bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultrathin 2D Mesoporous TiO2/rGO Heterostructure for High‐Performance Lithium Storage
Authors: Liang Yaru , Xiong Xiang , Xu Zhuijun , Xia Qingbing , Wan Liyang , Liu Rutie , Chen Guoxin , Chou Shu‐Lei
Published: June 2020

Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) have been widely applied and studied as an effective energy supplement for a variety of electronic devices. Titanium dioxide (TiO2), with a high theoretical capacity (335 mAh g−1) and low volume expansion ratio upon lithiation, has been considered as one of the most promising anode materials for LIBs. However, the application of TiO2 is hindered by its low electrical conductivity and slow ionic diffusion rate. Herein, a 2D ultrathin mesoporous TiO2/reduced graphene (rGO) heterostructure is fabricated via a layer‐by‐layer assembly process. The synergistic effect of ultrathin mesoporous TiO2 and the rGO nanosheets significantly enhances the ionic diffusion and electron conductivity of the composite. The introduced 2D mesoporous heterostructure delivers a significantly improved capacity of 350 mAh g−1 at a current density of 200 mA g−1 and excellent cycling stability, with a capacity of 245 mAh g−1 maintained over 1000 cycles at a high current density of 1 A g−1. The in situ transmission electron microscopy analysis indicates that the volume of the as‐prepared 2D heterostructures changes slightly upon the insertion and extraction of Li+, thus contributing to the enhanced long‐cycle performance.
Urchin‐Like Fe3Se4 Hierarchitectures: A Novel Pseudocapacitive Sodium‐Ion Storage Anode with Prominent Rate and Cycling Properties
Authors: Zhang Jian , Liu Yongchang , Liu Hui , Song Yuzhu , Sun Shengdong , Li Qiang , Xing Xianran , Chen Jun
Published: June 2020

Transition metal chalcogenides have received great attention as promising anode candidates for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). However, the undesirable cyclic life and inferior rate capability still restrict their practical applications. The design of micro–nano hierarchitectures is considered as a possible strategy to facilitate the electrochemical reaction kinetics and strengthen the electrode structure stability upon repeated Na+ insertion/extraction. Herein, urchin‐like Fe3Se4 hierarchitectures are successfully prepared and developed as a novel anode material for SIBs. Impressively, the as‐prepared urchin‐like Fe3Se4 can present an ultrahigh rate capacity of 200.2 mAh g‐1 at 30 A g‐1 and a prominent capacity retention of 99.9% over 1000 cycles at 1 A g‐1, meanwhile, a respectable initial coulombic efficiency of ≈100% is achieved. Through the conjunct study of in situ X‐ray diffraction, ex situ X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure spectroscopy, as well as cyclic voltammetry curves, it is intriguing to reveal that the phase transformation from monoclinic to amorphous structure accompanied by the pseudocapacitive Na+ storage behavior accounts for the superior electrochemical performance. When paired with the Na3V2(PO4)3 cathode materials, the assembled full cell enables high energy density and decent cyclic stability, demonstrating potential practical feasibility of the present urchin‐like Fe3Se4 anode.
Developing Industry 4.0 with systems perspectives
Authors: Hou Ting , Cheng Baihua , Wang Rongxiao , Xue Wei , Chaudhry Peggy E.
Published: June 2020

This paper analyses the definition and connotation of Industry 4.0 and proposes that intelligent manufacturing and innovative service are the two core elements of the Industry 4.0. The paper also discusses standardization, integrated information system, training and education, artificial intelligence applications, and the infrastructure issues for the development of Industry 4.0.
Light emitting fabrics for photodynamic therapy: Technology, experimental and clinical applications
Authors: Mordon Serge , Thécua Elise , Ziane Laurine , Lecomte Fabienne , Deleporte Pascal , Baert Grégory , Vignion‐Dewalle Anne‐Sophie
Published: June 2020

A homogeneous and reproducible fluence rate delivery during clinical photodynamic therapy (PDT) plays a determinant role in preventing under‐ or overtreatment. The development of a flexible light source able to generate uniform light on all its surface would considerably improve the homogeneity of light delivery. The integration of plastic optical fibers into textile structures offers an interesting alternative. This article aims to describe briefly the technology used to develop light emitting fabrics (LEF) and their use in vitro (CELL‐LEF), in vivo (VIVO‐LEF) for experimental evaluation of PDT. Finally, the use of LEF for clinical applications is given by three examples. For in vitro applications, the CELL‐LEF device allows the illumination of several 96‐well cell culture plates. For the VIVO‐LEF, the system developed for PDT can treat three mice simultaneously with a homogeneous and high irradiance The medical LEF systems developed for PDT in dermatology for the treatment of actinic keratosis demonstrate their superiority thanks to a uniform light distribution due the flexibility of LEF. Interestingly, the technology used for manufacturing LEF is very well known by the textile industry, leading to very competitive production costs. The fact that optical fibers can transmit light from 400 to 1200 nm allows the connection of LEF to different laser sources covering the light spectrum of all photosensitizers used for medical applications. New developments should allow to use the LEF inside cavities such as the pleural or the peritoneal cavities.
Students' attitudes toward science and science achievement: An analysis of the differential effects of science instructional practices
Authors: Liou Pey‐Yan
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive effects of inquiry‐based and teacher‐directed instructional practices on students' attitudes toward science and science achievement in a nationally representative sample of 7,708 15‐year‐old‐students from Taiwan who took part in the sixth cycle of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). The results of structural equation modeling analyses, after accounting for student demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, revealed that teacher‐directed instructional practices had a significant positive effect on students' science achievement, whereas inquiry‐based instructional practices had a significant negative effect on students' science achievement. Moreover, the results of the study indicated that inquiry‐based instructional practices had greater positive predictive power than teacher‐directed instructional practices for students' attitudes toward science. The inverse relations between inquiry‐based science instructional practices and student science achievement contradicts the popular belief that inquiry‐based science instructional practices help improve student science achievement. However, the results of the current study underscore the positive effects of inquiry‐based instructional practices on students' attitudes toward science. Indeed, optimizing the frequency of instructional practices in science classrooms to promote the desired educational outcomes deserves further discussion.
Microalgae‐based biodiesel production in open raceway ponds using coal thermal flue gas: A case of West Bengal, India
Authors: Bhadra Sitav , Salam P. Abdul , Sarker Nilay Kumar
Published: June 2020

India is one of the most populous countries and is the third largest greenhouse gas–emitting nation. Energy security is a serious issue for India as it relies heavily on fossil fuel imports. Biodiesel production using microalgae as feedstock can address both of these issues. In this study, the technical feasibility of microalgae‐based biodiesel production is carried out for a coal thermal power plant (i.e., Budge Budge Thermal Station) in the state of West Bengal, India, using a generic methodology. An oleaginous microalgae species that is tolerant toward flue gas was identified (i.e., Nannochloropsis sp). A 75‐acre open raceway microalgae production plant was designed keeping the costs, energy demand, and CO2 emissions low. The open raceway pond can use 38 tons of CO2, produce 19 tons of algal biomass, and treat 9320 m3 of wastewater per acre annually.
Genomic analysis of porcine circovirus type 2 from southern China
Authors: Lv Qizhuang , Wang Tao , Deng Jiahua , Chen Yan , Yan Qiu , Wang Daobo , Zhu Yulin
Published: June 2020

Background

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is recognized as virulent porcine pathogen and has been linked to porcine circovirus diseases (PCVD). However, there remain many unknowns regarding the spread and epidemic growth of PCV2.

Methods

To assess the genetic diversity of PCV2 in the southern China, a total of 92 sequences of PCV2 strains from this region were retrieved from GenBank and were subjected to amino acid variation and phylogenetic analyses together with 28 representative sequences, based on the sequence of the ORF2 gene, from different swine‐producing countries.

Results

All 92 PCV2 strains shared between 93.7% and 100% sequence similarity and could be divided into four genotypes (PCV2a, PCV2b, PCV2d and PCV2h), of which PCV2d had surpassed PCV2b and became the most prevalent PCV2 genotype in this region. Alignment of the deduced amino acid sequences of the capsid protein revealed that the obtained PCV2 strains possess two major heterogenic regions/hypervariable regions (positions 52–68 and 185–191), which were within or close to the epitopic regions in the capsid (Cap) protein. Meanwhile, the 92 PCV2 sequences also show evidence of at least five unique recombination events.

Conclusion

The data in this study indicate that the PCV2 strains in the southern China are undergoing constant genetic variation and that the predominant strain and its antigenic epitopes in this area have been gradually changing in recent years.
Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Gallium(I) and Indium(I) Cations Coordinated by Pentamethylethylenediamine
Authors: Glootz Kim , Kratzert Daniel , Krossing Ingo
Published: June 2020

Herein we report on the facile access to a GaI and InI complex salt of pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDTA) with the weakly coordinating counterion [Al(ORF)4]– [RF = C(CF3)3]. Thus, the low temperature reaction of [M(PhF)2]+ (M = Ga, In) solutions in 1,2‐F2C6H4 (oDFB) with PMDTA yielded the title compounds M(PMDTA)+[Al(ORF)4]– (M = Ga 1, in 2) in non‐optimized yields. Both compounds are highly sensitive towards air and moisture, have a rather limited lifetime at room temperature, but were structurally characterized.
Nesting biology of the Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis) at Parque Nacional das Emas, central Brazil
Authors: Tubelis Dárius Pukenis
Published: June 2020

Te objective of this study was to investigate aspects of the nesting biology of the Aplomado Falcon,Falco femoralis(Temminck, 1822), at Parque Nacional das Emas, Brazil. Woodland (Campo Cerrado) frebreaks were searched for nests in October 2006 and October 2009 by driving a vehicle along a road adjacent to these fre managed vegetation strips. Most (62%) of the eight nests found were in canopies of fruitingPouteria tortatrees. Nests were at 2.2–3.8 m above ground. Invariably, clutch size was of three cream eggs and nestlings had a white plumage in the frst days of life. For two active nests, adults also defended an additional empty nest located in the surroundings. No evidences of nest destruction or predation were detected.Falco femoralissuccessfully uses frebreaks for breeding at Parque Nacional das Emas.
Fire management and aspects of the nesting biology of the Red-legged Seriema (Cariama cristata) in woodlands at Parque Nacional das Emas, central Cerrado
Authors: Tubelis Dárius Pukenis
Published: June 2020

In the Brazilian Cerrado Biome, fire management within conservation units is usually restricted to burning grassland and woodland strips during the dry season to stop fires from spreading. Although it is a common practice, the impact of fire management on birds remains poorly investigated. This study aimed to examine the effects of fire management on nest-site selection by the Red-legged Seriema,Cariama cristata, and to describe nest-building characteristics at Parque Nacional das Emas (PNE). Nests were searched and monitored throughout 34 study sites between October and November 2006. These sites were 2.5-km strips of Campo Cerrado woodlands with (firebreaks) and without fire management, located at the interior and boundaries of the park. A total of 13 nests were found, all within firebreaks at the edge of the park. Nine (69%) of them were in fruitingPouteria torta(Mart.) (Sapotaceae). Two or three white eggs were found in the nests. Nests had eggs and nestlings in October and no nestlings were found in November. Nests were usually in tree canopies and some of them were built nearly over the park’s fence. At PNE, breeding pairs ofC. cristataare attracted to firebreaks located at the park’s boundaries. This is probably due to mobility through often burnt vegetation and ease in obtaining food from adjacent unsealed roads, exotic plantations and cleared areas. This study suggests that fire managers should: 1) avoid extinguishing natural fires initiated during the rainy season and 2) rotate controlled burning of patchy areas of Campo Cerrado woodlands. These two procedures should ensure the presence of suitable woodlands with short grasses in interior portions of PNE.
Short-term movement patterns, population estimates and breeding biology of an island endemic bird, the Tristan Thrush
Authors: Ryan Peter G. , Dilley Ben J. , Davies Delia , Glass Trevor , Abadi Fitsum
Published: June 2020

The Tristan ThrushTurdus eremitais the only land bird that survived human colonisation of the main island of Tristan da Cunha and is listed as “Near Threatened”. Population estimates are confounded by the thrushes’ inquisitive and gregarious nature as well as limited information on their movements. We report the first measures of nest densities on Nightingale Island: 6 nests·ha-1inPhylica arboreawoodland and 4–5 nests·ha-1in tussock habitat, which suggests that the population is approximately double the previous estimate. At Inaccessible Island, we individually color ringed 110 thrushes over two months to track their short-term movements and estimate the local population size. Individuals moved up to 950 m along the coast, but 96% of resightings were < 100 m. A Bayesian data augmentation approach estimated that some 260 thrushes visited the core study area, a 200-m stretch of cobble and boulder beach where birds come to drink, bathe and forage. This result suggests that the population on Inaccessible Island also is substantially larger than reported previously. We estimate the total population to be 8000–15,000 Tristan Thrushes. The main need is a population estimate for the nominate subspecies on the main island of Tristan.
Major Climate Variability and Natural Factors in Boreal Winter
Authors: Roy Indrani
Published: June 2020

The role of natural factors, mainly solar 11-year cyclic variability and volcanic eruptions on two major modes of climate variability the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) are studied for about the last 150 years period. The NAO is the primary factor to regulate Central England Temperature (CET) during winter throughout the period, though NAO is impacted differently by other factors in various time periods. Solar variability during 1978–1997 indicates a strong positive in-phase connection with NAO, which is different in the period prior to that. Such connections were further explored by known existing mechanisms. Solar NAO lagged relationship is also shown not unequivocally maintained but sensitive to the chosen times of reference. It thus points towards the previously known mechanism/relationship related to the Sun and NAO. This study discussed the important roles played by ENSO on global temperature; while ENSO is influenced strongly by solar variability and volcanic eruptions in certain periods. A strong negative association between the Sun and ENSO is observed before the 1950s, which is positive though statistically insignificant during the second half of the twentieth century. The period 1978–1997, when two strong eruptions coincided with active years of strong solar cycles, the ENSO and volcano suggested a stronger association. That period showed warming in the central tropical Pacific while cooling in the North Atlantic with reference to various other anomaly periods. It indicates that the mean atmospheric state is important for understanding the connection between solar variability, the NAO and ENSO and associated mechanisms. It presents critical analyses to improve knowledge about major modes of variability and their roles in climate and reconciles various contradictory findings. It discusses the importance of detecting solar signal which needs to be robust too.
Dynamical Belyi maps and arboreal Galois groups
Authors: Bouw Irene I. , Ejder Özlem , Karemaker Valentijn
Published: June 2020

We consider a large class of so-called dynamical Belyi maps and study the Galois groups of iterates of such maps. From the combinatorial invariants of the maps, we construct a useful presentation of the geometric Galois groups as subgroups of automorphism groups of regular trees, in terms of iterated wreath products. Using results on the reduction of dynamical Belyi maps modulo certain primes, we obtain results on the corresponding arithmetic Galois groups of iterates. These lead to results on the behavior of the arithmetic Galois groups under specialization, with applications to dynamical sequences.
ADRB3 expression in tumor cells is a poor prognostic factor and promotes proliferation in non-small cell lung carcinoma
Authors: Zheng Meng , Zhou Zhiling , Tian Xiangting , Xiao Dingzhang , Hou Xinghua , Xie Zhi , Liang Haidan , Lin Shuguang
Published: June 2020

The cross-talk between cancer cells and monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages (Mo-AMs) promotes non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) progression. In this study, we report that both cancer cells and Mo-AMs robustly express beta 3-adrenergic receptor (ADRB3) in NSCLC. ADRB3 supports lung cancer cells proliferation and promotes chronic inflammation. Genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of ADRB3 reverses tumor growth and inflammation in mouse. Furthermore, we demonstrate that M5D1, a novel anti-ADRB3 monoclonal antibody, inhibits human lung cancer cells proliferation and inflammation via affecting the intracellular mTOR pathway and activating p53. In NSCLC patients, we confirmed that upregulation of ADRB3 expression correlates with tumor progression and poor prognosis. Altogether, these results shed light on the role of ADRB3 in NSCLC and suggest that M5D1 could become powerful antitumor weapons.
Characterization of structures of particles
Authors: Manikas Konstantinos , Vogiatzis Georgios G. , Anderson Patrick D. , Hütter Markus
Published: June 2020

A methodology for the characterization of particle structures, especially networks, is developed. This scheme combines 3D image analysis techniques with graph theory tools for the simplification of a structure of thick agglomerates to its skeleton. The connectivity graph of the initial structure is compared with the one of the corresponding skeleton, as a measure of simplification. Examples are used to illustrate the effectiveness of our scheme. Particle structures obtained by Brownian Dynamics simulations are characterized qualitatively and quantitatively. Instead of looking at the characteristics of the structure at the level of the individual particles or neighborhoods of particles, our scheme results in quantitative measures of the network, e.g. the number density of branch-points, the degree of branch-points, and the thickness and the orientation of the branches.
Bi-allelic missense disease-causing variants in RPL3L associate neonatal dilated cardiomyopathy with muscle-specific ribosome biogenesis
Authors: Ganapathi Mythily , Argyriou Loukas , Martínez-Azorín Francisco , Morlot Susanne , Yigit Gökhan , Lee Teresa M. , Auber Bernd , von Gise Alexander , Petrey Donald S. , Thiele Holger , Cyganek Lukas , Sabater-Molina María , Ahimaz Priyanka , Cabezas-Herrera Juan , Sorlí-García Moisés , Zibat Arne , Siegelin Markus D. , Burfeind Peter , Buchovecky Christie M. , Hasenfuss Gerd , Honig Barry , Li Yun , Iglesias Alejandro D. , Wollnik Bernd
Published: June 2020

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) belongs to the most frequent forms of cardiomyopathy mainly characterized by cardiac dilatation and reduced systolic function. Although most cases of DCM are classified as sporadic, 20–30% of cases show a heritable pattern. Familial forms of DCM are genetically heterogeneous, and mutations in several genes have been identified that most commonly play a role in cytoskeleton and sarcomere-associated processes. Still, a large number of familial cases remain unsolved. Here, we report five individuals from three independent families who presented with severe dilated cardiomyopathy during the neonatal period. Using whole-exome sequencing (WES), we identified causative, compound heterozygous missense variants in RPL3L (ribosomal protein L3-like) in all the affected individuals. The identified variants co-segregated with the disease in each of the three families and were absent or very rare in the human population, in line with an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. They are located within the conserved RPL3 domain of the protein and were classified as deleterious by several in silico prediction software applications. RPL3L is one of the four non-canonical riboprotein genes and it encodes the 60S ribosomal protein L3-like protein that is highly expressed only in cardiac and skeletal muscle. Three-dimensional homology modeling and in silico analysis of the affected residues in RPL3L indicate that the identified changes specifically alter the interaction of RPL3L with the RNA components of the 60S ribosomal subunit and thus destabilize its binding to the 60S subunit. In conclusion, we report that bi-allelic pathogenic variants in RPL3L are causative of an early-onset, severe neonatal form of dilated cardiomyopathy, and we show for the first time that cytoplasmic ribosomal proteins are involved in the pathogenesis of non-syndromic cardiomyopathies.
Road users rarely use explicit communication when interacting in today’s traffic: implications for automated vehicles
Authors: Lee Yee Mun , Madigan Ruth , Giles Oscar , Garach-Morcillo Laura , Markkula Gustav , Fox Charles , Camara Fanta , Rothmueller Markus , Vendelbo-Larsen Signe Alexandra , Rasmussen Pernille Holm , Dietrich Andre , Nathanael Dimitris , Portouli Villy , Schieben Anna , Merat Natasha
Published: June 2020

To be successful, automated vehicles (AVs) need to be able to manoeuvre in mixed traffic in a way that will be accepted by road users, and maximises traffic safety and efficiency. A likely prerequisite for this success is for AVs to be able to communicate effectively with other road users in a complex traffic environment. The current study, conducted as part of the European project interACT, investigates the communication strategies used by drivers and pedestrians while crossing the road at six observed locations, across three European countries. In total, 701 road user interactions were observed and annotated, using an observation protocol developed for this purpose. The observation protocols identified 20 event categories, observed from the approaching vehicles/drivers and pedestrians. These included information about movement, looking behaviour, hand gestures, and signals used, as well as some demographic data. These observations illustrated that explicit communication techniques, such as honking, flashing headlights by drivers, or hand gestures by drivers and pedestrians, rarely occurred. This observation was consistent across sites. In addition, a follow-on questionnaire, administered to a sub-set of the observed pedestrians after crossing the road, found that when contemplating a crossing, pedestrians were more likely to use vehicle-based behaviour, rather than communication cues from the driver. Overall, the findings suggest that vehicle-based movement information such as yielding cues are more likely to be used by pedestrians while crossing the road, compared to explicit communication cues from drivers, although some cultural differences were observed. The implications of these findings are discussed with respect to design of suitable external interfaces and communication of intent by future automated vehicles.
A low incidence of perineal hernia when using a biological mesh after extralevator abdominoperineal excision with or without pelvic exenteration or distal sacral resection in locally advanced rectal cancer patients
Authors: Dijkstra E. A. , Kahmann N. L. E. , Hemmer P. H. J. , Havenga K. , van Etten B.
Published: June 2020

Background

Extralevator abdominoperineal excision (ELAPE), abdominoperineal excision (APE) or pelvic exenteration (PE) with or without sacral resection (SR) for locally advanced rectal cancer leaves a significant defect in the pelvic floor. At first, this defect was closed primarily. To prevent perineal hernias, the use of a biological mesh to restore the pelvic floor has been increasing. The aim of this study, was to evaluate the outcome of the use of a biological mesh after ELAPE, APE or PE with/without SR.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted on patients who had ELAPE, APE or PE with/without SR with a biological mesh (Permacol™) for pelvic reconstruction in rectal cancer in our center between January 2012 and April 2015. The endpoints were the incidence of perineal herniation and wound healing complications.

Results

Data of 35 consecutive patients [22 men, 13 women; mean age 62 years (range 31–77 years)] were reviewed. Median follow-up was 24 months (range 0.4–64 months). Perineal hernia was reported in 3 patients (8.6%), and was asymptomatic in 2 of them. The perineal wound healed within 3 months in 37.1% (n = 13), within 6 months in 51.4% (n = 18) and within 1 year in 62.9% (n = 22). In 17.1% (n = 6), the wound healed after 1 year. It was not possible to confirm perineal wound healing in the remaining 7 patients (20.0%) due to death or loss to follow-up. Wound dehiscence was reported in 18 patients (51.4%), 9 of whom needed vacuum-assisted closure therapy, surgical closure or a flap reconstruction.

Conclusions

Closure of the perineal wound after (EL)APE with a biological mesh is associated with a low incidence of perineal hernia. Wound healing complications in this high-risk group of patients are comparable to those reported in the literature.
Body motion, early algebra, and the colours of abstraction
Authors: Nemirovsky Ricardo , Ferrara Francesca , Ferrari Giulia , Adamuz-Povedano Natividad
Published: June 2020

This paper focuses on the emergence of abstraction through the use of a new kind of motion detector—WiiGraph—with 11-year-old children. In the selected episodes, the children used this motion detector to create three simultaneous graphs of position vs. time: two graphs for the motion of each hand and a third one corresponding to their difference. They explored relationships that can be ascribed to an equation of the type A – B = C. We examine the notion of abstraction on its own, without assuming a dualism abstract-concrete according to which more of one is less of the other. We propose a distinct path for the attainment of abstraction, which involves navigating a surplus of sensible qualities. The work described in this paper belongs to early algebra, we suggest, because it involves the elementary symbolic treatment of unknowns and generals. More broadly, it advances a perspective on the nature of mathematical abstraction.
Genotyping Xylella fastidiosa in Rabbiteye blueberry in Louisiana, USA
Authors: Ferguson Mary Helen , Clark Christopher A. , Smith Barbara J.
Published: June 2020

Rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei = V. virgatum) comprises much of the blueberry acreage in the southeastern USA states of Louisiana and Mississippi. Three genotypes of X. fastidiosa were identified from rabbiteye blueberry in Louisiana by multilocus sequence typing. A genotype that was found at two orchards, sequence type (ST) 42, was identical to one previously found in southern highbush blueberry in Georgia and two non-blueberry native species in Texas. Two newly identified genotypes shared most alleles with X. fastidiosa strains considered, like ST 42, to be part of a group that is believed to have resulted from recombination between X. fastidiosa subsp. multiplex and subsp. fastidiosa. These two genotypes each also had one newly identified allele. This work suggests that a narrow range of X. fastidiosa genotypes infect rabbiteye blueberry in Louisiana but that rabbiteye blueberry may serve as an alternative host for X. fastidiosa strains that infect more susceptible southern highbush cultivars.
Aspects of $$C^0$$ causal theory
Authors: Ling Eric
Published: June 2020

This paper serves as an introduction to $$C^0$$

C
0

causal theory. We focus on those parts of the theory which have proven useful for establishing spacetime inextendibility results in low regularity—a question which is motivated by the strong cosmic censorship conjecture in general relativity. This paper is self-contained; prior knowledge of causal theory is not assumed.
Open Sesame? Open access priorities, incentives, and policies among higher education institutions in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Boufarss Mohamed , Laakso Mikael
Published: June 2020

Higher education institutions (HEIs) have an instrumental role in the move towards Open Access (OA) by shaping the national strategies, policies, and agendas. This study sets out to explore the role of HEIs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) OA uptake and reflect on the ongoing international initiatives pushing for universal OA to research. The study is based on an online survey targeted at UAE higher education institutions research management units. In order to measure the institutional views, only one response was solicited from each institution. A total of 19 valid responses were received, making up 47% of HEIs included in the population of organisations. Our results suggest that there is low commitment to OA among UAE HEIs as attested by the low number of OA policies, scarce OA funding, limited proliferation of institutional repositories, perceived lack of urgency to migrate from current access models, and little consideration of OA for promotion purposes. The study is the first of its kind in the UAE, Arab and Middle Eastern countries, providing rare insight into a growing phenomenon that is global, yet most vocally discussed from a western perspective and context. The study contributes to the debate on the role of HEIs in the transition to OA and in shaping national and regional OA policies, as well as informing international initiatives about the current status of OA in the region.
Mapping an innovation ecosystem using network clustering and community identification: a multi-layered framework
Authors: Xu Guannan , Hu Weijie , Qiao Yuanyuan , Zhou Yuan
Published: June 2020

The existing literature on innovation ecosystem overlooks the differences between knowledge ecosystems and business ecosystems, and mostly focuses on a single-layer analysis of the ecosystem. Also, ecosystem mapping studies involve either whole-network analysis at the macro-level or ego-network analysis at the micro-level, while few studies have investigated network community analysis at the meso-level. Therefore, this paper proposes a framework of Multi-layered Innovation Ecosystem Mapping (MIEM) to explore both knowledge and business ecosystems, thereby extending the analysis to the network communities. Based on multi-source heterogeneous data and machine learning, MIEM includes four steps in conducting the analysis: define the research scope and collect data; construct whole networks; identify communities; and recognize strategic roles. In particular, Newman topological clustering is adopted to identify network communities, and a strategic-role matrix is used to analyze the roles in a community. Based on this framework, a case study of numerical-control machine tool ecosystem mapping is conducted using patents and value-added tax invoice data.
Milk production and lactation length in Ankole cattle and Ankole crossbreds in Rwanda
Authors: Manzi Maximillian , Rydhmer Lotta , Ntawubizi Martin , D’Andre Hirwa Claire , Karege Callixte , Strandberg Erling
Published: June 2020

This study assessed daily milk yield (DMY), 100-day (MY100), and 305-day (MY305) milk yield, and lactation length (LL) in purebred Ankole cattle and Ankole crossbreds, and the influence of environmental factors on these traits. Milk yield data were obtained for 865 cows and 1234 lactations and analyzed using a mixed linear model. The overall least squares mean of DMY, MY100, and MY305 across breed groups was 2.7 L (N = 1234, SD = 1.7), 262 L (N = 959, SD = 176), and 759 L (N = 448, SD = 439), respectively, while the average lactation length was 256 days (N = 960, SD = 122). All factors included (breed group, season and year of calving, and parity) were significant for yield traits, except season of calving for MY305. First-parity cows had the lowest milk production, and fourth-parity cows the highest. For all traits, pure Ankole cows had the lowest milk yield. Among the crossbreds, there was no significant difference between Ankole × Friesian, Ankole-Jersey mother × Sahiwal sire, and Ankole-Sahiwal mother × Jersey sire, or between Ankole × Sahiwal and Ankole-Sahiwal mother × Sahiwal sire. It was concluded that Ankole crosses with Friesian or Jersey can be beneficial, even under a management system of limited nutrition as in Rwanda.
Synaptic Loss, ER Stress and Neuro-Inflammation Emerge Late in the Lateral Temporal Cortex and Associate with Progressive Tau Pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Buchanan Heather , Mackay Murray , Palmer Kerri , Tothová Karolína , Katsur Miroslava , Platt Bettina , Koss David J.
Published: June 2020

The complex multifactorial nature of AD pathogenesis has been highlighted by evidence implicating additional neurodegenerative mechanisms, beyond that of amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau. To provide insight into cause and effect, we here investigated the temporal profile and associations of pathological changes in synaptic, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and neuro-inflammatory markers. Quantifications were established via immunoblot and immunohistochemistry protocols in post-mortem lateral temporal cortex (n = 46). All measures were assessed according to diagnosis (non-AD vs. AD), neuropathological severity (low (Braak ≤ 2) vs. moderate (3–4) vs. severe (≥ 5)) and individual Braak stage, and were correlated with Aβ and tau pathology and cognitive scores. Postsynaptic PSD-95, but not presynaptic synaptophysin, was decreased in AD cases and demonstrated a progressive decline across disease severity and Braak stage, yet not with cognitive scores. Of all investigated ER stress markers, only phospho-protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (p-PERK) correlated with Braak stage and was increased in diagnosed AD cases. A similar relationship was observed for the astrocytic glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP); however, the associated aquaporin 4 and microglial Iba1 remained unchanged. Pathological alterations in these markers preferentially correlated with measures of tau over those related to Aβ. Notably, GFAP also correlated strongly with Aβ markers and with all assessments of cognition. Lateral temporal cortex-associated synaptic, ER stress and neuro-inflammatory pathologies are here determined as late occurrences in AD progression, largely associated with tau pathology. Moreover, GFAP emerged as the most robust indicator of disease progression, tau/Aβ pathology, and cognitive impairment.
Mathematical work of Franciszek Hugon Szafraniec and its impacts
Authors: Curto Raúl E. , Gazeau Jean-Pierre , Horzela Andrzej , Moslehian Mohammad Sal , Putinar Mihai , Schmüdgen Konrad , de Snoo Henk , Stochel Jan
Published: June 2020

In this essay, we present an overview of some important mathematical works of Professor Franciszek Hugon Szafraniec and a survey of his achievements and influence.
Business, Human Rights and Peace: Linking the Academic Conversation
Authors: KATSOS John E.
Published: June 2020

The fields of business and human rights (BHR) and business for peace (B4P) have overlaps in how they view business in society and in their multidisciplinary nature. This paper seeks to build on the work of BHR scholars in connecting with the B4P scholarly community, to bridge the divide by explaining the elements of the B4P literature that might be of interest for BHR scholars, and to describe a joint research agenda for scholars in both fields. The paper begins with a literature review of the major assertions and findings of B4P on the role that business can and should play in enhancing peace. Similarities and differences in approach and theories between BHR and B4P are then noted. A common research agenda is proposed that BHR and B4P scholars may use as a starting point for broader collaboration.
DNA damage checkpoint kinases in cancer
Authors: Smith Hannah L. , Southgate Harriet , Tweddle Deborah A. , Curtin Nicola J.
Published: June 2020

DNA damage response (DDR) pathway prevents high level endogenous and environmental DNA damage being replicated and passed on to the next generation of cells via an orchestrated and integrated network of cell cycle checkpoint signalling and DNA repair pathways. Depending on the type of damage, and where in the cell cycle it occurs different pathways are involved, with the ATM-CHK2-p53 pathway controlling the G1 checkpoint or ATR-CHK1-Wee1 pathway controlling the S and G2/M checkpoints. Loss of G1 checkpoint control is common in cancer throughTP53, ATMmutations, Rb loss or cyclin E overexpression, providing a stronger rationale for targeting the S/G2 checkpoints. This review will focus on the ATM-CHK2-p53-p21 pathway and the ATR-CHK1-WEE1 pathway and ongoing efforts to target these pathways for patient benefit.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with pre-existing anxiety disorders attending secondary care
Authors: Plunkett R. , Costello S. , McGovern M. , McDonald C. , Hallahan B
Published: June 2020

Objectives

To examine the psychological and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with established anxiety disorders during a period of stringent mandated social restrictions.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 individuals attending the Galway-Roscommon Mental Health Services with an International Classification of Diseases diagnosis of an anxiety disorder to determine the impact of the COVID-19 restrictions on anxiety and mood symptoms, social and occupational functioning and quality of life.

Results

Twelve (40.0%) participants described COVID-19 restrictions as having a deleterious impact on their anxiety symptoms. Likert scale measurements noted that the greatest impact of COVID-19 related to social functioning (mean = 4.5, SD = 2.9), with a modest deleterious effect on anxiety symptoms noted (mean = 3.8, SD = 2.9). Clinician rated data noted that 8 (26.7%) participants had disimproved and 14 (46.7%) participants had improved since their previous clinical review, prior to commencement of COVID-19 restrictions. Conditions associated with no ‘trigger’, such as generalised anxiety disorder, demonstrated a non-significant increase in anxiety symptoms compared to conditions with a ‘trigger’, such as obsessive compulsive disorder. Psychiatric or physical comorbidity did not substantially impact on symptomatology secondary to COVID-19 mandated restrictions.

Conclusions

The psychological and social impact of COVID-19 restrictions on individuals with pre-existing anxiety disorders has been modest with only minimal increases in symptomatology or social impairment noted.
Raising guardrails
Authors: Williams Paul D.
Published: June 2020

Political commentary is a key component of news coverage in any liberal democracy. Yet theorising the role played by political commentators in a rapidly transforming media sphere – further destabilised by voters’ increasing mistrust of expertise and of political and media institutions – is rare in the social science literature. This article adopts a mixed methodological approach to argue that political commentators today perform one or more of three functions – ‘public educator’, ‘value educator’ and ‘polemicist’ – with commentators now falling into one of seven types. Given the broadening and flattening of news media dissemination and consumption – and arguably the ‘dumbing down’ and ‘shallowing out’ of news media coverage in a postmodern social media age where truth and facts are too often subordinated by rhetoric and opinion – this article argues that the role of the academic political commentator is now more critical than ever. It also argues that academic commentators must offer not only objective descriptive analysis of political events but also potentially subjective normative analysis – in effect, narrative ‘guardrails’ – to remind voters of what is and is not acceptable political behaviour in a ‘post-truth’ anti-expert age.
To Follow or Not to Follow: Social Norms and Civic Duty during a Pandemic
Authors: French Bourgeois Laura , Harell Allison , Stephenson Laura B.
Published: June 2020

The outbreak of COVID-19 has put substantial pressure on individuals to adapt and change their behaviours. As the hope of a vaccine remains at least a year away, everyone is urged to take action to slow the spread of the virus. Thus, “flattening the curve” has become vital in preventing medical systems from being overrun, and it relies on massive collective action by citizens to follow specific public health measures such as physical distancing, hand washing, and physical isolation for vulnerable individuals. Despite the recommendations, the public has often been confronted with the reality that some individuals are not respecting them, including elected officials (Aguilar, 2020).
Estimation of kiwifruit yield by leaf nutrients concentration and artificial neural network
Authors: Torkashvand Ali Mohammadi , Ahmadipour Afsoon , Mousavi Khaneghah Amin
Published: June 2020

There is a fundamental concern regarding the prediction of kiwifruit yield based on the concentration of nutrients in the leaf (2–3 months before fruits harvesting). For this purpose, the current study was designed to employ an artificial neural network (ANN) to evaluate the kiwi yield of Hayward cultivar. In this regard, 31 kiwi orchards (6–7 years old) in different parts of Rudsar, Guilan Province, Iran, with 101 plots (three trees in every plot) were selected. The complete leaves of branches with fruits were harvested, and the concentration of nitrogen, potassium, calcium, and magnesium measured. After fruit harvesting in late November, the fruit yield of each plot was evaluated along with the fresh and dry weights of the fruit. The ANN analyses were carried out using a multi-layer perceptron with the Langburge-Marquardt training algorithm. Using calcium (Ca) as input data (Ca-model) was more accurate than using nitrogen (N-model). The maximum R2and the lowest root mean square error was obtained when all nutrients and related ratios were considered as input variables. Since the difference between the proposed model and the model fitted by the calcium variable (Ca-model) was only about 6%, the Ca-model is recommended.
Inner-ear malformations as a cause of single-sided deafness
Authors: Tahir E , Bajin M D , Jafarov S , Yıldırım M Ö , Çınar B Ç , Sennaroğlu G , Sennaroğlu L
Published: June 2020

Objective

To determine the prevalence and distribution of inner-ear malformations in congenital single-sided deafness cases, as details of malformation type are crucial for disease prognosis and management.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted of 90 patients aged under 16 years with congenital single-sided deafness. Radiological findings were evaluated using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Inner-ear malformations were identified and cochlear nerve status was determined in affected ears.

Results

Out of 90 ears, 42 (46.7 per cent) were found to have inner-ear malformation. Isolated cochlear aperture stenosis was the most common anomaly (n = 18, 20 per cent), followed by isolated cochlear aperture atresia (n = 11, 12.2 per cent) and cochlear hypoplasia (n = 7, 7.8 per cent). Cochlear nerve deficiency was encountered in 41 ears (45.6 per cent). The internal auditory canal was also stenotic in 49 ears (54.4 per cent).

Conclusion

Inner-ear malformations, especially cochlear aperture anomalies, are involved in the aetiology of single-sided deafness more than expected. The cause of single-sided deafness differs greatly between congenital and adult-onset cases. All children with single-sided deafness should undergo radiological evaluation, as the prognosis and management, as well as the aetiology, may be significantly influenced by inner-ear malformation type.
Interjections in Tjwao
Authors: Andrason Alexander , Fehn Anne-Maria , Phiri Admire
Published: June 2020

The present paper provides a systematic description of interjections in a moribund Eastern Kalahari Khoe language – Tjwao. After analysing original evidence within a prototype-driven approach, the authors conclude the following: (a) in Tjwao, the interjectional lexical class constitutes an internally diverse category confined between the canonical centre and a non-prototypical periphery; and (b) primary emotive interjections exhibit the highest degree of canonicity and extra-systematicity, while the canonicity and extra-systematicity of secondary phatic interjections is lowest.
Feedback to Prepare EMS Teams to Manage Infected Patients with COVID-19: A Case Series
Authors: Ghazali Daniel Aiham , Ouersighni Amina , Gay Matthieu , Audebault Virginie , Pavlovsky Thomas , Casalino Enrique
Published: June 2020

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), a new respiratory disease, is spreading globally. In France, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) teams are mobile medicalized resuscitation teams composed of emergency physician, nurse or anesthesiologist nurse, ambulance driver, and resident. Four types of clinical cases are presented here because they have led these EMS teams to change practices in their management of patients suspected of COVID-19 infection: cardiac arrest, hypoxia on an acute pneumonia, acute chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation with respiratory and hemodynamic disorders, and upper function disorders in a patient in a long-term care facility. The last case raised the question of COVID-19 cases with atypical forms in elderly subjects. Providers were contaminated during the management of these patients. These cases highlighted the need to review the way these EMS teams are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, in view of heightening potential for early identification of suspicious cases, and of reinforcing the application of staff protection equipment to limit risk of contamination.
Acquisition of Spanish verbal morphology by child bilinguals: Overregularization by heritage speakers and second language learners
Authors: Fernández-Dobao Ana , Herschensohn Julia
Published: June 2020

The current study analyzes Spanish present tense morphology with a focus on overregularization. It examines written production from two groups of English/Spanish bilingual children in a dual immersion setting, Spanish heritage language (SHL) speakers (n = 21) and Spanish second language (SL2) learners (n = 41), comparing them to age-matched (nine to ten years old) Spanish majority language children (n = 15). Spanish majority children show full mastery of present tense regular, stem-changing and irregular morphology. SHL children seem to have acquired mastery of regular inflectional morphology, but not of stem-changing morphology. SL2 children are significantly less accurate than both majority Spanish and SHL children in terms of both regular and irregular morphology. Evidence of overregularization, but not of irregularization, is provided for both SHL and SL2 children. The analysis of overregularization errors supports a variational approach (Yang, 2016) to acquisition, storage and access of morphology.