bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design of Graphical User Interface (GUI) on IoT-based remote laboratory for Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) practicum and pneumatic simulation
Authors: Pratama L A , Kustija J
Published: May 2020

The remote laboratory system allows users to conduct lab work via a remote-controlled lab computer. Each computer has a different interface to interact with the operating system. This affects the comfort and effectiveness of users in accessing remote laboratories. Based on this, we need a support system in the remote laboratory to maximize user time in practicing. The interface on the computer lab becomes an important factor in supporting a practicum that uses computers. GUI (Graphical User Interface) is an interface that allows users to interact with the operating system graphically. Unlike the CLI (Command Line Interface), which uses the command line, the GUI uses a graphical menu, thus allowing users to more easily and efficiently interact with the operating system. The main features of the GUI are made up of three components. The components in question include time management features, application selection, and notifications. If already connected to the GUI, users can easily open the applications provided, such as CX-Programmer, Pneumatic Festo Fluidsim, and the camera. Also, the GUI functions as a timer and notifies users. This can be seen from the automatic connection and disconnection between the user and the computer lab if the practicum time is up.
Role playing as experiential learning method for quality engineering education
Authors: Wahyudi R D , Hadiyat M A
Published: May 2020

Every learning activity should be well designed so that it can be easily understood and can attract the attention. However, challenges will arise for quantitative courses such as quality engineering (QE). The QE course is quantitative course in industrial engineering aimed for engineering system to produce qualified product. This paper will discuss about role playing as learning method for quality engineering courses. Role playing is designed by considering students as a part of Research and Development (R&D) department from Food Company trying to improve quality of products. Role playing is fully conducted for one semester with integrated activities consisting of teaching, R&D Meeting, market survey, experimentation and presentation. To build atmosphere, the course’s materials are delivered like training. Pudding experiment was chosen to help students to understand types of DoE particularly. In addition, student gets the role of R&D such as leaders, surveyors to conduct market research, analysts to determine Critical to Quality which is worth to be controlled. Thus, learning process is conducted with experiential learning method. By using this method, the central tendencies of mark are 77,5 for mean, 78 for median and 84 for mode. Thus, we can draw that students can easily achieve Learning Objectives in a fascinating way.
Women in mechanical engineering at vocational high school
Authors: Firdaus R A , Abdullah A G , Sumarto S
Published: May 2020

The purpose of this research was to knowing why in recent years there has been an increase in the number of students who choose to continue their education to a technical vocational high school. The low involvement of women in the field of engineering technology and mathematics caused by a gender gap, the influence of negative stereotypes, culture, and character where the engineering field is more intended for men who are masculine and not by women. The research was conducted by interviewing participants who were randomly selected from female students in vocational high schools. The results showed that the reason of the participant to enter the engineering school because of economic factors with the assumption that graduates from the engineering higher employment opportunities.
Website analysis on industrial work practices in vocational high school
Authors: Firdawati F , Sumarto S , Abdullah A G
Published: May 2020

Industrial work practice is a school program that aims to equip students to apply the knowledge acquired at school to the world of work. To facilitate communication between the school and the industry, an information system in the form of a school web was built. Online systems are the most efficient way of finding information on any topic. The purpose of this study was to determine the existence of school information systems about industrial work practices. Data collection was carried out using content analysis in ten public vocational high schools in Riau Province based on searching dapodik documentation on the school website. The results of this study found a web about school home, profiles, school achievements, data, location, majors, articles and galleries as well as contact links in vocational high schools. So, the conclusion of this research is to provide information that websites about student industrial work practices have not been found from several schools that have been observed.
Digital peer tutoring in engineering education
Authors: Rivaldi D , Megayanti T , Aryanti T
Published: May 2020

The learning process is one of determinant of the quality of student learning outcomes. One of the problems that often occurs in the learning process is inadequate teacher’s teaching strategies, particularly in Engineering Drawing subjects. The teacher tends to be less creative, less variative and trapped in a rigid learning process. These conditions make them less active and feel bored during the learning process. This research aims to know whether there are any differences between the aspects of activeness and psychomotor learning outcomes of the students through the implementation of Peer Tutoring and Learning Together learning methods in the Engineering Drawing subject. The population of this research is the students of class X DPIB in SMKN 5 Bandung while the samples consist of two classes that are selected using purposive sampling technique. The research instruments are observation sheet of student activeness and drawing skills assessment. After implementing Peer Tutoring learning method in class X DPIB 1, the students get 86.81 as the average score in drawing result and they are more active in some indicators such as Drawing activities, Motor activities, Mental activities, and Emotional activities. Meanwhile after implementing Learning Together learning method in class X DPIB 4, the students get 74.23 as the average score in drawing result and they are more active in some indicators such as Visual activities, Oral activities, listening activities, and Writing activities. This research data is analyzed by statistics Independent T-test. The analysis results show that there are differences between the aspects of activeness and psychomotor learning outcomes of the students who use Peer Tutoring learning method and the students who use Learning Together learning method in the Engineering Drawing subjects.
The measurement of specific life skill based on National Qualification Competency Certification Scheme in the field of Building Construction Drawing
Authors: Silma S P , Widaningsih L , Ardiansyah A
Published: May 2020

This paper aims to measure specific life skill of students attending Building Modelling Design and Building Information program (DPIB) based on the National Qualification Competency Certification Scheme in the field of Building Construction Drawing. This research utilized descriptive quantitative method. The sampling was drawn from eleventh grade students of Vocational High School 1 Cilaku Cianjur using purposive sampling method. The measurement criteria are adjusted with competence test requirement referring to standards set by National Board of Professional Certification (BNSP). Data collection process was done by using competence test simulation. The findings of this research indicate that: (1) the specific life skill level was classified as fair, as indicated by the achievement percentage of 80%. The site drawing was the component with the highest level of achievement between three components (site, section and elevation drawing); (2) the work readiness level was classified as good, as indicated by the achievement percentage of 82%. The highest level of measurement was in the flexibility and self-view. The high level of students’ specific life skill in accordance to the national competence standard indicates that students have met the competence standard needed by the world of work. They are competent to be drafters in building construction drawing field of expertise. However, further study is needed to examine the mismatch between the supply of workers with such competence and the availability of employment in the building construction’s world of work.
Profile of misconception in particulate level of acid basic subjects
Authors: Susilaningsih E , Nuswowati M , Natasukma M M
Published: May 2020

The misconception is a mistake in building conceptions based on accepted theory. Undetected misconceptions can prevent students from understanding concepts at the next level. This study aimed to determine the profile of misconceptions experienced by the participants did at level particulate on acid-base material. Students’ misconceptions are detected by using the three-tier multiple-choice test and interview questions. This type of research is quantitative descriptive with the subjects trying 230 students of science class grade 2. The study was conducted at SMA Pangudi Luhur Don Bosko Semarang, SMA Negeri 1 Ungaran, and SMA Negeri 2 Demak. The results showed the general misconception in the acid-base material is 40% in SMA Negeri 1 Ungaran, 43% in SMA Negeri 2 Demak, and 43% in SMA Pangudi Luhur Don Bosko Semarang. Positive misconceptions in SMA Negeri 1 Ungaran, SMA Negeri 2 Demak, and SMA Pangudi Luhur Don Bosko Semarang are respectively 10%, 8%, and 12%. Negative misconceptions in SMA Negeri 1 Ungaran, SMA Negeri 2 Demak, and SMA Pangudi Luhur Don Bosko Semarang are respectively 9%, 2%, and 6%. High-level misconceptions in SMA Negeri 1 Ungaran, SMA Negeri 2 Demak, and SMA Pangudi Luhur Don Bosko Semarang are respectively 24%, 30%, and 25%. The misconception profile of students at the particulate level in Acid-base learning in SMA Negeri 1 Ungaran, SMA Negeri 2 Demak, and SMA Pangudi Luhur Don Bosko Semarang were 39%, 48%, and 56% respectively. Based on the results of the analysis of research data it can be concluded that there are misconceptions about acid-base strength, the concept of pH, and the calculation of pH. This is because the item uses levels of evaluation and analysis at the particulate level.
Student learning motivation on Actionbound application implementation in construction and building utilities subject
Authors: Rosdiana A F , Busono R R T , Yosita L
Published: May 2020

The research aimed to determine the students’ learning motivations on Actionbound application implementation as learning media in construction and building utilities subject. This research was grounded by monotonous and boring learning media, so the researcher tried to innovate the learning media used Actionbound application to make students more interested to take class. This research was conducted by 30 second grade students of modelling design and building information program in SMKN 2 Garut, with Research and Development as research method. The data collection was carried out by media assessment sheets, learning motivations questionnaires, and student response questionnaires. Media assessed by expert judgement was considered very suitable to use. The students’ media responses considered by media content, media language, strategy effect, and media visual had very good responses. The self-efficacy, active learning strategies, learning value, performance goal, achievement goal, learning environment stimulation, as learning motivation aspects showed a “high” category value. Therefore, the developed Actionbound application is suitable for use as learning media in construction and building utilities subject in SMKN 2 Garut.
Analysis of entrepreneurial interest in Dumai Agricultural Vocational students
Authors: Nugroho S B , Sumarto S , Abdullah A G
Published: May 2020

Vocational education should be projected to support student’s skill that can be impact to the student’s readiness to work. As well the vocational education prepares student to be a professional worker, it also should be able to prepare graduates become entrepreneur. The students’ interest in entrepreneurship can be in the form of interests, desires, pleasures, willingness to do entrepreneurship to achieve prosperity as they wish. The graduates of Vocational High School can consider to develop entrepreneurship as their choice of future career. The purpose of this research is to observe the entrepreneurship interest of Agricultural Vocational High School Student. In accordance with the research purpose, so the researcher uses qualitative research through descriptive method. The source data used are informants through interview as technical of colleting the data. The results showed that most of the students of Agricultural Vocational High School have interest and strong foundation to developed entrepreneurship. The conclusions resulting from this research is almost all the student at the grade XII majoring Agro Industry have interest to be an entrepreneur.
The perceptions of automotive industrial managers about the internship students’ competencies
Authors: Saputra J , Abdullah A G , Sumarto
Published: May 2020

The purpose of this research was to describe the perceptions of automotive industrial managers about the competencies of internship student. The population of this research was the 25 automotive industrial that cooperate with one of the Vocational High School in Pekanbaru Riau. The Total Sampling Technique was used to determine the Population for this research, which makes all of the automotive industrial in Pekanbaru Riau was the sample. The respondents were 25 Automotive Industrial Managers. The data were collected through questionnaire. The Data Analysis Technique was Descriptive Quantitative Analysis Technique. The result of this research shown that there were half of the managers’ have good even very good perception for the Internship students. In their perspectives, the internship students have the ability needed by the automotive industrial. Yet, there were few managers who have bad perspective for internship students. This research was meant to be input or suggestions for the school stakeholder to increase the students competencies that needed by the automotive industrial.
Designing an adjustable height engine stand to reduce the risk of student’s Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) in engine tune up practice
Authors: Noor R A M , Barliana M S , Soemarto S , Kuntadi I
Published: May 2020

This study aims to determine the description of a student’s posture when practicing and make an engine stand according to the size or results of previous ergonomics analysis. The source of ergonomics risk is the design of practical tools that are less compatible with varied student postures. The ergonomics research method used is the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA). The participants of this research were automotive students of the mechanical engineering education department totaling 27 people, the reason for doing this research was because of the results of the Nordic Body Map (NBM) survey, almost all students who practiced on the Gasoline engine course complained of pain in the back, neck and arms. Therefore, an analysis of the level of ergonomics risk results is recommended to improve student work positions. Based on these recommendations, an adjustable height engine stand was designed and made. This research was conducted by beginning with a structured observation of student anthropometry, to provide design recommendations that can be accommodated by all student body postures. The results of the measurement of ergonomic risk level before using the adjustable height engine stand position of the student’s body bent, neck bending, repeating for a long time, the results of RULA anthropometric analysis of the 5th percentile are 4, while the percentiles 50 and 95 are 6, which means that the position has a high level of ergonomic risk and action needs to be taken immediately to reduce risk. The level of ergonomics risk after using the adjustable height engine stand is 2, which means safe. Another result is the creation of an adjustable height engine stand whose height can adjust to the student’s body posture.
The application of jBatik software for batik products
Authors: Nurjanah I , Abdullah A G , Widiaty I
Published: May 2020

Batik is one of Indonesia’s cultural heritage that must be preserved. jBatik is an application that introduces the process of making batik motif designs using technology. The purpose of this study is to apply the technology for making batik motif designs in the batik industry. the use of technology in batik designs is expected to facilitate the making of motif designs and provide more creative quality craftsmen. and can prepare for industry challenges of the 4.0 era. The technology used is jBatik is an application to make batik motifs with fractal principles. The paper writing method is in the form of jBatik application analysis which is already available on the internet. this finding shows that the process of making batik motif designs using jBatik application is faster and more effective by producing two types of motifs namely 2D and 3D motifs depending on the parameters used. The use of jBatik application is practical and facilitated by various variations of batik motifs.
Geographic information system in education
Authors: Dewa P , Mulyanti B , Widiaty I
Published: May 2020

The purpose of the study this is to know how to work Geographical Information System (GIS) which can in be applied in educational vocation. The method of writing a paper is done through a literature study. The author analyzed 30 papers from the years 2014 to 2019 on the role of GIS in education vocational. Search results illustrate that GIS is a system of information-based computer that combines the elements of the map (geographically) and the data on the map of the (data attribute) that is designed to insert, processing, analyzing and displaying the data spatially are referencing the condition of the earth. The role of GIS is very reliable in helping the activities of learning are related to aspects of spatial.
Internet of things application in mechanical learning in automotive engineering
Authors: Kurnia R , Mulyanti B , Widiaty I
Published: May 2020

Internet of Things (IoT) is a technology that uses an internet network that allows control and communication between many objects. The purpose of this paper is to determine the advantages and disadvantages of using the current Internet of Things (IoT) technology and the development of the IoT concept in the automotive field. The method used is a systematic literature review by reviewing journals that discuss IoT-based digital learning media in the automotive field from 2014 to 2019. The results show that IoT-based digital learning media can be used easily in automotive engineering education as a reference for researchers about the application of instructional media engaged in automotive engineering education.
CIPP evaluation learning development model in vocational laboratories based on ISO 9001: 2008
Authors: Mukhidin M , Kustiawan I , Suartini T , Hasan B , Sukandar A
Published: May 2020

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the learning process in vocational high school laboratory certified ISO 9001:2008 using CIPP (Context Input Process Product) learning model. We conducted the combination of quantitative and qualitative research method in vocational high schools, West Java area. The instruments for collecting data consist of paper test, observations and discussions with the principals, teachers, students, and industrial representatives. The results showed that learning model is very appropriate because of fulfilling ISO requirements, that is, standards for input, process, product, infrastructure, and evaluation. This model can be used as a learning model by teachers in vocational high school laboratories.
Direct-acting oral anticoagulant use at extremes of body weight: Literature review and recommendations
Authors: Covert Kelly , Branam Donald L
Published: May 2020

Purpose

To review the literature on treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and prevention of cardioembolic stroke with direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in low- and high-body-weight patients and to make recommendations regarding agent selection and dosing in these patient populations.

The selection and optimal dosing of DOACs in low- and high-body-weight patients has not yet been fully elucidated by clinical trials; however, evidence suggests that issues of both safety and efficacy in patients at the extremes of body weight may warrant careful consideration when selecting a DOAC for such patients. This review provides a thorough discussion of the use of DOACs in the treatment of VTE and prevention of cardioembolic stroke in patients at the extremes of body weight and provides guidance regarding agent selection.

Conclusion

While the published evidence on use of DOACs in patients at extremes of body weight is sparse, apixaban and rivaroxaban appear to have the most favorable safety and efficacy profiles. Edoxaban and dabigatran should be avoided.
MiRACLe: an individual-specific approach to improve microRNA-target prediction based on a random contact model
Authors: Wang Pan , Li Qi , Sun Nan , Gao Yibo , Liu Jun S , Deng Ke , He Jie
Published: May 2020

Deciphering microRNA (miRNA) targets is important for understanding the function of miRNAs as well as miRNA-based diagnostics and therapeutics. Given the highly cell-specific nature of miRNA regulation, recent computational approaches typically exploit expression data to identify the most physiologically relevant target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Although effective, those methods usually require a large sample size to infer miRNA–mRNA interactions, thus limiting their applications in personalized medicine. In this study, we developed a novel miRNA target prediction algorithm called miRACLe (miRNA Analysis by a Contact modeL). It integrates sequence characteristics and RNA expression profiles into a random contact model, and determines the target preferences by relative probability of effective contacts in an individual-specific manner. Evaluation by a variety of measures shows that fitting TargetScan, a frequently used prediction tool, into the framework of miRACLe can improve its predictive power with a significant margin and consistently outperform other state-of-the-art methods in prediction accuracy, regulatory potential and biological relevance. Notably, the superiority of miRACLe is robust to various biological contexts, types of expression data and validation datasets, and the computation process is fast and efficient. Additionally, we show that the model can be readily applied to other sequence-based algorithms to improve their predictive power, such as DIANA-microT-CDS, miRanda-mirSVR and MirTarget4. MiRACLe is publicly available at https://github.com/PANWANG2014/miRACLe.
Gene analysis of major signaling pathways regulated by gonadotropins in human ovarian granulosa tumor cells (KGN)†
Authors: Tremblay Patricia G , Sirard Marc-André
Published: May 2020

The female reproductive function largely depends on timing and coordination between follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone. Even though it was suggested that these hormones act on granulosa cells via shared signaling pathways, mainly protein kinases A, B, and C (PKA, PKB, and PKC), there is still very little information available on how these signaling pathways are regulated by each hormone to provide such differences in gene expression throughout folliculogenesis. To obtain a global picture of the principal upstream factors involved in PKA, PKB, and PKC signaling in granulosa cells, human granulosa-like tumor cells (KGN) were treated with FSH or specific activators (forskolin, SC79, and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) for each pathway to analyze gene expression with RNA-seq technology. Normalization and cutoffs (FC 1.5, P ≤ 0.05) revealed 3864 differentially expressed genes between treatments. Analysis of major upstream regulators showed that PKA is a master kinase of early cell differentiation as its activation resulted in the gene expression profile that accompanies granulosa cell differentiation. Our data also revealed that the activation of PKC in granulosa cells is also a strong differentiation signal that could control “advanced” differentiation in granulosa cells and the inflammatory cascade that occurs in the dominant follicle. According to our results, PKB activation provides support for PKA-stimulated gene expression and is also involved in granulosa cell survival throughout follicular development. Taken together, our results provide new information on PKA, PKB, and PKC signaling pathways and their roles in stimulating a follicle at the crossroad between maturation/ovulation and atresia.
Evaluating the granularity and statistical structure of lesions and behaviour in post-stroke aphasia
Authors: Zhao Ying , Halai Ajay D , Lambon Ralph Matthew A
Published: May 2020

The pursuit of relating the location of neural damage to the pattern of acquired language and general cognitive deficits post-stroke stems back to the 19th century behavioural neurology. While spatial specificity has improved dramatically over time, from the large areas of damage specified by post-mortem investigation to the millimetre precision of modern MRI, there is an underlying issue that is rarely addressed, which relates to the fact that damage to a given area of the brain is not random but constrained by the brain’s vasculature. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to uncover the statistical structure underlying the lesion profile in chronic aphasia post-stroke. By applying varimax-rotated principal component analysis to the lesions of 70 patients with chronic post-stroke aphasia, we identified 17 interpretable clusters, largely reflecting the vascular supply of middle cerebral artery sub-branches and other sources of individual variation in vascular supply as shown in classical angiography studies. This vascular parcellation produced smaller displacement error in simulated lesion–symptom analysis compared with individual voxels and Brodmann regions. A second principal component analysis of the patients’ detailed neuropsychological data revealed a four-factor solution reflecting phonological, semantic, executive-demand and speech fluency abilities. As a preliminary exploration, stepwise regression was used to relate behavioural factor scores to the lesion principal components. Phonological ability was related to two components, which covered the posterior temporal region including the posterior segment of the arcuate fasciculus, and the inferior frontal gyrus. Three components were linked to semantic ability and were located in the white matter underlying the anterior temporal lobe, the supramarginal gyrus and angular gyrus. Executive-demand related to two components covering the dorsal edge of the middle cerebral artery territory, while speech fluency was linked to two components that were located in the middle frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus and subcortical regions (putamen and thalamus). Future studies can explore in formal terms the utility of these principal component analysis-derived lesion components for relating post-stroke lesions and symptoms.
On the time-course of functional connectivity: theory of a dynamic progression of concussion effects
Authors: Boshra Rober , Ruiter Kyle I , Dhindsa Kiret , Sonnadara Ranil , Reilly James P , Connolly John F
Published: May 2020

The current literature presents a discordant view of mild traumatic brain injury and its effects on the human brain. This dissonance has often been attributed to heterogeneities in study populations, aetiology, acuteness, experimental paradigms and/or testing modalities. To investigate the progression of mild traumatic brain injury in the human brain, the present study employed data from 93 subjects (48 healthy controls) representing both acute and chronic stages of mild traumatic brain injury. The effects of concussion across different stages of injury were measured using two metrics of functional connectivity in segments of electroencephalography time-locked to an active oddball task. Coherence and weighted phase-lag index were calculated separately for individual frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha and beta) to measure the functional connectivity between six electrode clusters distributed from frontal to parietal regions across both hemispheres. Results show an increase in functional connectivity in the acute stage after mild traumatic brain injury, contrasted with significantly reduced functional connectivity in chronic stages of injury. This finding indicates a non-linear time-dependent effect of injury. To understand this pattern of changing functional connectivity in relation to prior evidence, we propose a new model of the time-course of the effects of mild traumatic brain injury on the brain that brings together research from multiple neuroimaging modalities and unifies the various lines of evidence that at first appear to be in conflict.
The combined novel KCNQ1 frameshift I145Sfs*92 and nonsense W392X variants caused Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome in a Chinese infant presenting with sustained foetal bradycardia
Authors: Zhang Yanmin , Li Xiaomin , Yang Ying , Wang Jie , Gao Xinru , Fan Mengyun
Published: May 2020

Aims

We report clinical and molecular analysis of an infant presenting with foetal bradycardia and clinical outcome of Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome (JLNS).

Methods and results

Clinical, electrocardiogram (ECG), and echocardiographic data were collected from members in a three-generation family. Whole exomes were amplified and sequenced for proband. The identified variants were verified in the remaining members. The pathogenicity of candidate variants was predicted using multiple software programmes. A 28-year-old non-consanguineous Chinese woman at 23 weeks’ gestation presenting with sustained foetal bradycardia of 100 b.p.m. Immunological disorders and infection were excluded. The infant was delivered at 37 weeks’ gestation with 2700-g birthweight. QTc was prolonged in both ECG and Holter recording. Hearing tests confirmed bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Genetic testing demonstrated that the infant carried a novel frameshift c.431delC (p.I145Sfs*92) and a novel nonsense c.1175G>A (p.W392X) compound variants of KCNQ1 inherited from mother and father, respectively, in autosomal recessive inheritance. Only relative II-5 carrying heterozygous KCNQ1-I145Sfs*92 variant had prolonged QTc, while the other carriers did not have prolonged QT, suggesting an autosomal dominant inheritance of LQT1 phenotype with incomplete penetrance in the family.

Conclusion

We report the novel frameshift KCNQ1-I145Sfs*92 and nonsense KCNQ1-W392X compound variants in autosomal recessive inheritance that caused JLNS presenting as sustained foetal bradycardia for the first time. Meanwhile, KCNQ1-I145Sfs*92 heterozygous variant demonstrated LQT1 phenotype in autosomal dominant inheritance with incomplete penetrance.
Early Signs of Gut Microbiome Aging: Biomarkers of Inflammation, Metabolism, and Macromolecular Damage in Young Adulthood
Authors: Renson Audrey , Mullan Harris Kathleen , Dowd Jennifer B , Gaydosh Lauren , McQueen Matthew B , Krauter Kenneth S , Shannahan Michael , Aiello Allison E
Published: May 2020

Emerging links between gut microbiota and diseases of aging point to possible shared immune, metabolic, and cellular damage mechanisms, operating long before diseases manifest. We conducted 16S rRNA sequencing of fecal samples collected from a subsample (n = 668) of Add Health Wave V, a nationally representative longitudinal study of adults aged 32–42. An overlapping subsample (n = 345) included whole-blood RNA-seq. We examined associations between fecal taxonomic abundances and dried blood spot-based markers of lipid and glucose homeostasis and C-reactive protein (measured in Wave IV), as well as gene expression markers of inflammation, cellular damage, immune cell composition, and transcriptomic age (measured in Wave V), using Bayesian hierarchical models adjusted for potential confounders. We additionally estimated a co-abundance network between inflammation-related genes and bacterial taxa using penalized Gaussian graphical models. Strong and consistent microbiota associations emerged for HbA1c, glucose, C-reactive protein, and principal components of genes upregulated in inflammation, DNA repair, and reactive oxygen species, with Streptococcus infantis, Pseudomonas spp., and Peptoniphilus as major players for each. This pattern was largely echoed (though attenuated) for immunological cell composition gene sets, and only Serratia varied meaningfully by transcriptomic age. Network co-abundance indicated relationships between Prevotella sp., Bacteroides sp., and Ruminococcus sp. and gut immune/metabolic regulatory activity, and Ruminococcus sp, Dialister, and Butyrivibrio crossotus with balance between Th1 and Th2 inflammation. In conclusion, many common associations between microbiota and major physiologic aging mechanisms are evident in early-mid adulthood and suggest avenues for early detection and prevention of accelerated aging.
What happens when performance-based financing meets free healthcare? Evidence from an interrupted time-series analysis
Authors: Kuunibe Naasegnibe , Lohmann Julia , Hillebrecht Michael , Nguyen Hoa Thi , Tougri Gauthier , De Allegri Manuela
Published: May 2020

In spite of the wide attention performance-based financing (PBF) has received over the past decade, no evidence is available on its impacts on quantity and mix of service provision nor on its interaction with parallel health financing interventions. Our study aimed to examine the PBF impact on quantity and mix of service provision in Burkina Faso, while accounting for the parallel introduction of a free healthcare policy. We used Health Management Information System data from 838 primary-level health facilities across 24 districts and relied on an interrupted time-series analysis with independent controls. We placed two interruptions, one to account for PBF and one to account for the free healthcare policy. In the period before the free healthcare policy, PBF produced significant but modest increases across a wide range of maternal and child services, but a significant decrease in child immunization coverage. In the period after the introduction of the free healthcare policy, PBF did not affect service provision in intervention compared with control facilities, possibly indicating a saturation effect. Our findings indicate that PBF can produce modest increases in service provision, without altering the overall service mix. Our findings, however, also indicate that the introduction of other health financing reforms can quickly crowd out the effects produced by PBF. Further qualitative research is required to understand what factors allow healthcare providers to increase the provision of some, but not all services and how they react to the joint implementation of PBF and free health care.
Colleagues as friends
Authors: Popper Arthur N
Published: May 2020

Collaboration is integral to most scientific research today, and it has certainly been important in my career and for my career path. However, not all collaborations are “equal”. Most, in fact, are short term or transient, with collaborators working on one project and then moving on to other projects and perhaps other collaborations. There are, however, a few collaborations, such as the three I describe here, that are long term and that not only resulted in a large number of collaborative projects but that also strongly influenced career paths. Indeed, these three collaborations resulted in all of us undertaking new paths that we were not likely to have taken alone or without the stimulation of working with someone we know well and have learned to trust.
Performance investigation of a micro-channel flat separated loop heat pipe system for data centre cooling
Authors: Hu Menglong , Luo Liang , Badiei Ali , Chen Fucheng , Zheng Siming , Wang Zhangyuan , Zhao Xudong
Published: May 2020

This paper investigates a novel micro-channel flat separated loop heat pipe system for cooling the information technology equipment in the data centres through theoretical and experimental analysis and by assessing the impact of the inlet water temperature on system performance. A computer model is developed to simulate the steady-state performance of the micro-channel flat separated loop heat pipe system. After comparing the experimental and modelling results, the new and conventional system under the same working conditions, the model is validated yielding high accuracy in predicting the performance of the micro-channel flat separated loop heat pipe system with recorded error being limited to 2.16–8.97%. The new system has better performance than the conventional system. Under the operating conditions of heat load intensity of 1,000 W/m2, water flow rate of 0.28 m3/h, refrigerant filling rate of 30%, ambient air temperature of 26°C, and evaporator and condenser height difference of 0.8 m, the performance of the system has been explored at inlet temperature from 15 to 24°C with increments of 3°C. The system’s averaged heat transfer efficiency was found to decrease with the increase in inlet temperature. This research provides valuable insight into the data centre information technology equipment cooling, which is of great significance for energy saving and environmentally friendly operation of data centres.
Energy Reserve Compensating for Trade-Off Between Metabolic Resistance and Life History Traits in the Brown Planthopper (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)
Authors: Fujii Tomohisa , Sanada-Morimura Sachiyo , Matsukura Keiichiro , Van Chien Ho , Cuong Le Quoc , Loc Phung Minh , Estoy Gerardo F , Matsumura Masaya
Published: May 2020

Development of insecticide resistance often changes life history traits of insect pests, because metabolic detoxification of insecticides in insect bodies requires huge energetic reserves. The brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), an important insect pest of rice crop in East and Southeast Asia, has developed strong resistance to imidacloprid from mid-2000s. The aim of this study was to examine the costs of life history traits and reveal changes in energy reserves with developing imidacloprid resistance. We compared the life history traits (survival time, fecundity, developmental time, and hatchability) and total lipid content between imidacloprid-resistant and imidacloprid-susceptible (control) brown planthopper strains. As compared to the control strains, adults’ survival time of the resistant females was shorter, and their fecundity was lower; the other life history traits did not differ significantly between the resistant and control strains. As the results, net reproductive rates (R0) were lower in the resistant strains than in the susceptible strains. However, the amount of stored lipids was larger in resistant females than control ones. Our findings demonstrated a physiological trade-off between the development of imidacloprid resistance and the reproductive traits of brown planthopper. The imidacloprid-resistant strains are likely to store lipids for metabolic detoxification rather than consume them for reproduction.
Judicial Review of Prosecutorial Discretion in the Initiation of Investigations into Situations of ‘Sufficient Gravity’
Authors: Urs Priya
Published: May 2020

In the admissibility framework of the Rome Statute, the Prosecutor’s discretion as to whether to initiate an investigation into a situation includes the application of the open-textured requirement of ‘sufficient gravity’ specified in Article 17(1)(d). Pre-Trial Chamber oversight is designed to discipline the exercise of this discretion, but, in the absence of statutory guidance, the Pre-Trial Chambers are left themselves to articulate the standards of review of the Prosecutor’s admissibility assessments under relevant provisions, namely Articles 53(3)(a) and 15(4) of the Statute. The confused body of Pre-Trial Chamber practice to date poses the question as to what ought to be the standard of review of the Prosecutor’s admissibility assessment under each provision. This article teases apart and scrutinizes the standards of review that the Pre-Trial Chambers have applied in practice. By disaggregating the procedural contexts in which the Prosecutor’s admissibility assessments are made and analysing in each context the underlying interests at stake, it seeks to arrive at the appropriate standard of judicial review of the Prosecutor’s gravity assessment under each provision.
Predicting the distribution of a rare chipmunk (Neotamias quadrivittatus oscuraensis): comparing MaxEnt and occupancy models
Authors: Perkins-Taylor Ian E , Frey Jennifer K
Published: May 2020

Species distribution models (SDMs) use presence records to determine the relationship between species occurrence and various environmental variables to create predictive maps describing the species’ distribution. The Oscura Mountains Colorado chipmunk (Neotamias quadrivittatus oscuraensis) occurs in central New Mexico and is of conservation concern due to its relict distribution and threats to habitat. We previously created an occupancy model for this taxon, but were concerned that the model may not have adequately captured the ecological factors influencing the chipmunk’s distribution because of the data hungry nature of occupancy modeling. MaxEnt is another SDM method that is particularly effective at testing large numbers of variables and handling small sample sizes. Our goal was to create a MaxEnt model for the Oscura Mountains Colorado chipmunk and to compare it with our previous occupancy model for this taxon, either to strengthen our original assessment of the relevant ecological factors or identify additional factors that were not captured by our occupancy model. We created MaxEnt models using occurrence records from baited camera traps and opportunistic surveys. We adjusted model complexity using a novel method for tuning both the regularization multiplier and feature class parameters while also performing variable selection. We compared the distribution maps and variables selected by MaxEnt to the results of our occupancy model for this taxon. The MaxEnt and occupancy models selected similar environmental variables and the overall spatial pattern of occurrence was similar for each model. Likelihood of occurrence was positively related to elevation, piñon woodland vegetation type, and topographic variables associated with escarpments. The overall similarities between the MaxEnt and occupancy models increased our confidence of the ecological factors influencing the distribution of the chipmunk. We conclude that MaxEnt offers advantages for predicting the distribution of rare species, which can help inform conservation actions.
TEOSINTE BRANCHED1 regulates height and stem internode length in bread wheat
Authors: Dixon Laura E , Pasquariello Marianna , Boden Scott A
Published: May 2020

Regulation of plant height and stem elongation has contributed significantly to improvement of cereal productivity by reducing lodging and improving distribution of assimilates to the inflorescence and grain. In wheat, genetic control of height has been largely contributed by the Reduced height-1 alleles that confer gibberellin insensitivity; the beneficial effects of these alleles are associated with less favourable effects involving seedling emergence, grain quality, and inflorescence architecture that have driven new research investigating genetic variation of stem growth. Here, we show that TEOSINTE BRANCHED1 (TB1) regulates height of wheat, with TB1 being expressed at low levels in nodes of the main culm prior to elongation, and increased dosage of TB1 restricting elongation of stem internodes. The effect of TB1 on stem growth is not accompanied by poor seedling emergence, as transgenic lines with increased activity of TB1 form longer coleoptiles than null transgenic controls. Analysis of height in a multiparent mapping population also showed that allelic variation for TB1 on the B genome influences height, with plants containing the variant TB-B1b allele being taller than those with the wild-type TB-B1a allele. Our results show that TB1 restricts height and stem elongation in wheat, suggesting that variant alleles that alter the expression or function of TB1 could be used as a new source of genetic diversity for optimizing architecture of wheat in breeding programmes.
Three liberty trees
Authors: Marks Susan
Published: May 2020

What was the tree of liberty? This article takes Boston’s ‘sacred elm’ as a point of departure for exploring debates about the rights of man in late 18th-century England. The liberty tree is shown to be a revealing metaphor for the rights of man, with important literal resonance as well.
Cross-correlating 21 cm and galaxy surveys: implications for cosmology and astrophysics
Authors: Padmanabhan Hamsa , Refregier Alexandre , Amara Adam
Published: May 2020

We forecast astrophysical and cosmological parameter constraints from synergies between 21 cm intensity mapping and wide-field optical galaxy surveys (both spectroscopic and photometric) over z ∼ 0–3. We focus on the following survey combinations in this work: (i) a CHIME-like and DESI-like survey in the Northern hemisphere, (ii) an LSST-like and SKA I MID-like survey, and (iii) a MeerKAT-like and DES-like survey in the Southern hemisphere. We work with the ΛCDM cosmological model having parameters {h, Ωm, ns, Ωb, σ8}, parameters vc, 0 and β representing the cut-off and slope of the H i–halo mass relation in the previously developed H i halo model framework, and a parameter Q that represents the scale dependence of the optical galaxy bias. Using a Fisher forecasting framework, we explore (i) the effects of the H i and galaxy astrophysical uncertainties on the cosmological parameter constraints, assuming priors from the present knowledge of the astrophysics, (ii) the improvements on astrophysical constraints over their current priors in the three configurations considered, and (iii) the tightening of the constraints on the parameters relative to the corresponding H i autocorrelation surveys alone.
Abundance matching tested on small scales with galaxy dynamics
Authors: Macciò Andrea V , Courteau Stéphane , Ouellette Nathalie N-Q , Dutton Aaron A
Published: May 2020

We present a comprehensive test of the relation between stellar and total masses in galaxies as predicted by popular models based on abundance matching (AM) techniques. We use the ‘Spectroscopy and H-band Imaging of Virgo cluster galaxies’ (SHIVir) survey with photometric and dynamical profiles for 190 Virgo cluster galaxies to establish a relation between the stellar and dynamical masses measured within the isophotal radius r23.5. Various dark matter and galaxy scaling relations are combined with results from the NIHAO (Numerical Investigation of Hundred Astrophysical Objects) suite of hydrodynamical simulations to recast AM predictions in terms of these observed quantities. Our results are quite insensitive to the exact choice of dark matter profile and halo response to baryon collapse. We find that theoretical models reproduce the slope and normalization of the observed stellar-to-halo mass relation (SHMR) over more than three orders of magnitude in stellar mass (108 < M*/M⊙ < 2 × 1011). However, the scatter of the observed SHMR exceeds that of AM predictions by a factor of ∼5. For systems with stellar masses exceeding 5 × 1010 M⊙, AM overpredicts the observed stellar masses for a given dynamical mass. The latter offset may support previous indications of a different stellar initial mass function in these massive galaxies. Overall, our results support the validity of AM predictions on a wide dynamical range.