bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optical and Morphological Properties of Electrodeposited Thin Films of ZnS
Authors: Madugu M.L. , Lawal Abdullahi , Ndahi H.M.
Published: May 2021

Zinc sulphide (ZnS) thin films were grown on glass/fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates using the simple and inexpensive electrodeposition technique. The deposition electrolytic bath was prepared from aqueous acidic solution of ZnSO4and (NH4)2S2O3. The work was carried out to investigate the optical and morphological properties of ZnS layers. The deposition temperature and the pH values were respectively 30°C and 1.50. It was observed that optical properties vary with variation in growth voltage. It was observed that bandgap decrease with increase in growth voltage since the higher the growth voltage, the higher the current density. As the deposition temperature in increased, the bandgap is seen to decrease. After annealing, the bandgaps are seen to increase and the absorption edges can be seen to have smoothened out. Increase in annealing temperature play a significant role in achieving desired results especially when it is meant for device application. As expected, the layer thickness is seen to increase with increase in deposition temperature.
Enhancement of the performance of ZnO based natural dye sensitized solar cells via PVA morphology controlled nanorods
Authors: Offiah S U , Agbo S N , Ezema C G , Ugwuoke P E , Ekwealor A B C , Agbogu A N C , Ezekoye B A , Ezema F I
Published: May 2021

ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized via low temperature hydrothermal synthesis procedures at 90 °C using zinc nitrate hexahydrate as the zinc oxide precursors and hexamethyleneamine as the precipitating agent. The structural, surface morphology and optical studies of the hydrothermally synthesized ZnO nanoparticles revealed that the synthesized products were nano-rods, grown in very high-density with well-crystalline wurtzite hexagonal phase and good optical properties. Ployvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used as surfactant to modify the surface features of the ZnO nanorods. The ZnO nano-rods were employed as photo-anode for dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) and were sensitized by natural dye extracted from Baphia nitida plant. The photovoltaic characteristics of the cell such as the short circuit current, open circuit voltage as well as the shunt and series resistances of the cell were studied. The incident photon to current conversion efficiency was also studied. The study revealed that the PVA improved the overall photo-conversion efficiency of the DSSC.
Perceived Role of Extension Education in Promoting the Use of Biogas for Sustainable Agricultural Development in Nigeria
Authors: Igwe N J , Ogwo U , Abbah O I
Published: May 2021

Biomass technology is a renewable energy source that is significantly used for cooking and heating, which when explored can reduce the use of fossil fuel. This study investigated the perceived role of extension education in promoting biomass technology for sustainable agriculture development in Nigeria. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. Data were collected from 268 registered members of All Nigeria Farmers Association, Nsukka; and 22 Agriculture extension agents in Nsukka Local Government Area. Researchers-designed questionnaire which was validated by three experts was used for data collection. Mean and standard deviation were used for data analysis. Findings showed that sensitization of farmers on acceptability of use of farm wastes for biogas production; dissemination of information on renewable energy techniques to the farmers and sensitization of farmers on use of farm wastes for biogas production are perceived roles of extension education in promoting the use of farm wastes for renewable energy. Other perceived roles reported by the respondents include motivation of farmers on issues of renewable energy and provision of energy management advice to the farmers. The researchers recommended that efforts should be made to create awareness among the farmers on the use of farm wastes for biogas for renewable energy.
Influence of Rim Angles and Heat flux Distribution Boundary on the Heat Transfer of an Absorber Tube for a Parabolic Trough Solar Collector
Authors: Francis Okafor I.
Published: May 2021

One of the most important solar concentrator among other concentrating collectors is the parabolic trough solar collector because of its successful application in solar electricity generation. This study investigated the influence of collector rim angles and non-uniform heat flux distribution boundaries on the inner heat transfer coefficients of an absorber tube for a parabolic trough solar collector. Laminar flow steady-state condition was considered where buoyancy effects were significant. Numerical simulation was conducted in ANSYS Fluent version 14.5. Sinusoidal non-uniform heat flux distributions boundary conditions were implemented via a user defined function in Fluent. It was established that the absorber tube-wall temperature rise with a rise in the collector rim angle and the circumferential span of non-uniform heat flux allocations limit. It was furthermore revealed that when buoyancy-driven secondary flow is present, the internal heat transfer coefficient increased more than twice advanced than the pure forced-convection case (i.e. no buoyancy effects), and representing heat transfer improvement due to secondary flow effects. Also, when buoyancy effects are present, the mean internal heat transfer coefficient improved as the heat flux intensity is increased, the collector rim direction and the circumferential span of the non-uniform heat flux distributions boundary. This study further discovered that the mean internal heat transfer coefficient became higher with a rise in the temperature of the absorber tube inlet flowing fluid.
Global regularity for solutions of the Navier–Stokes equation sufficiently close to being eigenfunctions of the Laplacian
Authors: Miller Evan
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we will prove a new, scale critical regularity criterion for solutions of the Navier–Stokes equation that are sufficiently close to being eigenfunctions of the Laplacian. This estimate improves previous regularity criteria requiring control on the

H
˙

α

\dot {H}^\alpha

norm of

u
,

u,

with

2
≤
α
>

5
2

,

2\leq \alpha >\frac {5}{2},

to a regularity criterion requiring control on the

H
˙

α

\dot {H}^\alpha

norm multiplied by the deficit in the interpolation inequality for the embedding of

H
˙

α
−
2

∩

H
˙

α

↪

H
˙

α
−
1

.

\dot {H}^{\alpha -2}\cap \dot {H}^{\alpha } \hookrightarrow \dot {H}^{\alpha -1}.

This regularity criterion suggests, at least heuristically, the possibility of some relationship between potential blowup solutions of the Navier–Stokes equation and the Kolmogorov-Obhukov spectrum in the theory of turbulence.
Tight junction protein ZO-2 modulates the nuclear accumulation of transcription factor TEAD
Authors: Gallego-Gutiérrez Helios , González-González Laura , Ramírez-Martínez Leticia , López-Bayghen Esther , González-Mariscal Lorenza
Published: May 2021

ZO-2 interaction with TEAD regulates TEAD movement in and out of the nucleus. nPKCδ blocks formation of ZO-2/TEAD complex. PKA blocks ZO-2 nuclear import. nPKCε activates a NES of ZO-2 and TEAD exportation in a complex with ZO-2 or alone.
An examination of sedation requirements and practices for mechanically ventilated critically ill patients with COVID-19
Authors: Balakrishna Aditi , Walsh Elisa C , Hamidi Arzo , Berg Sheri , Austin Daniel , Pino Richard M , Hanidziar Dusan , Chang Marvin G , Bittner Edward A
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Preliminary reports suggest that critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection requiring mechanical ventilation may have markedly increased sedation needs compared with critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients without COVID-19. We conducted a study to examine sedative use for this patient population within multiple intensive care units (ICUs) of a large academic medical center.

Methods

A retrospective, single-center cohort study of sedation practices for critically ill patients with COVID-19 during the first 10 days of mechanical ventilation was conducted in 8 ICUs at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. The study population was a sequential cohort of 86 critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19. Data characterizing the sedative medications, doses, drug combinations, and duration of administration were collected daily and compared to published recommendations for sedation of critically ill patients without COVID-19. The associations between drug doses, number of drugs administered, baseline patient characteristics, and inflammatory markers were investigated.

Results

Among the study cohort, propofol and hydromorphone were the most common initial drug combination, with these medications being used on a given day in up to 100% and 88% of patients, respectively. The doses of sedative and analgesic infusions increased for patients over the first 10 days, reaching or exceeding the upper limits of published dosage guidelines for propofol (48% of patients), dexmedetomidine (29%), midazolam (7.7%), ketamine (32%), and hydromorphone (38%). The number of sedative and analgesic agents simultaneously administered increased over time for each patient, with more than 50% of patients requiring 3 or more agents by day 2. Compared with patients requiring 3 or fewer agents, patients requiring more than 3 agents were of younger age, had an increased body mass index, had increased serum ferritin and lactate dehydrogenase concentrations, had a lower Pao2:Fio2 (ratio of arterial partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen), and were more likely to receive neuromuscular blockade.

Conclusion

Our study confirmed the clinical impression of elevated sedative use in critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 relative to guideline-recommended sedation practices in other critically ill populations.
ProtCHOIR: a tool for proteome-scale generation of homo-oligomers
Authors: Torres Pedro H M , Rossi Artur D , Blundell Tom L
Published: May 2021

The rapid developments in gene sequencing technologies achieved in the recent decades, along with the expansion of knowledge on the three-dimensional structures of proteins, have enabled the construction of proteome-scale databases of protein models such as the Genome3D and ModBase. Nevertheless, although gene products are usually expressed as individual polypeptide chains, most biological processes are associated with either transient or stable oligomerisation. In the PDB databank, for example, ~40% of the deposited structures contain at least one homo-oligomeric interface. Unfortunately, databases of protein models are generally devoid of multimeric structures. To tackle this particular issue, we have developed ProtCHOIR, a tool that is able to generate homo-oligomeric structures in an automated fashion, providing detailed information for the input protein and output complex. ProtCHOIR requires input of either a sequence or a protomeric structure that is queried against a pre-constructed local database of homo-oligomeric structures, then extensively analyzed using well-established tools such as PSI-Blast, MAFFT, PISA and Molprobity. Finally, MODELLER is employed to achieve the construction of the homo-oligomers. The output complex is thoroughly analyzed taking into account its stereochemical quality, interfacial stabilities, hydrophobicity and conservation profile. All these data are then summarized in a user-friendly HTML report that can be saved or printed as a PDF file. The software is easily parallelizable and also outputs a comma-separated file with summary statistics that can straightforwardly be concatenated as a spreadsheet-like document for large-scale data analyses. As a proof-of-concept, we built oligomeric models for the Mabellini Mycobacterium abscessus structural proteome database. ProtCHOIR can be run as a web-service and the code can be obtained free-of-charge at http://lmdm.biof.ufrj.br/protchoir.
Evolutionary, proteomic, and experimental investigations suggest the extracellular matrix of cumulus cells mediates fertilization outcomes†
Authors: Keeble Sara , Firman Renée C , Sarver Brice A J , Clark Nathan L , Simmons Leigh W , Dean Matthew D
Published: May 2021

Studies of fertilization biology often focus on sperm and egg interactions. However, before gametes interact, mammalian sperm must pass through the cumulus layer; in mice, this consists of several thousand cells tightly glued together with hyaluronic acid and other proteins. To better understand the role of cumulus cells and their extracellular matrix, we perform proteomic experiments on cumulus oophorus complexes (COCs) in house mice (Mus musculus), producing over 24,000 mass spectra to identify 711 proteins. Seven proteins known to stabilize hyaluronic acid and the extracellular matrix were especially abundant (using spectral counts as an indirect proxy for abundance). Through comparative evolutionary analyses, we show that three of these evolve rapidly, a classic signature of genes that influence fertilization rate. Some of the selected sites overlap regions of the protein known to impact function. In a follow-up experiment, we compared COCs from females raised in two different social environments. Female mice raised in the presence of multiple males produced COCs that were smaller and more resistant to dissociation by hyaluronidase compared to females raised in the presence of a single male, consistent with a previous study that demonstrated such females produced COCs that were more resistant to fertilization. Although cumulus cells are often thought of as enhancers of fertilization, our evolutionary, proteomic, and experimental investigations implicate their extracellular matrix as a potential mediator of fertilization outcomes.
Developing Reading Skills in Prelingually Deaf Preschool Children: Fingerspelling as a Strategy to Promote Orthographic Learning
Authors: Miller Paul , Banado-Aviran Efrat , Hetzroni Orit E
Published: May 2021

The aim of this study was to clarify whether fingerspelling provides a sophisticated mechanism that promotes the development of detailed orthographic knowledge for deaf individuals even in the absence of paralleling phonological knowledge. An intervention program comprised of various procedures chaining between fingerspelled sequences; their written correlates and meaning were administered in a multiple probe single-subject research design across semantic categories to four children with severe to profound prelingual hearing loss (age 4.2–6 years). Results demonstrate the occurrence of rapid orthographic learning during intervention and reliable retention of it in maintenance checks, despite the participants’ insufficiently developed phonological skills. Observations of the participants’ behavior further suggest fingerspelling to function as an effective mediator in the initial development of robust detailed orthographic lexicon. Analyzes also indicate that “learning through action” and “relevance to the task” provide two key factors in relation to the promotion of orthographic learning, with their absence creating an obvious vacuum in this regard. Insights from the study are discussed with reference to their implication for the development of learning materials and learning environments for prelingually deaf and other novice learners.
SATB2 Defect Promotes Colitis and Colitis-associated Colorectal Cancer by Impairing Cl-/HCO3- Exchange and Homeostasis of Gut Microbiota
Authors: Ni Hengli , Chen Yongyu , Xia Wei , Wang Chuyi , Hu Caihong , Sun Lina , Tang Wen , Cui Hongxia , Shen Tong , Liu Yao , Li Jianming
Published: May 2021

Background

SATB2 is a diagnostic biomarker and a favourable prognostic marker for colorectal cancer [CRC], but its role in colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer [CAC] is unknown.

Methods

Colitis was induced in intestinal epithelial-specific Satb2 knockout [Satb2 IEC-KO] and control mice using dextran sulphate sodium [DSS]. RNA-seq analysis was performed on colonic tissues, and 16S rDNA-Seq on faecal bacterial DNA from Satb2 IEC-KO and control mice. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry were performed to reveal the proportions of different immune cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation [ChIP] and luciferase reporter were applied to show the regulatory role of SATB2 on SLC26A3, of which the Cl-/HCO3- exchange activity was measured fluorometrically by the pHi-sensitive dye. Bacteroides were detected by fluorescence in situ hybridisation [FISH] on colonic tissue.

Results

Satb2 IEC-KO mice suffered from intestinal epithelial damage spontaneously, and developed more severe colitis and CAC. The expression of SLC26A3 correlated well with SATB2 revealed by RNA-seq and The Cancer Genome Atlas [TCGA] data, and was governed by SATB2 confirmed by ChIP and luciferase reporter experiments. Decreased intestinal flora diversity was seen in Satb2 IEC-KO mice. Bacteroides were more abundant and could colonise into the inner layer of colonic mucosa in Satb2 IEC-KO mice. Faecal microbiome transplantation from Satb2 IEC-KO mice aggravated colitis and M1 macrophages infiltration.

Conclusions

SATB2 plays a vital role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis, and its deficiency promotes the development of colitis and CAC by influencing the intestinal luminal environment and gut flora.
Weighted multichannel singular spectrum analysis for post-processing GRACE monthly gravity field models by considering the formal errors
Authors: Shen Yunzhong , Wang Fengwei , Chen Qiujie
Published: May 2021

Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) Spherical Harmonics (SH) solutions are usually provided together with the corresponding formal errors, however, all multichannel singular spectrum analysis (MSSA) approaches neglect the formal errors of SH coefficients in processing the GRACE time-series. In this contribution, we propose a weighted MSSA to directly process the incomplete time-series of GRACE monthly gravity models by taking the formal errors into account. A 14-yr time-series of Release 06 (RL06) monthly gravity field models from the Center for Space Research (CSR) truncated to degree and order 60 for the period April 2002 to August 2016 is analysed by weighted MSSA, the results are compared with those from the improved MSSA that directly processes the incomplete time-series without considering the formal errors. The first 10 principal components derived by using the weighted MSSA can capture the variance in total up to 82.05 per cent, higher than 80.19 per cent by the improved MSSA. All the fitting errors of GRACE SH coefficients by the weighted MSSA are smaller than those by the improved MSSA, which indicates that weighted MSSA can extract more geophysical signals than the improved MSSA approach. To evaluate the efficiency of the weighted MSSA to eliminate noise, the ratios of the latitude weighted RMS of signals over lands and oceans are computed. Based on all the available months of GRACE solutions, the mean RMS ratio of signals over lands relative to oceans derived by the weighted MSSA is 5.04, higher than 4.96 by the improved MSSA. Therefore, we can conclude that the proposed weighted MSSA can suppress noise more efficiently and extract more geophysical signals from the GRACE time-series, which highlights the necessity of considering formal errors and the effectiveness of the weighted MSSA in post-processing the GRACE monthly gravity field models.
Dancing in the Rain: How Do Abiotic Conditions Influence Sexually Selected Behaviors in the White-Ruffed Manakin?
Authors: Shogren Elsie H , Jones Megan A , Boyle W Alice
Published: May 2021

Synopsis

Tropical animals respond to rainfall in population-specific ways. In extremely wet regions, endotherms experience heavy rains as stressors with consequences for behavior and demography. Ultimately, such stressors can affect the relative strength of abiotic selection, reducing the scope for sexual selection, and other biotic sources of selection. We studied population-level differences in the response to rainfall of White-ruffed manakins (Corapipo altera) on the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica, a species having a lek mating system subject to strong sexual selection. Between 2008 and 2013, we studied reproductive behavior in a population inhabiting an extremely wet site; estimates of apparent survival were low, and the turnover of display courts and dominant males was high. Males also engaged in coordinated display, and sub-adult males practiced in the presence of adults. Over three breeding seasons (2017–2019), we studied a population of the same species at a site only 110 km away, but in a location receiving roughly half as much rain. We tested behavioral predictions of three alternative mechanisms—indirect abiotic effects, direct mortality effects, and direct behavioral effects—linking rainfall to sexual selection in these two populations. Data derived from over 4300 h of observations at 105 display sites revealed high interannual variation in nearly all response variables, including turnover of display sites, retention of alpha status, male display behavior, and time females spent assessing male display. Additionally, we detected spatial differences in drivers of display site turnover. Notably, age distribution of males was skewed toward older individuals at the drier location. Based on these findings, we infer that indirect abiotic effects on forest structure leading to display site transience and direct effects of mortality increasing turnover in the male population likely underlie links between rain and the spatial and temporal differences we documented. Our results are consistent with rain constituting an important source of abiotic selection for tropical endotherms and modulating the scope for sexual selection near the extremes of a species’ hygric niche.
Shared Gaze Visualizations in Collaborative Interactions: Past, Present and Future
Authors: D’Angelo Sarah , Schneider Bertrand
Published: May 2021

The past decade has witnessed a growing interest for using dual eye tracking to understand and support remote collaboration, especially with studies that have established the benefits of displaying gaze information for small groups. While this line of work is promising, we lack a consistent framework that researchers can use to organize and categorize studies on the effect of shared gaze on social interactions. There exists a wide variety of terminology and methods for describing attentional alignment; researchers have used diverse techniques for designing gaze visualizations. The settings studied range from real-time peer collaboration to asynchronous viewing of eye-tracking video of an expert providing explanations. There has not been a conscious effort to synthesize and understand how these different approaches, techniques and applications impact the effectiveness of shared gaze visualizations (SGVs). In this paper, we summarize the related literature and the benefits of SGVs for collaboration, describe important terminology as well as appropriate measures for the dual eye-tracking space and discuss promising directions for future research. As eye-tracking technology becomes more ubiquitous, there is pressing need to develop a consistent approach to evaluation and design of SGVs. The present paper makes a first and significant step in this direction.
Utilizing timestamps of longitudinal electronic health record data to classify clinical deterioration events
Authors: Fu Li-Heng , Knaplund Chris , Cato Kenrick , Perotte Adler , Kang Min-Jeoung , Dykes Patricia C , Albers David , Collins Rossetti Sarah
Published: May 2021

Objective

To propose an algorithm that utilizes only timestamps of longitudinal electronic health record data to classify clinical deterioration events.

Materials and methods

This retrospective study explores the efficacy of machine learning algorithms in classifying clinical deterioration events among patients in intensive care units using sequences of timestamps of vital sign measurements, flowsheets comments, order entries, and nursing notes. We design a data pipeline to partition events into discrete, regular time bins that we refer to as timesteps. Logistic regressions, random forest classifiers, and recurrent neural networks are trained on datasets of different length of timesteps, respectively, against a composite outcome of death, cardiac arrest, and Rapid Response Team calls. Then these models are validated on a holdout dataset.

Results

A total of 6720 intensive care unit encounters meet the criteria and the final dataset includes 830 578 timestamps. The gated recurrent unit model utilizes timestamps of vital signs, order entries, flowsheet comments, and nursing notes to achieve the best performance on the time-to-outcome dataset, with an area under the precision-recall curve of 0.101 (0.06, 0.137), a sensitivity of 0.443, and a positive predictive value of 0. 092 at the threshold of 0.6.

Discussion and Conclusion

This study demonstrates that our recurrent neural network models using only timestamps of longitudinal electronic health record data that reflect healthcare processes achieve well-performing discriminative power.
The influence of xylanase on the fermentability, digestibility, and physicochemical properties of insoluble corn-based fiber along the gastrointestinal tract of growing pigs
Authors: Petry Amy L , Huntley Nichole F , Bedford Michael R , Patience John F
Published: May 2021

In theory, supplementing xylanase in corn-based swine diets should improve nutrient and energy digestibility and fiber fermentability, but its efficacy is inconsistent. The experimental objective was to investigate the impact of xylanase on energy and nutrient digestibility, digesta viscosity, and fermentation when pigs are fed a diet high in insoluble fiber (>20% neutral detergent fiber; NDF) and given a 46-d dietary adaptation period. A total of 3 replicates of 20 growing gilts were blocked by initial body weight, individually housed, and assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments: a low-fiber control (LF) with 7.5% NDF, a 30% corn bran high-fiber control (HF; 21.9% NDF), HF + 100 mg xylanase/kg (HF + XY [Econase XT 25P; AB Vista, Marlborough, UK]) providing 16,000 birch xylan units/kg; and HF + 50 mg arabinoxylan-oligosaccharide (AXOS) product/kg (HF + AX [XOS 35A; Shandong Longlive Biotechnology, Shandong, China]) providing AXOS with 3–7 degrees of polymerization. Gilts were allowed ad libitum access to fed for 36-d. On d 36, pigs were housed in metabolism crates for a 10-d period, limit fed, and feces were collected. On d 46, pigs were euthanized and ileal, cecal, and colonic digesta were collected. Data were analyzed as a linear mixed model with block and replication as random effects, and treatment as a fixed effect. Compared with LF, HF reduced the apparent ileal digestibility (AID), apparent cecal digestibility (ACED), apparent colonic digestibility (ACOD), and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter (DM), gross energy (GE), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), NDF, and hemicellulose (P < 0.01). Relative to HF, HF + XY improved the AID of GE, CP, and NDF (P < 0.05), and improved the ACED, ACOD, and ATTD of DM, GE, CP, NDF, ADF, and hemicellulose (P < 0.05). Among treatments, pigs fed HF had increased hindgut DM disappearance (P = 0.031). Relative to HF, HF + XY improved cecal disappearance of DM (162 vs. 98 g; P = 0.008) and NDF (44 vs. 13 g; P < 0.01). Pigs fed xylanase had a greater proportion of acetate in cecal digesta and butyrate in colonic digesta among treatments (P < 0.05). Compared with LF, HF increased ileal, cecal, and colonic viscosity, but HF + XY decreased ileal viscosity compared with HF (P < 0.001). In conclusion, increased insoluble corn-based fiber decreases digestibility, reduces cecal fermentation, and increases digesta viscosity, but supplementing xylanase partially mitigated that effect.
Astacus multicavatus Bell, 1863 is a marine lobster (Decapoda: Erymoidea: Erymidae), not a freshwater crayfish
Authors: Devillez Julien , Kawai Tadashi , Audo Denis
Published: May 2021

Crayfishes comprise a large and diverse group of freshwater lobster-like crustaceans. Despite being abundant in the recent, they are extremely rare in the fossil record. We revise a putative occurrence of Astacus multicavatusBell, 1863 from the marine Hauterivian of Speeton Clay (Speeton, United Kingdom), which was used a few years ago as a calibration fossil representing AstacusFabricius, 1775 for divergence time analyses. This species is actually a senior synonym to Eryma sulcatumHarbort, 1905. It so appears that Eryma multicavatum (Bell, 1863) comb. nov. is not a freshwater crayfish but a marine representative of Erymidae. Two co-occurring isolated chelae, also from the Speeton Clay, may correspond to larger, older specimens of E. multicavatum comb. nov.
Using logging while drilling resistivity imaging data to quantitatively evaluate fracture aperture based on numerical simulation
Authors: Kang Zhengming , Li Xin , Ni Weining , Li Fei , Hao Xiao long
Published: May 2021

Fractured formations are strongly heterogenous, and thus exhibit a complex logging response mechanism. By using the logging while drilling (LWD) resistivity imaging tool, fractures can be visually identified and their aperture quantitatively calculated. Because physical fracture model simulation is time consuming and costly, we propose using a 3D finite element method (FEM) numerical simulation to interpret the LWD resistivity imaging tool logging responses in conjunction with a new aperture calculation model based on the forward model. First, we used the single fracture model to investigate the effect of fracture aperture and formation resistivity contrast on the maximum current contrast at the fracture. The results showed that the aperture is linearly related to the maximum current contrast, while the formation resistivity contrast exhibits a pronounced exponential relationship with the maximum current contrast. Both of these relationships are affected by the fracture's dip angle, so segmented fitting is required when the fracture dip angles differ. Next, using the forward model, we developed the fracture aperture calculation model based on the maximum current contrast. The aperture calculation model was established in three segments in accordance with the different fracture dips, and the influence factors affecting the fracture inverting inclination were analyzed using multi-fracture simulation images. Finally, the accuracy of the new model was verified with the simulated fracture images. The novel model for calculating fracture aperture is of great significance for processing and interpreting LWD resistivity imaging logging data.
Clinical benefits of vessel sealing system (LigaSure™) during surgery for soft tissue sarcoma: a propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Shimada Eijiro , Matsumoto Yoshihiro , Endo Makoto , Setsu Nokitaka , Fujiwara Toshifumi , Yahiro Kenichiro , Kimura Atsushi , Nakashima Yasuharu
Published: May 2021

Background

Soft tissue sarcomas arise in the deep sites of the buttocks and lower extremities. Since a tourniquet is not applied during surgery for soft tissue sarcomas at such sites, excessive intraoperative blood loss may occur. Various devices, including LigaSure™ (Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland), are used as electrothermal bipolar vessel sealers. However, its clinical relevance in soft tissue sarcomas surgery remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of LigaSure™ in soft tissue sarcomas surgery.

Methods

This study included 168 patients who underwent surgeries for soft tissue sarcomas in the deep sites in the buttocks and lower extremities between January 2004 and March 2018. The primary outcome was intraoperative blood loss, and secondary outcomes were surgery duration, wound complications, perioperative haemoglobin concentrations and intraoperative blood transfusion. To reduce selection biases, propensity score matching was applied. We defined the matched cases wherein LigaSure™ was used as the ‘using group’ and the other matched cases as the ‘non-using group’. Outcomes were compared between both groups.

Results

From each group, 35 cases were selected using propensity score matching. The intraoperative blood loss was significantly smaller statistically in the using group (181.5 ± 240.4 ml vs. 394.7 ± 547.3 ml, respectively; P = 0.041). The duration of operation was longer in the using group (189.9 ± 97.6 min vs. 140.6 ± 75.7 min, respectively; P = 0.007). There were no significant differences in other outcomes.

Conclusion

By using LigaSure™ for soft tissue sarcomas occurring in the buttocks and lower extremities, we observed a trade-off between reduced intraoperative blood loss and longer operative time.
Phenomenology of Illness and the Need for a More Comprehensive Approach: Lessons from a Discussion of Plato’sCharmides
Authors: Klausen Søren Harnow
Published: May 2021

Phenomenology informs a number of contemporary attempts to give more weight to the lived experience of patients and overcome the limitations of a one-sidedly biomedical understanding of illness. Susan Bredlau has recently presented a reading of Plato’s dialogue Charmides, which portrays Socrates as a pioneer of the phenomenological approach to illness. I use a critical discussion of Bredlau’s interpretation of the Charmides to show that the phenomenology of illness also has its shortcomings and needs to be complemented by still other approaches. While Bredlau does make a number of highly apt and relevant suggestions as to how a narrow biomedical approach to illness may be corrected, some (but not all) of which are related to phenomenology, the attribution to Plato’s Socrates of a phenomenological approach is mistaken. Characteristically, Socrates shows little interest in the personal experience of a patient. He is more concerned with the patient’s lifestyle and conduct and so suggests an alternative or complementary perspective, stressing the importance of education and prevention to health care.
Expanding Criteria for Prognostic Stage IA in Hormone Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer
Authors: Kantor Olga , King Tari A , Shak Steven , Russell Christy A , Giuliano Armando E , Hortobagyi Gabriel N , Burstein Harold J , Winer Eric P , Dey Tanujit , Sparano Joseph A , Mittendorf Elizabeth A
Published: May 2021

Background

The prognostic significance of patients with low-risk recurrence score (RS) results in the context of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) eighth edition pathologic prognostic staging has not been investigated. We evaluated if expanded RS criteria can be considered for downstaging in AJCC pathologic prognostic staging.

Methods

Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data, we identified patients with T1-3N0-3M0 hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative breast cancer treated from 2010 to 2015 with follow-up data through 2016. We evaluated TNM categories, grade, and RS result. The primary outcome measured was 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) of patients with low-risk RS results not already pathologic prognostic stage IA, determined by T and N categories per AJCC eighth edition. All statistical tests were 2-sided.

Results

Of 154 050 patients with median follow-up of 49 months (range = 0-83), RS results were obtained in 60 886 (39.5%): RS was less than 11 in 13 570 (22.3%); 11-17 in 22 719 (37.3%); 18-25 in 16 521 (27.1%); and 26 or higher in 8076 (13.3%). Five-year DSS for pathologic prognostic stage IA patients (n = 114 910, 74.6%) was 98.8%. Among N0-1 patients with a RS less than 18 not staged as pathologic prognostic stage IA by current criteria, 5-year DSS was excellent and not statistically significantly different than for pathologic prognostic stage IA patients (97.2%-99.7%; P > .05). For those with a RS of 18-25, there was a small decrease in DSS for T2N0 (2.3%) and modest decrease for T1-2N1 (4.2%-6.4%) compared with pathologic prognostic stage IA patients (P < .001).

Conclusion

Patients with a RS less than 18 have excellent 5-year DSS regardless of T category for N0-1 disease suggesting further modification of the AJCC staging system using this cutoff.
Vegetation context modifies selection on flowering start and plant height in an orchid perennial herb
Authors: Wu Yun , Duan Xu-Yu , Liu Guang-Li , Xiang Yong , Shu Bo , Li Qing-Jun
Published: May 2021

Aims

Identifying the potential role of vegetation context (defined as the density, species identity/diversity and height of co-occurring plants) in modifying selection on floral traits is a critical step for clarifying and predicting the floral evolutionary trajectory in complex co-flowering species competition environments. It is also helpful to understand the variation in pollinator-mediated selection.

Methods

We experimentally reduced vegetation height around individual plants of Spiranthes sinensis (a bumblebee-pollinated perennial orchid herb) and estimated how vegetation context modified selection on four floral traits (flowering start, plant height, corolla size and number of flowers) through female function and pollen removal over two continuous years. We randomly selected independent plants in each year.

Important Findings

We demonstrated that vegetation context modified selection for earlier flowering start and shorter plant height of S. sinensis. The strength of selection differed between years. In addition, selection was stronger through female function than through pollen removal. Our findings indicate the potential role of vegetation context in shaping the differentiation and diversification of flowers in angiosperms.
UK Central Banking and Financial Stability
Authors: Morton Guy , Marsh Andrew
Published: May 2021

This chapter talks about the Bank of England as the UK's central bank, which was established in 1694 by a Charter granted by King William III and Queen Mary II under the authority of an Act of Parliament. It explains the principal object of the Act in creating the Bank as a vehicle for raising money for the government. It also discusses how the Bank was closely associated with the raising and management of the national debt since its inception, which is a function that the Bank retained until the creation of the UK Debt Management Office (DMO) in 1998. This chapter highlights how the Bank raised money by issuing of banknotes, which became widely used as a convenient means of making large—value payments. It points out that the Bank of England notes were not formally legal tender until 1833.
The Architecture of International Financial Regulation
Authors: Hüpkes Eva
Published: May 2021

This chapter examines the term “international financial architecture”, which is of fairly recent origin and has been used only occasionally prior to the Asian crisis. It explains how international financial architecture provides a somewhat misleading impression of the nature of the process by which the institutions and policies that shape the global financial system came into being. It also describes international financial architecture as more of the outcome of an evolutionary process than the product of intelligent design. This chapter highlights changes in the international financial and monetary systems and in the arrangements for providing meaningful and cohesive oversight in response to changes in the world economy and in the political environment. It also analyses the development of a body of normative texts referred to as international financial regulation.
Global Custody
Authors: Yates Madeleine
Published: May 2021

This chapter draws attention to the service of custody, which in the context of the financial markets, is generally understood as an arrangement in which one entity agrees to hold securities on behalf of a custody client. It reviews the intention of custody, which is for the custody client to remain the owner of the securities and that the securities remain on the custody client's balance sheet. It also describes the service of custody in the matter of English law, in which securities may be held by a custodian as bailee or trustee and will not be available to creditors of the custodian. This chapter talks about the custody aspect of the services provided by Clearstream and Euroclear that falls under the Luxembourg law and Belgian law, respectively. It also mentions the escrow arrangement, in which the escrow agent may hold securities on behalf of one or both parties to the escrow agreement.
US Equity Market Structure
Authors: Pittman Edward L , Kramer Howard L
Published: May 2021

This chapter provides an overview of the laws applicable to the markets and regulated market participants in the US. It recounts how US securities markets have evolved significantly over time due to advancements in technology and intervening efforts by lawmakers and securities regulators. It also notes the current US system of securities regulation, which was formulated in the early 1930s by the US Congress in an attempt to restore confidence in the financial system following a market collapse, bank failures, and widespread scandals. This chapter looks at the laws that directly affect the day—to—day operations of securities exchanges and equity markets in the US and are enforced by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It also mentions the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) as the principal law that governs the US equity markets.
Hong Kong Markets and Exchanges
Authors: Arner Douglas W , Gibson Evan C , Hsu Berry F C
Published: May 2021

This chapter describes the main elements of the current financial sector activity in Hong Kong and the conditions under which they function. It highlights Hong Kong's financial markets and economy that have suffered an economic downturn following the 2019 protests and sustained by the Covid—19 pandemic. It also mentions how Hong Kong implements the principal standards and reforms adopted at the international level, particularly in relation to the resolution of Global Systemically Important Financial Institutions (G—SIFIs). This chapter provides an overview of the monetary, banking, equity, debt, insurance, and derivatives markets in Hong Kong. It talks about Hong Kong's de facto constitution, the Basic Law, which aids the economy in maintaining its capitalist system for fifty years from 1 July 1997.
Australia
Authors: Marshall Brooke
Published: May 2021

This chapter analyses the common law choice-of-law rules that determine the law applicable to international and intra-national commercial contracts in Australia. It compares those rules with the Hague Principles and evaluates the extent to which the Principles offer an improvement. The chapter demonstrates that Australia’s core choice-of-law rule for contract, which gives effect to the parties’ choices, is well-established. However, its ‘modal choice of law rules’ and rules that determine the scope of application of the chosen law are incomplete and, in several respects, ambiguous. Adoption of the Principles’ approach to assignment and renvoi, in particular, would redress significant uncertainties in the current law. The Australian Commonwealth government’s 2016 proposal to implement the Principles, via legislation, has since stagnated. It follows that incremental judicial development of the common law, by reference to some of the Principles’ solutions, is the most realistic prospect in the medium term.
Nova LMC 2009a as observed with XMM–Newton, compared with other novae
Authors: Orio Marina , Dobrotka Andrej , Pinto Ciro , Henze Martin , Ness Jan-Uwe , Ospina Nataly , Pei Songpeng , Behar Ehud , Bode Michael F , Her Sou , Hernanz Margarita , Sala Gloria
Published: May 2021

We examine four high-resolution reflection grating spectrometers (RGS) spectra of the February 2009 outburst of the luminous recurrent nova LMC 2009a. They were very complex and rich in intricate absorption and emission features. The continuum was consistent with a dominant component originating in the atmosphere of a shell burning white dwarf (WD) with peak effective temperature between 810 000 K and a million K, and mass in the 1.2–1.4 M⊙ range. A moderate blue shift of the absorption features of a few hundred km s−1 can be explained with a residual nova wind depleting the WD surface at a rate of about 10−8 M⊙ yr−1. The emission spectrum seems to be due to both photoionization and shock ionization in the ejecta. The supersoft X-ray flux was irregularly variable on time-scales of hours, with decreasing amplitude of the variability. We find that both the period and the amplitude of another, already known 33.3-s modulation varied within time-scales of hours. We compared N LMC 2009a with other Magellanic Clouds novae, including four serendipitously discovered as supersoft X-ray sources (SSS) among 13 observed within 16 yr after the eruption. The new detected targets were much less luminous than expected: we suggest that they were partially obscured by the accretion disc. Lack of SSS detections in the Magellanic Clouds novae more than 5.5 yr after the eruption constrains the average duration of the nuclear burning phase.
Rovibrationally resolved direct photodissociation of MgO
Authors: Bai Tianrui , Qin Zhi , Liu Linhua
Published: May 2021

The photodissociation process of magnesium oxide (MgO) may be a main source of the magnesium atom in planetary exospheres due to the impact events on planets. In this work, we calculated the state-resolved cross-sections of the photodissociation of MgO for the transitions from the full range of rovibrational levels of the X1Σ+ and a3Π states, where the photon wavelength ranged from 50 to 5000 nm. The applications of the state-resolved cross-sections to the local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) conditions were also investigated for the temperatures ranging from 500 to 10 000 K. Based on the calculated LTE cross-sections, the photodissociation rates in the interstellar, solar, and blackbody radiation fields were obtained as well. The rates in all studied radiation fields increase with the temperature increasing and are dominated by the e3Σ− ← a3Π and F1Π ← X1Σ+ transitions. The knowledge of the photodissociation cross-sections and rates of MgO plays a key role in the investigations of the chemical behaviour of the alkaline-earth element Mg in planetary exospheres, atmospheres of cool stars, and envelopes of evolved stars.
Connecting steady emission and very high energy flaring states in blazars: the case of Mrk 421
Authors: Dmytriiev A , Sol H , Zech A
Published: May 2021

Various attempts have been made in the literature at describing the origin and the physical mechanisms behind flaring events in blazars with radiative emission models, but detailed properties of multiwavelength (MWL) light curves still remain difficult to reproduce. We have developed a versatile radiative code, based on a time-dependent treatment of particle acceleration, escape, and radiative cooling, allowing us to test different scenarios to connect the continuous low-state emission self-consistently with that during flaring states. We consider flares as weak perturbations of the quiescent state and apply this description to the 2010 February MWL flare of Mrk 421, the brightest very high energy (VHE) flare ever detected from this archetypal blazar, focusing on interpretations with a minimum number of free parameters. A general criterion is obtained, which disfavours a one-zone model connecting low and high state under our assumptions. A two-zone model combining physically connected acceleration and emission regions yields a satisfactory interpretation of the available time-dependent MWL light curves and spectra of Mrk 421, although certain details remain difficult to reproduce. The two-zone scenario finally proposed for the complex quiescent and flaring VHE emitting region involves both Fermi-I and Fermi-II acceleration mechanisms, respectively, at the origin of the quiescent and flaring emission.