aged 0–7 years who visited Fujita Health University Hospital for heart checkup examinations were included. The RR and QT intervals of 60 continuous heart beats were measured, and the QTVI was calculated using the formula of Berger et al. Frequency analysis of HRV, including the QTVI analysis region, was conducted for 2 min and the ratio of low-frequency (LF) components to high-frequency (HF) components (LF/HF) and HF/(LF + HF) ratio was calculated as indicators of autonomic nerve activity. Then, the correlations between QTVI and these parameters were assessed. QTVI showed a significant positive correlation with LF/HF ratio (r = 0.45, p < 0.001) and negative correlation with HF/(LF + HF) ratio (r = −0.429, p < 0.001). These correlations remained after adjustment for sex and age. QTVI, which is calculated from non-invasive ECG and can detect abnormal myocardial repolarization, is significantly correlated with frequency analysis of HRV parameters. QTVI reflects autonomic nerve balance in children.
End-to-end automatic differentiation of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from viral pneumonia based on chest CT
Authors: Song Jiangdian , Wang Hongmei , Liu Yuchan , Wu Wenqing , Dai Gang , Wu Zongshan , Zhu Puhe , Zhang Wei , Yeom Kristen W. , Deng Kexue
Published: June 2020

Purpose

In the absence of a virus nucleic acid real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test and experienced radiologists, clinical diagnosis is challenging for viral pneumonia with clinical symptoms and CT signs similar to that of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We developed an end-to-end automatic differentiation method based on CT images to identify COVID-19 pneumonia patients in real time.

Methods

From January 18 to February 23, 2020, we conducted a retrospective study and enrolled 201 patients from two hospitals in China who underwent chest CT and RT-PCR tests, of which 98 patients tested positive for COVID-19 (118 males and 83 females, with an average age of 42 years). Patient CT images from one hospital were divided among training, validation and test datasets with an 80%:10%:10% ratio. An end-to-end representation learning method using a large-scale bi-directional generative adversarial network (BigBiGAN) architecture was designed to extract semantic features from the CT images. The semantic feature matrix was input for linear classifier construction. Patients from the other hospital were used for external validation. Differentiation accuracy was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve.

Results

Based on the 120-dimensional semantic features extracted by BigBiGAN from each image, the linear classifier results indicated that the area under the curve (AUC) in the training, validation and test datasets were 0.979, 0.968 and 0.972, respectively, with an average sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 91%. The AUC for external validation was 0.850, with a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 75%. Publicly available architecture and computing resources were used throughout the study to ensure reproducibility.

Conclusion

This study provides an efficient recognition method for coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia, using an end-to-end design to implement targeted and effective isolation for the containment of this communicable disease.
Factors Associated with Prolonged Recipient Hepatectomy Time During Liver Transplantation: A Single‐Centre Experience
Authors: Ausania F. , Al Shwely F. , Farguell J. , Beltrán J. , Calatayud D. , Sánchez‐Cabús S. , Ferrer J. , Rull R. , Fuster J. , García‐Valdecasas J. C. , Martínez‐Palli G. , Fondevila C.
Published: June 2020

Background

Recipient hepatectomy during liver transplantation can be a challenging operation and can increase cold ischaemic time. The aim of this study is to assess factors associated with prolonged recipient hepatectomy.

Methods

From 2005 to 2015, 930 patients were submitted to liver transplantation in our hospital. Prolonged hepatectomy time was defined as operative time >180 min (from knife on skin to total hepatectomy). Patients undergoing early liver retransplantation and living donation were excluded.

Results

A total of 715 patients were included in our study. Median age at transplantation was 53 (18–70) years, and median BMI was 26.2 (16–40). Median hepatectomy time was 131 min. Prolonged hepatectomy time occurred in 89 (12.4%) patients. At univariate analysis, previous decompensated cirrhosis with variceal bleeding and/or ascites, higher BMI and previous abdominal surgery were associated with prolonged operating time. Higher surgeon experience and acute liver failure were associated with shorter hepatectomy time. At multivariate analysis, previous episodes of variceal bleeding (p = 0.027, OR 1.78), BMI > 27 (p = 0.01, OR 1.75), previous abdominal surgery (p = 0.04, OR 1.68) and surgeon experience (p = 0.007, OR 2.04) were independently associated with operating time. Prolonged hepatectomy time was significantly associated with cold and total ischaemic time and intraoperative bleeding (p < 0.001, p = 0.002 and p = 0.002, respectively).

Conclusions

Recipient BMI, previous episodes of variceal bleeding, previous abdominal surgery and surgeon experience are independently associated with hepatectomy duration. These factors can be helpful to identify those patients with potentially prolonged hepatectomy time, and therefore, strategies can be put in place to optimize outcomes in this group of patients.
Welche Bedeutung hat die Bindehaut als möglicher Übertragungsweg für eine SARS-CoV-2-Infektion?
Authors: Lange Clemens , Wolf Julian , Auw-Haedrich Claudia , Schlecht Anja , Boneva Stefaniya , Lapp Thabo , Agostini Hansjürgen , Martin Gottfried , Reinhard Thomas , Schlunck Günther
Published: June 2020

Aktuelle Studien haben bei ca. 1 % aller COVID-19-Patienten eine Bindehautentzündung beschrieben und spekuliert, dass SARS-CoV‑2 über die Bindehaut übertragen werden kann. In der vorliegenden Arbeit rekapitulieren wir die molekularen Mechanismen des Eintritts von SARS-CoV‑2 in die Wirtszelle und diskutieren die aktuelle Studienlage zu einer möglichen konjunktivalen Transmission. Derzeit geht man davon aus, dass SARS-CoV‑2 das membrangebundene Angiotensin-konvertierende Enzym 2 (ACE2) sowie die Membran-gebundene Serinprotease TMPRSS2 benötigt, um in die Wirtszelle einzudringen. Aktuelle Studien weisen darauf hin, dass COVID-19-Patienten nur sehr selten Virus-RNA im Tränenfilm und Bindehautabstrichen aufweisen und dass ACE2 und TMPRSS2 in der Bindehaut nur in sehr geringen Mengen gebildet werden, was eine konjunktivale Infektion durch SARS-CoV‑2 über diese Mediatoren wenig wahrscheinlich macht. Dennoch halten wir die derzeitige Studienlage für zu begrenzt, um eine abschließende Aussage treffen zu können, und empfehlen konsequente und adäquate Schutzmaßnahmen für medizinisches Personal, das in engem Kontakt mit verdächtigen und bestätigten COVID-19-Patienten steht.
The impact of atmospheric N deposition and N fertilizer type on soil nitric oxide and nitrous oxide fluxes from agricultural and forest Eutric Regosols
Authors: Song Ling , Drewer Julia , Zhu Bo , Zhou Minghua , Cowan Nicholas , Levy Peter , Skiba Ute
Published: June 2020

Agricultural and forest soils with low organic C content and high alkalinity were studied over 17 days to investigate the potential response of the atmospheric pollutant nitric oxide (NO) and the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) on (1) increased N deposition rates to forest soil; (2) different fertilizer types to agricultural soil and (3) a simulated rain event to forest and agricultural soils. Cumulative forest soil NO emissions (148–350 ng NO-N g−1) were ~ 4 times larger than N2O emissions (37–69 ng N2O-N g−1). Contrary, agricultural soil NO emissions (21–376 ng NO-N g−1) were ~ 16 times smaller than N2O emissions (45–8491 ng N2O-N g−1). Increasing N deposition rates 10 fold to 30 kg N ha−1 yr−1, doubled soil NO emissions and NO3− concentrations. As such high N deposition rates are not atypical in China, more attention should be paid on forest soil NO research. Comparing the fertilizers urea, ammonium nitrate, and urea coated with the urease inhibitor ‘Agrotain®,’ demonstrated that the inhibitor significantly reduced NO and N2O emissions. This is an unintended, not well-known benefit, because the primary function of Agrotain® is to reduce emissions of the atmospheric pollutant ammonia. Simulating a climate change event, a large rainfall after drought, increased soil NO and N2O emissions from both agricultural and forest soils. Such pulses of emissions can contribute significantly to annual NO and N2O emissions, but currently do not receive adequate attention amongst the measurement and modeling communities.
Five-year results of heart rate control with ivabradine or metoprolol succinate in patients after heart transplantation
Authors: Rivinius Rasmus , Helmschrott Matthias , Rahm Ann-Kathrin , Darche Fabrice F. , Thomas Dierk , Bruckner Tom , Doesch Andreas O. , Katus Hugo A. , Ehlermann Philipp
Published: June 2020

Background

Cardiac graft denervation causes inadequate sinus tachycardia in patients after heart transplantation (HTX) which is associated with reduced survival. This study investigated the 5-year results of heart rate control with ivabradine or metoprolol succinate in patients after HTX.

Methods

This registry study analyzed 104 patients receiving either ivabradine (n = 50) or metoprolol succinate (n = 54) within 5 years after HTX. Analysis included patient characteristics, medication, echocardiographic features, cardiac catheterization data, cardiac biomarkers, heart rates, and post-transplant survival including causes of death.

Results

Demographics and post-transplant medication revealed no significant differences except for ivabradine and metoprolol succinate use. At 5-year follow-up, patients with ivabradine had a significantly lower heart rate (73.3 bpm) compared to baseline (88.6 bpm; P < 0.01) and to metoprolol succinate (80.4 bpm; P < 0.01), a reduced left ventricular mass (154.8 g) compared to baseline (179.5 g; P < 0.01) and to metoprolol succinate (177.3 g; P < 0.01), a lower left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP; 12.0 mmHg) compared to baseline (15.5 mmHg; P < 0.01) and to metoprolol succinate (17.1 mmHg; P < 0.01), and a reduced NT-proBNP level (525.4 pg/ml) compared to baseline (3826.3 pg/ml; P < 0.01) and to metoprolol succinate (1038.9 pg/ml; P < 0.01). Five-year post-transplant survival was significantly better in patients with ivabradine (90.0%) versus metoprolol succinate (68.5%; P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Patients receiving ivabradine showed a superior heart rate reduction and a better left ventricular diastolic function along with an improved 5-year survival after HTX.
Whey protein consumption following fasted exercise reduces early postprandial glycaemia in centrally obese males: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Allerton Dean M. , West Daniel J. , Stevenson Emma J.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Acute submaximal exercise and whey protein supplementation have been reported to improve postprandial metabolic and appetite responses to a subsequent meal independently. We aimed to examine the combination of these strategies on postprandial responses to a carbohydrate-rich breakfast.

Methods

Twelve centrally obese males (age 41 ± 3 years, waist circumference 123.4 ± 2.9 cm), completed three trials in a single-blind, crossover design. Participants rested for 30 min (CON) or completed 30 min low–moderate-intensity treadmill walking (51 ± 1% $${{\dot{V}O}}_{\text{2peak}}$$

V
˙

O

2peak

) followed immediately by ingestion of 20 g whey protein (EX + PRO) or placebo (EX). After 15 min, a standardised breakfast was consumed and blood, expired gas and subjective appetite were sampled postprandially. After 240 min, an ad libitum lunch meal was provided to assess energy intake.

Results

During EX + PRO, post-breakfast peak blood glucose was reduced when compared with EX and CON (EX + PRO: 7.6 ± 0.4 vs EX: 8.4 ± 0.3; CON: 8.3 ± 0.3 mmol l−1, p ≤ 0.04). Early postprandial glucose AUC0–60 min was significantly lower under EX + PRO than EX (p = 0.011), but not CON (p = 0.12). Over the full postprandial period, AUC0–240 min during EX + PRO did not differ from other trials (p > 0.05). Peak plasma insulin concentrations and AUC0–240 min were higher during EX + PRO than CON, but similar to EX. Plasma triglyceride concentrations, substrate oxidation and subjective appetite responses were similar across trials and ad libitum energy intake was not influenced by prior fasted exercise, nor its combination with whey protein supplementation (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Following fasted low–moderate-intensity exercise, consuming whey protein before breakfast may improve postprandial glucose excursions, without influencing appetite or subsequent energy intake, in centrally obese males.

Trial registration number

NCT02714309.
Enhanced axonal response of mitochondria to demyelination offers neuroprotection: implications for multiple sclerosis
Authors: Licht-Mayer Simon , Campbell Graham R. , Canizares Marco , Mehta Arpan R. , Gane Angus B. , McGill Katie , Ghosh Aniket , Fullerton Alexander , Menezes Niels , Dean Jasmine , Dunham Jordon , Al-Azki Sarah , Pryce Gareth , Zandee Stephanie , Zhao Chao , Kipp Markus , Smith Kenneth J. , Baker David , Altmann Daniel , Anderton Stephen M. , Kap Yolanda S. , Laman Jon D. , Hart Bert A.‘t , Rodriguez Moses , Watzlawick Ralf , Schwab Jan M. , Carter Roderick , Morton Nicholas , Zagnoni Michele , Franklin Robin J. M. , Mitchell Rory , Fleetwood-Walker Sue , Lyons David A. , Chandran Siddharthan , Lassmann Hans , Trapp Bruce D. , Mahad Don J.
Published: June 2020

Axonal loss is the key pathological substrate of neurological disability in demyelinating disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the consequences of demyelination on neuronal and axonal biology are poorly understood. The abundance of mitochondria in demyelinated axons in MS raises the possibility that increased mitochondrial content serves as a compensatory response to demyelination. Here, we show that upon demyelination mitochondria move from the neuronal cell body to the demyelinated axon, increasing axonal mitochondrial content, which we term the axonal response of mitochondria to demyelination (ARMD). However, following demyelination axons degenerate before the homeostatic ARMD reaches its peak. Enhancement of ARMD, by targeting mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial transport from the cell body to axon, protects acutely demyelinated axons from degeneration. To determine the relevance of ARMD to disease state, we examined MS autopsy tissue and found a positive correlation between mitochondrial content in demyelinated dorsal column axons and cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV) deficiency in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neuronal cell bodies. We experimentally demyelinated DRG neuron-specific complex IV deficient mice, as established disease models do not recapitulate complex IV deficiency in neurons, and found that these mice are able to demonstrate ARMD, despite the mitochondrial perturbation. Enhancement of mitochondrial dynamics in complex IV deficient neurons protects the axon upon demyelination. Consequently, increased mobilisation of mitochondria from the neuronal cell body to the axon is a novel neuroprotective strategy for the vulnerable, acutely demyelinated axon. We propose that promoting ARMD is likely to be a crucial preceding step for implementing potential regenerative strategies for demyelinating disorders.
The Schläfli Fan
Authors: Joswig Michael , Panizzut Marta , Sturmfels Bernd
Published: June 2020

Smooth tropical cubic surfaces are parametrized by maximal cones in the unimodular secondary fan of the triple tetrahedron. There are $$344\, 843 \,867$$

344

843

867

such cones, organized into a database of $$14\,373\,645$$

14

373

645

symmetry classes. The Schläfli fan gives a further refinement of these cones. It reveals all possible patterns of lines on tropical cubic surfaces, thus serving as a combinatorial base space for the universal Fano variety. This article develops the relevant theory and offers a blueprint for the analysis of big data in tropical geometry.
Outcomes and quality of life after major bile duct injury in long-term follow-up
Authors: Koppatz Hanna , Sallinen Ville , Mäkisalo Heikki , Nordin Arno
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Recently new standards for reporting outcomes of bile duct injury (BDI) have been proposed. It is unclear how these treatment outcomes are reflected in quality of life (QOL). The aim of this study was to report outcomes and QOL after repair of major BDI and compare repairs by hepatobiliary surgeon to repairs by non-hepatobiliary surgeons.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of patients treated for major (Strasberg E-type) BDI after cholecystectomy at a tertiary hepatobiliary center. Outcomes were assessed using Cho-Strasberg proposed standards. QOL was assessed using Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the gastrointestinal QOL-index (GIQLI). Patients undergoing uneventful cholecystectomy matched by age, urgency, and duration of follow-up were used as controls.

Results

Fifty-two patients with major BDI treated between 2000 and 2016 were included (42% male, median age 53 years). Thirty-seven (71%) patients attained primary patency (29 (83%) if primarily operated by a hepatobiliary surgeon). Actuarial primary patency rate (grade A result) at 1, 3, and 5 years was 58%, 56%, and 53% in the whole cohort, and 83%, 80%, and 80% in patients primary treated by a hepatobiliary surgeon, respectively. At 3-year follow-up 6 (11.5%) patients obtained grade B, 10 (19.2%) grade C, and 7 (13.5%) grade D result. QOL was similar in patients with BDI and controls (median SF-36 physical component 51.7 and 53.6, p = 1.0, mental component 53.3 and 53.4, p = 1.0, GIQLI 109.0 and 123.0, p = 0.174, respectively) at median 90 (IQR 70–116) months from cholecystectomy. QOL was similar regardless of outcome grade.

Conclusion

First attempt to repair a severe BDI should be undertaken by a hepatobiliary surgeon. However, long-term QOL is not affected even by severe BDI, and QOL is not associated with the grade of the outcome.
A transformer-based approach to irony and sarcasm detection
Authors: Potamias Rolandos Alexandros , Siolas Georgios , Stafylopatis Andreas - Georgios
Published: June 2020

Figurative language (FL) seems ubiquitous in all social media discussion forums and chats, posing extra challenges to sentiment analysis endeavors. Identification of FL schemas in short texts remains largely an unresolved issue in the broader field of natural language processing, mainly due to their contradictory and metaphorical meaning content. The main FL expression forms are sarcasm, irony and metaphor. In the present paper, we employ advanced deep learning methodologies to tackle the problem of identifying the aforementioned FL forms. Significantly extending our previous work (Potamias et al., in: International conference on engineering applications of neural networks, Springer, Berlin, pp 164–175, 2019), we propose a neural network methodology that builds on a recently proposed pre-trained transformer-based network architecture which is further enhanced with the employment and devise of a recurrent convolutional neural network. With this setup, data preprocessing is kept in minimum. The performance of the devised hybrid neural architecture is tested on four benchmark datasets, and contrasted with other relevant state-of-the-art methodologies and systems. Results demonstrate that the proposed methodology achieves state-of-the-art performance under all benchmark datasets, outperforming, even by a large margin, all other methodologies and published studies.
The reproducibility of electronic color measurements of the marginal gingiva
Authors: Staedt Henning , Mally Eva , Scheller Herbert , Wentaschek Stefan , Kämmerer Peer Wolfgang , Kasaj Adrian , Devigus Alessandro , Lehmann Karl Martin
Published: June 2020

Introduction

This study evaluated the reproducibility of electronic color determination system evaluations of the marginal gingiva, which could be important for adhesive cervical fillings or prosthetic restorations that imitate the gingiva.

Material and methods

In 50 subjects, the L*, a*, and b* color coordinates were evaluated five times at a point in the marginal area of a central incisor using different electronic color determination systems: (SP) Shadepilot, (ES) Easyshade, (CE) Crystaleye, and (SV) X-Rite. The mean color difference (ΔE) and its standard deviation between the five measurements from each participant were calculated separately for each device. Further ICC for interdevice reliability was determined.

Results

The L*, a*, and b* color coordinates and ΔE values differed significantly among the systems (p < 0.001). Within each patient and measurement system, ΔE ranged from 1.4 to 3.2 (SD 1.1–2.5), L* from 2.6 to 5.7 (SD 2.6–5.7), a* from 11.9 to 21.3 (SD 3.6–3.9), and b* from 15.1 to 28.9 (SD 1.7–4.3). Interdevice reliability ranged between 0.675 and 0.807.

Conclusions

Color determination of the marginal gingiva using the electronic tooth color determination systems tested herein showed limited reproducibility. The results obtained with the different measurement systems differed enormously.

Clinical relevance

These results show that the electronic color measurement devices tested allow no high reproducible determination of color coordinates of the marginal gingiva.
Self-injury from early adolescence to early adulthood: age-related course, recurrence, and services use in males and females from the community
Authors: Steinhoff Annekatrin , Ribeaud Denis , Kupferschmid Stephan , Raible-Destan Nesrin , Quednow Boris B. , Hepp Urs , Eisner Manuel , Shanahan Lilly
Published: June 2020

Adolescent self-injury is a widespread public health problem, but long-term longitudinal studies from European countries are rare. Self-injury in males and sex differences are poorly understood. This study describes the prevalence, frequency, age-related course, and recurrence of, and mental health services use related to adolescent self-injury. Data came from a Swiss prospective-longitudinal cohort study (N = 1482). Adolescents (52% male) reported frequency of self-injury and mental health services use (including reasons for and types of services use, hospitalizations) at ages 13, 15, 17, and 20. Between ages 13–20, 27% of adolescents reported self-injury at least once. In males, prevalence decreased from 12 to 5%; in females self-injury peaked at age 15 (16%) and then decreased (11% at age 20). In males, recurrence of self-injury increased after age 15 (from odds ratio [OR] < 3 to OR > 10); in females, recurrence was high from age 13 onwards (OR > 5). Predictors of recurrence included childhood/early adolescent internalizing symptoms and early self-injury onset. Typically, less than half of adolescents with self-injury used mental health services. Males with self-injury used services mainly for externalizing problems, learning difficulties, and attention/concentration problems; females for depression or self-injury, family problems, and victimization. Types of services used changed with age, and adolescents with self-injury had increased rates of hospitalization. There are notable sex differences in the longitudinal course of self-injury and reasons for related mental health services use. Treating early internalizing symptoms could be a promising target for preventing recurrent self-injury. Males are at particular risk of not receiving adequate treatment for self-injury.
Three-dimensional Analysis of Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope Sections Reveals an Array of Microtubules in the Cleavage Furrow of Sea Urchin Eggs
Authors: Larkin K. , Danilchik M.V.
Published: June 2020

Our recent observation that microtubules (MTs) are required for completion of division (abscission) led us to analyze MT organization during cytokinesis. Although many studies of MTs in sea urchin eggs have been done, computer-aided analysis of optical sections described herein reveals a new MT assemblage, which we call furrow MTs. This assemblage comprises bundles of MTs that lie in the cleavage furrow. Furrow MTs become apparent when the furrow has progressed approximately one-third of the way through the egg and persist to abscission. Furrow MTs are 8–24-µm long and arc across the base of the cleavage furrow. Acetylated tubulin is localized primarily in the furrow suggesting a distinct MT population. Three-dimensional analysis of optical sections suggests that furrow MTs are spatially distinct from midbody and astral MTs.