bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on the Influence of Turbulence Model on the Flow Field Characteristics of Rotating Valve
Authors: Song Yuning , Han Liang
Published: August 2020

In order to study the fluid flow characteristics of the key components in hydraulic excited rotary valve,and then determine the area where the vortex and negative pressure to find the weak link in th e structure and analyze the performance of the valve. Simulate the flow field in the rotary valve by Fluent fluid analysis software, and setting different opening degrees under the same boundary condi tions. Studies showed that the velocity at the exit junction of the fluid in the rotary valve, and the vortex degree of pressure is large at the oil groove. When the opening degree is small, the nega tive pressure is large, the vortex is obvious. With the opening becomes large, and the negative pressure and the vortex are improved. The research provides a theoretical basis for the optimization and improvement of the rotary valve. Studies have shown: The velocity of the flow channel calculated under the turbulence RNG k − ε model is the largest, Realizable. The velocity of the flow channel calculated under the model is the smallest. For different models, the values of the low speed region are different, where Realizable k − ε Minimum model speed, The RNG k − ε model has the highest speed and standard. The speed of the k − ε model is in the middle; The high speed area is mainly concentrated in the corner area of the oil tank and valve mouth, The area of high speed area of the RNG k − ε model is smaller than that of the other two models, and the standard of the model is smaller than that of the other two models. The k − ε Model and the Realizable k − ε is no significant difference in the area of high speed area calculated by the model. The comparison draws the following conclusions: The results of the turbulence RNG k − ε model and the other two groups of models are more accurate when calculating the low velocity flow field. The Realizable k − ε Model and the RNG k − ε has the calculation results of the model are similar.
Research on Energy-Saving Wind Turbine Blade Based on Advanced Fluid Mechanics Technology
Authors: Guo Xiaoling
Published: August 2020

The aerodynamic performance of wind turbine blades is of great significance and value to the power output of wind turbines. Correct evaluation of blade performance is beneficial to the design and design of wind turbines. In the operating environment, the aerodynamic load on the blade is a combination of the aerodynamic pressure of the air and the additional force generated by its own rotation. Under different environmental conditions, the aerodynamic load on the wind turbine blades will be significantly different. Using advanced fluid mechanics, the developed program is used to perform aerodynamic simulation on a certain type of wind turbine blade calculation example to obtain the flow field and blade surface pressure coefficient distribution. The calculated results are in good agreement with the experiment, and the developed program can be used for aerodynamic analysis of engineering wind turbine blades, which is conducive to the development of wind turbine design.
Application Research of Computational Fluid Mechanics Based on CNKI Database
Authors: Yan Li
Published: August 2020

Based on the China Knowledge Network Database (CNKI), a literature measurement analysis of the domestic computational fluid dynamics (CFD) application research was conducted. The results show that from 1973 to 2019, the number of articles published by CFD research has increased significantly year by year. The earliest literature on CFD published in the database was published in 1973, and more than 10 articles have been published annually since 2005. The text-issuing institutions are mainly well-known universities in China, among which Tianjin University has the most. Many masters and doctors in this university obtain degrees through researches related to computational fluid mechanics. CFD theory and software are mainly studied in Engineering technology and basic and applied basic research, and more research has been supported by the National Natural Science Foundation.
Thermal design and heat transfer numerical research of kerosene heat exchanger
Authors: Qiu Yinan , Zhang Xiaoping
Published: August 2020

Design of a cryogenic heat exchanger for kerosene rapid cooling is carried out, and the heat transfer mode and structural form of the heat exchanger are preliminarily designed by theoretical calculation. The corresponding physical and numerical models are established, and the cooling characteristics of aerospace kerosene were studied by numerical calculation method. By comparison with experimental data, the validity and accuracy of the numerical simulation results are verified, which provide theoretical guidance for further research.
Study on Failure Mechanism of Throttling Ring Based on Spectral Test Analysis Technique
Authors: Cui Kaibo , Sun Yezun , Zhang Mingzhe , Wen Zhenggang
Published: August 2020

The throttling ring plays an important role in the normal performance of the gun. The inner diameter of the throttling ring directly affects the gun’s recoil stress law and recoil motion parameters. It is of great significance to study the failure mode and failure mechanism. By means of spectral test and analysis technology, wear particle analyzer and ICP-MS and FAAS method are used to test and analyze the content of abrasive particles and ions in the use environment of throttling ring, and to study and determine the failure mechanism of throttling ring.
Numerical Analysis of Temperature Field of Outdoor Transformer with Noise Barrier
Authors: Peng Lei , Fan Xiaopeng , Li Li , Zhou Yongyan , Li Linyong , Zou Zhuanglei , Wang Yibo
Published: August 2020

In order to meet the heat dissipation requirements of outdoor transformers equipped with sound-absorbing barriers, this paper uses the finite element analysis software ANSYS Fluent to simulate the temperature field of outdoor transformers. Firstly, the simulation calculation model is established according to the actual typical outdoor transformer, and the finite element mesh is divided accurately. Secondly, the simulation parameters are set according to the field operation. Then, the distribution of the temperature field of the outdoor transformer and the effect of noise barrier on heat dissipation of outdoor transformer are obtained by the simulation calculation model. The simulation results in this paper provide a preliminary reference for the design of noise barriers of outdoor transformers.
Numerical simulation of the Magnus effect and its application
Authors: Song Liwei
Published: August 2020

Numerical simulations based on computational fluid dynamics are used to study the Magnus effect. The cross force can be obtained through solving the governing equations of the flow around rotating cylinder. Through analyzing the characteristics and structure of the flow field, the Magnus effect can be enhanced by using endplates to change the flow pattern. Numerical results prove the effectiveness and practicality of the improvement.
Study on Heat Transfer Performance of a Liquid Cooling Power Battery
Authors: Xiong Fei , Zeng Junxiong , Ouyang Chenzhi , Wei Dan , Li Gang
Published: August 2020

With the development of new energy vehicles, thermal management of power batteries has become a hot research topic. Power battery thermal management has a very important impact on battery life, safety, charging, and other performance. In this paper, the heat transfer performance of a cooling process is studied by establishing a three-dimensional thermal management model of power battery. The results showed that the proportion of heat in the battery taken directly from the coolant was 91.6%, and the proportion of heat absorbed and dissipated into the environment by the components outside the cell by heat transfer and so on was 8.6%.
Study of Invelox Wind Turbine Considering Atmospheric Boundary Layer: Based on Numerical Simulation
Authors: Ding Li
Published: August 2020

The flow field characteristics of increased velocity (Invelox) system under different wind direction were studied by computational dynamic fluid (CFD) method. Since the Invelox wind turbine system needs to be placed in external space to operate, the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) wind profile must be considered. The Invelox system was simulated with uniform velocity inlet and exponential wind profile inlet. The results show that when the wind direction is more than 90 degrees from the axis of the venturi pipe, the power generation efficiency of the system will decrease sharply. When the Angle exceeds 120 degrees, the system does not generate electricity. After considering ABL, the speed ratio (SR) of the system will decrease.
Research on mixed gas filling process in laser transmission pipeline
Authors: Xu Zhenyuan , Ma Wenjing , Zhang Junwei , Xiang Yong , Chen Liangming
Published: August 2020

Aiming at the problem of dynamic displacement of mixed gas in laser transmission pipeline, by selecting a typical section of the pipeline, the problem can be simplified to study the filling of binary mixed gas in a relatively closed cavity with the single entrance and exit. The finite volume method is used to simulate the flow field of this section of pipeline, and the velocity distribution of the binary mixed gas filling process is simulated by using the incompressible N-S equation and the standard k-epsilon turbulence model; the molar concentration distribution of the binary mixed gas over time is simulated. Furthermore, the distribution of flow field and the change of gas composition inside the pipeline were calculated under different inlet velocity conditions. Through the above simulations, the change of flow field distribution in the pipeline with time is described; the formation, development and extinction process of vortex at different time or at different positions in the pipeline are simulated. Based on the works above, the basic research idea and theoretical basis of the study on the mixed gas filling progress of large scale laser transmission pipeline are provided. By comparing and analyzing the characteristics of flow field distribution at different inlet velocity or at different time periods of the same inlet velocity, it will also have certain reference value to guide the implementation and optimization of the gas filling project of laser transmission pipeline.
Theoretical and numerical validation for thermal modeling of EV battery cell
Authors: Zhu Linpei , Li Gang , Wei Dan , Xiong Fei , Chen Hu , Ouyang Chenzhi
Published: August 2020

Battery packs are extensively used in electrical vehicles (EV) to avoid environmental pollution. The safety, aging and life of battery cell are significantly related to its thermal behavior. This work concerns with thermal analysis and measurement of an EV battery cell of 153Ah. The Bernardi’s heat generation model is employed and the reversible heat is taken into account. The reversible heat is related to the entropy coefficient and it is tested and presented as a relation to SOC. The specific heat capacity and the relationship between the heat and the temperature rise of battery cells are tested by the EV-ARC. The heat generation model is validated by tests at 0.2 C, 0.67 C and 1.2 C discharging rates. It reveals that the reversible heat is not negligible especially at low rate discharge. Then the heat generation model is applied to a cell model to verify the temperature of the cell. The numerical results from this thermal modeling of the battery cell are in good agreement with the test results.
Analysis of water jet propeller hydrodynamic performance based on CFD
Authors: Liu Xianlong , Luo Jinwang , Liu Cheng
Published: August 2020

The method of ducted propeller design is used to design the impeller of water jet propeller. The method of space transformation is used to transform the two-dimensional NACA airfoil into three-dimensional airfoil. The flow field model of water jet propeller is generated by structured grid. The SST model is using for calculation and the maximum thrust is 170.4N when the rotation speed is 4000R / min and the inlet velocity is 2m / s.
Calculation and Analysis of Stable Operation of Feed water Pumps for Floating Nuclear Power Stations under Marine Conditions
Authors: Cheng Kun , Wang Cheng , Fang Yuan , Wang Jue
Published: August 2020

Feed water pumps play an important role in floating nuclear power plant system equipment, and their safe and reliable operation directly affects the safety and reliability of the entire power plant. The movement status of floating nuclear power plants under sea conditions will change, and additional inertial forces are generated on the pipelines of the water supply system, which may cause cavitation of the feed water pump. This paper deduces the additional force on the fluid at the inlet pipe of the feed pump under the marine environment, establishes a mathematical model of the fluid flow at the inlet pipe of the feed pump under the influence of ocean conditions, and calculates the stable operation of the feed pump under the ocean conditions once in a century according to the layout plan. The requirements of effective cavitation allowance and necessary cavitation allowance provide theoretical calculation basis for design and layout optimization of feed pumps for floating nuclear power plants.
Solution of piezothermoelastic laminated double curvature shell based on 9-node isoparametric element
Authors: Xing Ruishan , Kong Lei
Published: August 2020

Compared with 8-node and 4-node isoparametric element, the 9-node isoparametric element is more flexible and higher rate of convergence. Based on state-space techniques, the 9-node isoparametric element of piezothermoelastic material under orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system is established. Finally, the example shows the practicability and accuracy of the 9-node isoparametric element of piezothermoelastic material under orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system.
Current Status, Problems and Prospects of Conservation of Meadow Steppes in the Nizhny Novgorod Region
Authors: Bakka S V , Kiseleva N Y , Shestakova A A
Published: August 2020

The meadow steppe of the Nizhny Novgorod region is an endangered ecosystem, which is associated with a significant part of the biological diversity in the region. It covers now not more than 1.5% of the former area. At the same time, the steppes are inhabited by more than 100 wildlife species listed in the regional Red Book. Using GIS methods we have developed a technique that allowed us to identify about 14,000 potential steppe sites. In 2013-14, according to obtained data an inventory of steppes was carried out. About 50% of the potential sites identified with use of GIS methods were surveyed. Almost all the areas with a high probability of steppe ecosystems remained were examined. At least 90% of remained meadow steppes have been discovered. In order to monitor the steppe ecosystems, 29 most significant sites were reexamined in 2019. A total of 136 slopes of ravines and gullies with a total area of 9732 hectares were identified, where plant communities with the dominance of steppe species are represented. The land areas ranged from 1.4 ha to 454 ha, and the share of steppe associations ranged from 0.1% to 80%. Changes in the species composition and number of steppe plants in the region are characterized. About 15% of the area of the Nizhny Novgorod meadow steppes are protected as 8 natural monuments of regional significance, another 20% are on lands that are reserved by the regional government as the regional protected areas. It is planned to increase the share of the preserved steppe areas, which have legal protection, to 85% of their area. The trend of factors leading to degradation of steppe ecosystems and recognising as limiting for steppe wildlife species is analyzed. It is proposed to implement a program of restoration of pasture cattle breeding to solve the problem of the meadow steppe ecosystem conservation in the Nnizhny Novgorod region.
Installing of Artificial Nests as a Method of the Large Birds of Prey Population Management in the Center of European Russia: Successes, Problems, Prospects
Authors: Bakka S V , Kiseleva N Y , Shukov P M
Published: August 2020

Active management of populations of protected animal species is urgent whilst its number is catastrophically low and human disturbance of the habitat remains heavy as well. The article analyzes the success, problems and prospects of a large-scale project to recover the number of rare species of birds of prey through the installing of artificial nests in the Nizhny Novgorod region, which is located in the centre of European Russia, in 1998-2019. At the end of 1990, in the Nizhny Novgorod region the number of large birds of prey was critically low: Osprey – 10-12, Golden Eagle – 2-3, Imperial Eagle – 1-3, Greater Spotted Eagle – 10-15, White-tailed Eagle – 4-7 pairs. The main limiting factor for them was the lack of trees suitable for nesting. In total, during the period from 1998 to 2014, 371 artificial nests for large birds of prey were installed in 19 administrative regions of the region. All five target species (Osprey, Golden Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Imperial Eagle and White-tailed Eagle) has been recorded occupying the artificial nests. The process of developing system of artificial nests has been analyzed. Its influence on the number of target species of birds of prey and changes in the use of artificial nests by birds of prey has been also examined. The development of the system of artificial nests has shown its effectiveness as a method to manage populations of rare species of birds of prey that suffer from the lack of nesting trees. It seems to be truth for the Golden Eagle, the Osprey and rather the White-tailed Eagle, and the installing of artificial nests had a significant positive effect on their population trends. Installing of artificial nests is particularly effective when the number of target species is critically low. The increase in numbers leads to a decrease in the share of birds using artificial nests. We propose to continue the regular monitoring of the all the artificial nests for large birds of prey and declare the necessity of implementing a special project to recover the Golden Eagle number in the region.
Estimation of Status and Trend of Species Diversity of Terrestrial Vertebrates and Plants of the Nizhny Novgorod Region
Authors: Bakka S V , Kiseleva N Y , Mizgireva M S , Vandysheva T D , Shestakova A A
Published: August 2020

The Nizhny Novgorod region is the only region of Russia where the Strategy of biological diversity conservation has the status of a normative act. It was approved by the regional government in 2000. The article aims to assess the status and trends of species diversity of wildlife in the region after the adoption of the Strategy. Two model groups of wildlife species were used for the assessment: terrestrial vertebrates (468 species) and vascular plants (1800 species). Changes in regional lists of species belonging to the model groups are analyzed. The share of terrestrial vertebrate species requiring protection is now 41% and it is slightly higher than at the end of the XX century. As in the 1990s, about a quarter of the native flora of plants requires protection to varying degrees. For species requiring protection, both terrestrial vertebrates and plants at the present time, as at the end of the XX century, the main limiting factor remains the human disturbance of habitats. The second most important limiting factor is the direct pursuit (hunting, catching and destruction) of rare species, although the significance of this factor in the XXI century has rather decreased. Limiting factors have not been known for 21% of species of terrestrial vertebrates and 7% of plant species, which encourages studying the biology of these species. It is shown that the solution of problems concerned with the protection of biological diversity should be the most important element of regional environmental management, and the strategy of biological diversity conservation of the Nizhny Novgorod region has been generally relevant. Suggestions for editing the Strategy and developing the Action Plan for the biodiversity conservation of the Nizhny Novgorod region are presented.
Genesis of Lakes of the City District of Dzerzhinsk City, Nizhny Novgorod Region
Authors: Astashin A E , Pashkin M N , Samoilov A V , Bad’in M M , Astashina N I
Published: August 2020

The article presents the results of research of lakes of the city district of Dzerzhinsk city, located in the Western part of the Nizhny Novgorod region, in the lowland Oka-Volga interfluve. The research was conducted in 2017-19 to research the largest lakes within the city district. Based on the results of the work, bathymetric maps of lakes were created, it’s main morphometric and hydrological characteristics were determined. On the basis of the received data hypotheses of the origin of lakes are put forward.
Visual Sensory Cortices Causally Contribute to Auditory Word Recognition Following Sensorimotor-Enriched Vocabulary Training
Authors: Mathias Brian , Sureth Leona , Hartwigsen Gesa , Macedonia Manuela , Mayer Katja M , von Kriegstein Katharina
Published: August 2020

Despite a rise in the use of “learning by doing” pedagogical methods in praxis, little is known as to how the brain benefits from these methods. Learning by doing strategies that utilize complementary information (“enrichment”) such as gestures have been shown to optimize learning outcomes in several domains including foreign language (L2) training. Here we tested the hypothesis that behavioral benefits of gesture-based enrichment are critically supported by integrity of the biological motion visual cortices (bmSTS). Prior functional neuroimaging work has implicated the visual motion cortices in L2 translation following sensorimotor-enriched training; the current study is the first to investigate the causal relevance of these structures in learning by doing contexts. Using neuronavigated transcranial magnetic stimulation and a gesture-enriched L2 vocabulary learning paradigm, we found that the bmSTS causally contributed to behavioral benefits of gesture-enriched learning. Visual motion cortex integrity benefitted both short- and long-term learning outcomes, as well as the learning of concrete and abstract words. These results adjudicate between opposing predictions of two neuroscientific learning theories: While reactivation-based theories predict no functional role of specialized sensory cortices in vocabulary learning outcomes, the current study supports the predictive coding theory view that these cortices precipitate sensorimotor-based learning benefits.
Usability and Acceptability of Home-based Self-testing for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Antibodies for Population Surveillance
Authors: Atchison Christina , Pristerà Philippa , Cooper Emily , Papageorgiou Vasiliki , Redd Rozlyn , Piggin Maria , Flower Barnaby , Fontana Gianluca , Satkunarajah Sutha , Ashrafian Hutan , Lawrence-Jones Anna , Naar Lenny , Chigwende Jennifer , Gibbard Steve , Riley Steven , Darzi Ara , Elliott Paul , Ashby Deborah , Barclay Wendy , Cooke Graham S , Ward Helen
Published: August 2020

Background

This study assesses acceptability and usability of home-based self-testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies using lateral flow immunoassays (LFIA).

Methods

We carried out public involvement and pilot testing in 315 volunteers to improve usability. Feedback was obtained through online discussions, questionnaires, observations, and interviews of people who tried the test at home. This informed the design of a nationally representative survey of adults in England using two LFIAs (LFIA1 and LFIA2) which were sent to 10 600 and 3800 participants, respectively, who provided further feedback.

Results

Public involvement and pilot testing showed high levels of acceptability, but limitations with the usability of kits. Most people reported completing the test; however, they identified difficulties with practical aspects of the kit, particularly the lancet and pipette, a need for clearer instructions and more guidance on interpretation of results. In the national study, 99.3% (8693/8754) of LFIA1 and 98.4% (2911/2957) of LFIA2 respondents attempted the test and 97.5% and 97.8% of respondents completed it, respectively. Most found the instructions easy to understand, but some reported difficulties using the pipette (LFIA1: 17.7%) and applying the blood drop to the cassette (LFIA2: 31.3%). Most respondents obtained a valid result (LFIA1: 91.5%; LFIA2: 94.4%). Overall there was substantial concordance between participant and clinician interpreted results (kappa: LFIA1 0.72; LFIA2 0.89).

Conclusions

Impactful public involvement is feasible in a rapid response setting. Home self-testing with LFIAs can be used with a high degree of acceptability and usability by adults, making them a good option for use in seroprevalence surveys.
A parasite reduction conservation intervention does not improve fledging success or most condition metrics for Purple Martins
Authors: Williams Heather M , Dittmar Katharina , Smith Pagano Susan
Published: August 2020

Eastern Purple Martins (Progne subis subis) have an unusually close relationship with humans, as they nest exclusively in man-made nest boxes. Current conservation policy directly promotes further interaction with this species by advocating regular replacement of nest materials during the nestling phase to reduce ectoparasite load and increase nestling fitness. We conducted the first test of the efficacy of this recommendation and found that it was partially effective in reducing parasite abundance, but had no effect on nestling fledging success, body mass, leukocyte count, or triglyceride or uric acid concentration. We found a small but significant increase in nestling hematocrit associated with nest material replacement, implying that parasites may induce nestling anemia. Contrary to our expectations, we also found elevated heterophil/lymphocyte ratios in nestlings with replacements, possibly indicating elevated physiological stress associated with nest replacements. Based on our results, we do not recommend nest material replacements to combat routine parasite infestations.
From the Effective to the Affective: Postmemory in Emma Donoghue’s The Sealed Letter
Authors: Alden Natasha
Published: August 2020

This article has a dual focus. It demonstrates the recent repoliticization of Linda Hutcheon’s category of historiographic metafiction through the extension of Marianne Hirsch’s concept of postmemory to lesbian novelists, arguing that this theoretical framework offers a lens through which we can understand some recent trends in lesbian historical fiction. Focusing on the novelist and critic Emma Donoghue’s 2008 novel The Sealed Letter, it also argues that this text’s evocation of an imagined lesbian past, and its use of metafictional techniques, are illuminated by reading it as a highly political engagement with lesbian postmemory.
The frozen elephant trunk technique in an emergency: THORAFLEX French National Registry offers new insights
Authors: Chabry Yuthiline , Porterie Jean , Gautier Charles-Henri , Nader Joseph , Chaufour Xavier , Alsac Jean Marc , Reix Thierry , Marcheix Bertrand , Koskas Fabien , Ruggieri Vito Giovanni , Achouh Paul , Caus Thierry
Published: August 2020

OBJECTIVES

Our goal was to study the immediate outcome after an emergency frozen elephant trunk procedure with a Thoraflex™ Hybrid prosthesis (THP) in patients included in the EPI-Flex national registry and operated on in 21 French centres.

METHODS

All patients operated on in France between April 2016 and April 2019 for acute aortic syndromes and who had an frozen elephant trunk procedure with a THP were included in the study. The main end point was in-hospital mortality. The secondary end point was neuromorbidity, including paraplegia. The evolution of the main end point was monitored using a variable life-adjusted display graph with cumulative sum derivatives in order to stop inclusions in case the observed mortality became out of range compared to an expected mortality between 15% and 20%.

RESULTS

Enrolment ended on the scheduled date and included 109 patients. Most cases (54%) were performed at 3 centres, where more than 10 THP each were implanted (10–26). The observed mortality in the large-volume centres (22%) was comparable to that observed in the low-volume centres (20%). The individually risk-adjusted cumulative sum revealed that observed in-hospital mortality was statistically in line with that predicted by the log EuroSCORE. Analysis of the secondary end point revealed 8% cases of paraplegia, all of which appeared after treatment of the thoracic type A aortic dissection.

CONCLUSIONS

In France, THP for emergency frozen elephant trunk surgery outside high-volume centres did not result in excessive in-hospital deaths. However, a word of caution must be expressed regarding the prevention of medullar ischaemia even in emergency aortic surgery.
Prevalence, antibiotic susceptibility and characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates in China
Authors: Xie Tengfei , Yu Quan , Tang Xiong , Zhao Jing , He Xujun
Published: August 2020

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a marine and estuarine bacterium that poses a major threat to human health worldwide. In this study, from 2017 to 2019, we evaluated 900 food samples collected from China in 2017, with the aim of determining the incidence and features of V. parahaemolyticus in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods, shrimp and fish in China. The contamination rates in these were 3.67, 19.33 and 10.67%, respectively, and the prevalence of V. parahaemolyticus was higher in summer than in winter. In addition, 101 V. parahaemolyticus strains were isolated. Our results suggested that most of the isolates were resistant to aminoglycosides based on the antimicrobial resistance patterns of these aquatic product isolates against 14 antimicrobial agents. Furthermore, most of the isolates were multidrug-resistant. Serotyping showed that the isolates of the O2 serotype comprised the maximum proportion. Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequence (ERIC)-PCR results indicated that the isolates (n = 101) could be classified into 12 clusters. There were 82 STs suggesting genetic variation and relatedness among these isolates. Our findings demonstrated the presence of V. parahaemolyticus in foods from Chinese retail markets and show that this methodology can be used for microbiological risk assessment in China.
The Marchenko method for evanescent waves
Authors: Wapenaar Kees
Published: August 2020

With the Marchenko method, Green’s functions in the subsurface can be retrieved from seismic reflection data at the surface. State-of-the-art Marchenko methods work well for propagating waves but break down for evanescent waves. This paper discusses a first step towards extending the Marchenko method for evanescent waves and analyses its possibilities and limitations. In theory both the downward and upward decaying components can be retrieved. The retrieval of the upward decaying component appears to be very sensitive to model errors, but the downward decaying component, including multiple reflections, can be retrieved in a reasonably stable and accurate way. The reported research opens the way to develop new Marchenko methods that can handle refracted waves in wide-angle reflection data.
Seismic attenuation structure across the Karakoram fault in western Tibet
Authors: Biswas Rahul , Singh Chandrani
Published: August 2020

2-D attenuation maps are produced for the crust of western Tibet using local earthquakes which are recorded by an array of 31 broad-band stations operated from 2007 July to 2011 May. Relative contribution of scattering ($Q_{sc}^{-1}$) and intrinsic ($Q_{i}^{-1}$) attenuation have been calculated using Multiple Lapse Time Window Analysis under the assumption of uniform distribution of multiple isotropic scattering and intrinsic absorption in a medium for five different frequency bands centred at 1.5, 3, 6, 12 and 18 Hz, respectively. All the events are selected on the basis of high signal-to-noise ratio having hypocentral distance within 200 km from the respective stations. The obtained Q−1 values show a strong frequency dependent nature which can be correlated to the degree of tectonic complexity and the heterogeneities present in the medium. The intrinsic absorption is found to be the dominant mechanism at all the frequency ranges for all stations except few (WT03, WT07 and WT13) at 18 Hz, which may be correlated with the presence of partial melt, geothermal fluids, hydrothermal springs, mantle-derived fluids and radioactivity in the crust of western Tibet. We have divided the entire area into two regions across the Karakoram fault (KKF) to explore the variations of crustal attenuation properties. The first part covers the northeastern of KKF referred as Region 1 while the second part covers the southwestern of KKF referred as Region 2. The spatial variations of $Q_{i}^{-1}$ across the region exhibit significant differences between Regions 1 and 2 at all the investigated frequencies. Interestingly, Region 1 exhibits higher $Q_{i}^{-1}$ than Region 2 at lower frequencies, whereas $Q_{i}^{-1}$ shows opposite trends at higher frequencies (> 6 Hz) as it shows higher values in Region 2 than Region 1. We find that the obtained values of Q−1 are also in good agreement with the other segments of Himalaya and Tibet as well as different tectonic regions in the world.
Prkar1a haploinsufficiency ameliorates the growth hormone excess phenotype in Aip-deficient mice
Authors: Schernthaner-Reiter Marie Helene , Trivellin Giampaolo , Roetzer Thomas , Hainfellner Johannes A , Starost Matthew F , Stratakis Constantine A
Published: August 2020

Mutations of the regulatory subunit (PRKAR1A) of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKA), leading to activation of the PKA pathway, are the genetic cause of Carney complex which is frequently accompanied by somatotroph tumors. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) mutations lead to somatotroph tumorigenesis in mice and humans. The mechanisms of AIP-dependent pituitary tumorigenesis are still under investigation and evidence points to a connection between the AIP and PKA pathways. In this study, we explore the combined effects of Aip and Prkar1a deficiency on mouse phenotype and, specifically, pituitary histopathology. Aip+/− mice were compared with double heterozygous Aip+/−, Prkar1a+/− mice. The phenotype (including histopathology and serological studies) was recorded at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age. Detailed pituitary histological and immunohistochemical studies were performed at 12 months. Twelve-month old Aip+/− mice demonstrated phenotypic and biochemical evidence of GH excess including significantly elevated insulin-like growth factor 1 levels, larger weight and body length, higher hemoglobin and cholesterol levels and a higher frequency of growth plate thickening in comparison to Aip+/, Prkar1a+/− mice. Pituitary histopathology did not uncover any pituitary adenomas or somatotroph hyperplasia in either group. These results demonstrate a slow progression from elevated GH release to the formation of overt somatotropinomas in Aip+/− mice; the acromegalic phenotype of these mice is surprisingly ameliorated in Aip+/−, Prkar1a+/− mice. This highlights the complexities of interaction between the AIP and PKA pathway. Specifically targeting GH secretion rather than somatotroph proliferation may be an advantage in the medical treatment of AIP-dependent human acromegaly.
Can the Court normalize the exception in non-emergency cases? Palestinian cases before the Israeli Supreme Court
Authors: Jabareen Hassan
Published: August 2020

The leading legal literature published after 9/11 recognizes the exception only in emergency. These writings follow the concept that “necessity knows no law” and, as Manin puts it, “security is the only acceptable principle” which justifies arbitrary coercion in liberal theory. Although Carl Schmitt criticized such liberal legal writing, including Hobbes’s sovereign, in that it does not recognize the power of the political identity, Schmitt’s sovereign also appears to decide on the exception only in “extreme emergency.” Accordingly, the judiciary’s political role is marginalized as the court always arrives too late, due to the urgent need to respond immediately. Based on this literature, court decisions always fall within the realm of legality, especially in non-emergency cases. In this article, I argue that the exception also appears in non-emergency cases and that the judiciary plays a serious role in normalizing the exception when the government acts without any legislative authorization. I further argue that these judicial decisions tell us about the very essence of the state’s political identity as it is linked to the authorities’ understanding of the state’s sovereignty. The case study that I examine is Israeli Supreme Court decisions that deal with cases brought by Palestinian citizens of Israel concerning territoriality claims, such as the right of property and the right to live in specific places with basic services. These cases were decided after the enactment of the Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty in 1992, which is considered to be part of the “constitutional revolution” in Israeli legal discourse.
Methods of Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 for Downstream Biological Assays
Authors: Patterson Edward I , Prince Tessa , Anderson Enyia R , Casas-Sanchez Aitor , Smith Shirley L , Cansado-Utrilla Cintia , Solomon Tom , Griffiths Michael J , Acosta-Serrano Álvaro , Turtle Lance , Hughes Grant L
Published: August 2020

The scientific community has responded to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic by rapidly undertaking research to find effective strategies to reduce the burden of this disease. Encouragingly, researchers from a diverse array of fields are collectively working towards this goal. Research with infectious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is undertaken in high-containment laboratories; however, it is often desirable to work with samples at lower-containment levels. To facilitate the transfer of infectious samples from high-containment laboratories, we have tested methods commonly used to inactivate virus and prepare the sample for additional experiments. Incubation at 80°C, a range of detergents, Trizol reagents, and UV energies were successful at inactivating a high titer of SARS-CoV-2. Methanol and paraformaldehyde incubation of infected cells also inactivated the virus. These protocols can provide a framework for in-house inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 in other laboratories, ensuring the safe use of samples in lower-containment levels.
Biometric recognition system performance measures for lossy compression on EEG signals
Authors: Nguyen Binh , Ma Wanli , Tran Dat
Published: August 2020

Electroencephalogram (EEG) plays an essential role in analysing and recognizing brain-related diseases. EEG has been increasingly used as a new type of biometrics in person identification and verification systems. These EEG-based systems are important components in applications for both police and civilian works, and both areas process a huge amount of EEG data. Storing and transmitting these huge amounts of data are significant challenges for data compression techniques. Lossy compression is used for EEG data as it provides a higher compression ratio (CR) than lossless compression techniques. However, lossy compression can negatively influence the performance of EEG-based person identification and verification systems via the loss of information in the reconstructed data. To address this, we propose introducing performance measures as additional features in evaluating lossy compression techniques for EEG data. Our research explores if a common value of CR exists for different systems using datasets with lossy compression that could provide almost the same system performance with those using datasets without lossy compression. We performed experiments on EEG-based person identification and verification systems using two large EEG datasets, CHB MIT Scalp and Alcoholism, to investigate the relationship between standard lossy compression measures and our proposed system performance measures with the two lossy compression techniques, discrete wavelet transform—adaptive arithmetic coding and discrete wavelet transform—set partitioning in hierarchical trees. Our experimental results showed a common value of CR exists for different systems, specifically, 70 for person identification systems and 50 for person verification systems.
Hybrid Intelligent Model to Predict the Remifentanil Infusion Rate in Patients Under General Anesthesia
Authors: Jove Esteban , Gonzalez-Cava Jose M , Casteleiro-Roca José-Luis , Quintián Héctor , Méndez Pérez Juan Albino , Vega Vega Rafael , Zayas-Gato Francisco , de Cos Juez Francisco Javier , León Ana , MartÍn María , Reboso José A , Woźniak Michał , Luis Calvo-Rolle José
Published: August 2020

Automatic control of physiological variables is one of the most active areas in biomedical engineering. This paper is centered in the prediction of the analgesic variables evolution in patients undergoing surgery. The proposal is based on the use of hybrid intelligent modelling methods. The study considers the Analgesia Nociception Index (ANI) to assess the pain in the patient and remifentanil as intravenous analgesic. The model proposed is able to make a one-step-ahead prediction of the remifentanil dose corresponding to the current state of the patient. The input information is the previous remifentanil dose, the ANI variable and the electromyogram signal. Modelling techniques used are Artificial Neural Networks and Support Vector machines for Regression combined with clustering methods. Both training and validation were done with a real dataset from different patients. Results obtained show the potential of this methodology to calculate the drug dose corresponding to a given analgesic state of the patient.
The problem with relying on profit-driven models to produce pandemic drugs
Authors: Heled Yaniv , Rutschman Ana Santos , Vertinsky Liza
Published: August 2020

In this article, we explain why profit-driven models for developing treatments for epidemic pathogens produce sub-optimal and sometimes negative public health outcomes. Using the example of the drug remdesivir, we demonstrate how the divergence of private incentives from public health needs has led to such outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conclude that policy responses to this and future pandemics ought to be conceived and designed in ways that narrow the divergence of private interests from public health needs, including through greater public-sector involvement in pharmaceutical R&D.
Explaining the Politics of Security: Syrian Refugees in Turkey and Lebanon
Authors: Secen Sefa
Published: August 2020

Under what conditions do governments view and respond to the arrival of refugees primarily as a security threat? Comparatively analyzing the securitization of Syrian refugees in two host countries, Turkey and Lebanon, this paper proposes a domestic political context–based theory and typology of securitization. Based on a quantitative and qualitative content analysis of the media data including mainstream national Turkish and Lebanese newspaper articles, this research first differentiates between different levels of securitization and finds that moderate securitization in Lebanon during the early years of the refugee crisis (2013–2014) coincided with an open border policy, inaction, legal ambiguity, and benign neglect. From 2015, a marked increase of securitization in Lebanon coincided with controlled borders, restrictive policies, and heightened tension. Securitization of Syrian refugees has followed a somewhat different trajectory in Turkey, where the state switched from non-recognition (2013–2014) to recognition (2014–2016) and then from recognition to integration (2016–present), while a decrease in securitization mapped onto this policy trajectory despite the opposition's and the public's increasing discontentment with the presence of refugees. Then, this paper argues that the low level of securitization in Turkey is an outcome of the incumbent party's Islamist political ideology that motivates transnational religious solidarity, whereas the high level of securitization in Lebanon is a consequence of elite divisions and the country's unique historical experiences with Palestinian refugees that engender competing security perspectives and agendas on Syrian refugees. Overall, this study demonstrates how contextual or domestic factors are key to explaining government attitudes toward refugee groups and contributes to our understanding of the sources and processes of securitization.
Isolated complete transection of common hepatic artery in a fall accident: a case report
Authors: Danial Aghyad Kudra , Bedon Mario , Kalaji Nour , Nasra Nasri , Khalil Hayat
Published: August 2020

Blunt abdominal trauma is the most frequent external injury to the abdomen, which is rarely due to falling. However, not often does a blunt trauma cause injury to the common hepatic artery. Isolated injury of the common hepatic artery has rarely been reported in the literature. This report describes an unusual case of a falling accident from a height of 5 meters that results in complete transection of the common hepatic artery, yet all other abdominal organs are normal. The case was initially diagnosed by a Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma exam and confirmed with an exploratory laparotomy. The successful management would be an end-to-end anastomosis of the dissected artery. We hope we would raise awareness of such injury in order to facilitate its diagnosis and management and improve its outcome.
Constitutional Unamendability in the Region
Authors: Roznai Yaniv
Published: August 2020

A central feature within constitutional design is the amendment procedure or formula, through which formal changes to the constitution can take place. There is a growing trend in global constitutionalism to impose various limitations on constitutional amendment powers (‘unamendability’). These restrictions on the ability to amend constitutions may be procedural, for example by demanding special procedural conditions for amending the constitution. Others are temporal and require constitutional actors to adhere to certain specifications as to the timing of various steps in the formal amendment process, either at the proposal or ratification stages, or both. More contentious is the imposition of substantive limitations on amending constitutional subjects (provisions, principles, rules, symbols, or institutions) through the formal constitutional amendment provision (‘substantive unamendability’). Substantive unamendability of a constitutional subject may be explicit in the form of –what is often termed – eternity or unamendable clauses, or may be implicit as result of courts’ interpretation of the constitutional text, declaring that even in the absence of explicit unamendability, certain constitutional principles are implicitly unamendable. The Chapter focuses on unamendability in the Caribbean. It reviews some of the formal or temporal limitations that we find in Caribbean Constitutions; then reviews explicit substantive limitations, focusing on Cuba, Haiti and Dominican Republic, and implied substantive limitations, as applied in Belize and hinted in Puerto Rico. The Chapter demonstrates that the global trend of limitations on formal constitutional change finds its manifestations also in Caribbean Constitutions.