bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trajectory of a Liquid Jet in a High Temperature and Pressure Gaseous Cross Flow
Authors: Amighi Amirreza , Ashgriz Nasser
Published: February 2019

An experimental study of liquid jet injection into subsonic air crossflow is presented. The aim of this study was to relate the jet trajectory to flow parameters, including jet and air velocities, pressure and temperature, as well as a set of nondimensional variables. For this purpose, an experimental setup was developed, which could withstand high temperatures and pressures. Images were captured using a laser-based shadowgraphy system. A total of 209 different conditions were tested and over 72,000 images were captured and processed. The crossflow air temperatures were 25 °C, 200 °C, and 300 °C; absolute crossflow air pressures were 2.1, 3.8, and 5.2 bars, and various liquid and gas velocities were tested for each given temperature and pressure. The results indicate that the trajectory and atomization change when the air and jet velocities are changed while keeping the momentum flux ratio constant. Therefore, it is beneficial to describe the trajectory based on air and jet Weber numbers or momentum flux ratio in combination with one of the Weber numbers. Also, examples are given where both Weber numbers are kept constant but the atomization is changed, and therefore, other terms beyond inertia terms are required to describe the spray behavior. It is also shown that the gas viscosity has to be considered when developing correlations. The correlations that include this term are generally better in predicting the trajectory. Therefore, Ohnesorge numbers in combination with the Weber numbers is used in the present correlations to describe the trajectories.
The Staged Thermal Conversion of Sewage Sludge in the Presence of Oxygen
Authors: Pawlak-Kruczek Halina , Wnukowski Mateusz , Krochmalny Krystian , Kowal Mateusz , Baranowski Marcin , Zgóra Jacek , Czerep Michał , Ostrycharczyk Michał , Niedzwiecki Lukasz
Published: February 2019

This study compares a staged thermal processing of the sewage sludge, with single step, integrated thermal processing. The aim of this study is to find the optimal conditions for drying and subsequently for carbonization/torrefaction of sewage sludge, regarding the energy consumption. This study presents the results of the drying tests performed at laboratory scale convective dryer for different parameters of drying agent (air). The tests were focused on finding and developing a method of drying that allows to minimize the energy consumption. Subsequently, both dry and vapothermal torrefaction was performed in the presence of oxygen. The kinetics of drying, using low quality heat as well as the properties of products and by-products of torrefaction in both regimes were determined. The process was characterized by mass yield and energy yield in both of the cases. There has been only scarce amount of literature studies published on the torrefaction of sewage sludge so far, without a detailed study of the composition of the torgas and tars of such origin. Performed study enables a comparison of two distinct scenarios of the processing, i.e., drying followed by dry torrefaction with a single stage of vapothermal torrefaction.
Effect of Heat Treatment on the Combustion Characteristics of a Lignite
Authors: Zhang Zhezi , Zhu Mingming , Li Jianbo , Zhang Kai , Shen Guoqing , Xu Gang , Li Xianchun , Zhang Dongke
Published: February 2019

In this study, the ignition and combustion behavior of raw and heat-treated single particles of lignite were experimentally investigated, with a focus on the effect of heat treatment temperatures. The lignite particles were heat treated to various final temperatures (473, 623 and 773 K) in nitrogen and characterized using proximate, ultimate, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. A single lignite particle of 2 or 3 mm in diameter was suspended on a silicon carbide fiber and burned in air in a horizontal tube furnace operating at 1123 K. The ignition and combustion process of the particle was record using a color CCD camera at 25 fps. The ignition mechanism, ignition delay time, volatile flame duration, and burnout time of the single particles were examined by processing the recorded images. The proximate and ultimate analysis results indicated that the volatile matter and oxygen contents decreased, while the carbon content increased with increasing temperature of heat treatment. This trend was consistent with observations in the FTIR analysis, in which the intensity of oxygen-containing functional groups decreased with increasing the heat treatment temperature. The ignition of raw and heat treated lignite particles followed a joint hetero-homogeneous mechanism under all conditions studied. The ignition delay time, volatile flame extinction time, and the total combustion time decreased with increasing heat treatment temperature up to 623 K. A further increase in the heat treatment temperature to 773 K resulted in prolonged key ignition and combustion characteristic times.
Numerical Investigation of Auto-Ignition Characteristics in Microstructured Catalytic Honeycomb Reactor for CH4–Air and CH4–H2–Air Mixtures
Authors: Kayed H. , Mohamed A. , Yehia M. , Nemitallah M. A. , Habib M. A.
Published: February 2019

Stable ranges of auto-ignition for the microcombustion of CH4 and CH4–H2 mixtures are identified numerically in a platinum-coated microcatalytic honeycomb reactor. Steady and transient simulations under pseudo-auto-thermal conditions were performed to investigate the coupling phenomenon between combustion and heat transfer in such microburner using ANSYS 17.2 coupled with a detailed chemkin reaction mechanism. The model was validated utilizing the available data in the literature on a similar microreactor, and the results showed good agreements. A certain amount of heat is furnished from outside at constant temperature from an external electric furnace to investigate the variations of localized self-ignition temperature while changing the flow rate and mixture strength. It was found that the ignition temperature for CH4–air mixtures is not affected by the mass flow rate. However, the ignition temperature of CH4–H2 air mixtures decreases while increasing the flow rate. The effect of equivalence ratio was studied to demonstrate the variations of flammability limits of the present microreactor. The equivalence ratio required for auto-ignition of CH4–air mixtures was found to be in the range from 0.4 up to 0.85 at a flow rate of 9.5 g/s. The reaction front moved from upstream to downstream under transient conditions matching with the reported experimental behavior in the literature.
E-beam lithography using dry powder resist of hydrogen silsesquioxane having long shelf life
Authors: Shen Jiashi , Aydinoglu Ferhat , Soltani Mohammad , Cui Bo
Published: February 2019

Hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ) is arguably the most popular negative e-beam resist for academic research. One of the most significant advantages of HSQ is its ultrahigh resolution. However, it has a short shelf life, which increases its cost. As an alternative, a new type of dry powder HSQ resist resin (Applied Quantum Materials, referred to as AQM) was introduced here, the shelf life of which can be considered as infinitely long. A small amount of the powder can be dissolved in a solvent as needed right before exposure. Furthermore, this powder HSQ resist has a similar resolution and sensitivity parameters. By using the high-contrast development process with a salty developer, a 7.5 nm half-pitch nested “L” shape structure is achieved.
Dialect variation in formant dynamics: The acoustics of lateral and vowel sequences in Manchester and Liverpool English
Authors: Kirkham Sam , Nance Claire , Littlewood Bethany , Lightfoot Kate , Groarke Eve
Published: February 2019

This study analyses the time-varying acoustics of laterals and their adjacent vowels in Manchester and Liverpool English. Generalized additive mixed-models (GAMMs) are used for quantifying time-varying formant data, which allows the modelling of non-linearities in acoustic time series while simultaneously modelling speaker and word level variability in the data. These models are compared to single time-point analyses of lateral and vowel targets in order to determine what analysing formant dynamics can tell about dialect variation in speech acoustics. The results show that lateral targets exhibit robust differences between some positional contexts and also between dialects, with smaller differences present in vowel targets. The time-varying analysis shows that dialect differences frequently occur globally across the lateral and adjacent vowels. These results suggest a complex relationship between lateral and vowel targets and their coarticulatory dynamics, which problematizes straightforward claims about the realization of laterals and their adjacent vowels. These findings are further discussed in terms of hypotheses about positional and sociophonetic variation. In doing so, the utility of GAMMs for analysing time-varying multi-segmental acoustic signals is demonstrated, and the significance of the results for accounts of English lateral typology is highlighted.
Effects of added absorption on the vocal exertions of talkers in a reverberant room
Authors: Rollins Michael K. , Leishman Timothy W. , Whiting Jennifer K. , Hunter Eric J. , Eggett Dennis L.
Published: February 2019

Occupational speech users such as schoolteachers develop voice disorders at higher rates than the general population. Previous research has suggested that room acoustics may influence these trends. The research reported in this paper utilized varying acoustical conditions in a reverberant room to assess the effects on vocal parameters of healthy talkers. Thirty-two participants were recorded while completing a battery of speech tasks under eight room conditions. Vocal parameters were derived from the recordings and the statistically significant effects of room acoustics were verified using mixed-model analysis of variance tests. Changes in reverberation time (T20), early decay time (EDT), clarity index (C50), speech transmission index (STI), and room gain (GRG) all showed highly correlated effects on certain vocal parameters, including speaking level standard deviation, speaking rate, and the acoustic vocal quality index. As T20, EDT, and GRG increased, and as C50 and STI decreased, vocal parameters showed tendencies toward dysphonic phonation. Empirically derived equations are proposed that describe the relationships between select room-acoustic parameters and vocal parameters. This study provides an increased understanding of the impact of room acoustics on voice production, which could assist acousticians in improving room designs to help mitigate unhealthy vocal exertion and, by extension, voice problems.
Scattering statistics of rock outcrops: Model-data comparisons and Bayesian inference using mixture distributions
Authors: Olson Derek R. , Lyons Anthony P. , Abraham Douglas A. , Sæbø Torstein O.
Published: February 2019

The probability density function of the acoustic field amplitude scattered by the seafloor was measured in a rocky environment off the coast of Norway using a synthetic aperture sonar system, and is reported here in terms of the probability of false alarm. Interpretation of the measurements focused on finding the appropriate class of statistical models (single versus two-component mixture models), and on appropriate models within these two classes. It was found that two-component mixture models performed better than single models. The two mixture models that performed the best (and had a basis in the physics of scattering) were a mixture between two K distributions, and a mixture between a Rayleigh and generalized Pareto distribution. Bayes' theorem was used to estimate the probability density function of the mixture model parameters. It was found that the K-K mixture exhibits a significant correlation between its parameters. The mixture between the Rayleigh and generalized Pareto distributions also had a significant parameter correlation, but also contained multiple modes. It is concluded that the mixture between two K distributions is the most applicable to this dataset.
Pre-post Evaluation of the “Supporting Student-Athlete Mental Wellness” Module for College Coaches
Authors: Kroshus Emily , Wagner Jessica , Wyrick David L. , Hainline Brian
Published: February 2019

This study sought to determine whether completion of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s “Supporting Student-Athlete Mental Wellness” online module for coaches increased mental health literacy, reduced stigma, and increased intentions to: 1) communicate proactively with team members about the importance of mental health care seeking, and 2) respond appropriately to support an athlete believed to be struggling with a mental health issue. College head coaches completed pre-test surveys (n = 969) and immediate post-test surveys (n = 347, completion rate = 36%). Module completion was associated with increased mental health literacy, decreased stigma about help seeking and increased intentions to engage in culture setting communication. These findings suggest that the online module is a good start for coach education about mental health; however, additional modifications may be warranted to the extent coach referral to sports medicine staff or provision of emotional support to student-athletes struggling with mental health concerns are considered desired behaviors.
Prevalence of Hamstring Strain Injury Risk Factors in Professional and Under-20 Male Football (Soccer) Players
Authors: Ribeiro-Alvares João Breno , Dornelles Maurício Pinto , Fritsch Carolina Gassen , de Lima-e-Silva Felipe Xavier , Medeiros Thales Menezes , Severo-Silveira Lucas , Marques Vanessa Bernardes , Baroni Bruno Manfredini
Published: February 2019

Context: Hamstring strain injury (HSI) is the most prevalent injury in football (soccer), and a few intrinsic factors have been associated with higher injury rates. Objective: To describe the prevalence of the main intrinsic risk factors for HSI in professional and under-20 football players. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Physiotherapy laboratory, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (Brazil). Participants: A total of 101 football players (52 professional and 49 under-20 players). Intervention: An evidence-based testing protocol for screening HSI risk factors. Main Outcome Measures: Anamnesis, ultrasonography of the hamstrings, passive straight-leg raise test, Functional Movement Screen, and isokinetic dynamometry were performed. Eleven HSI risk factors for each leg were assessed, besides the player’s age as a systemic risk factor. Reports were delivered to the coaching staff. Results: Professionals had greater prevalence of HSI history compared with under-20 players (40% vs 18%). No between-group differences were found for the other screening tests. Altogether, 30% of players had already sustained at least one HSI; 58% had a history of injuries in adjacent regions; 49% had short biceps femoris fascicles; 66% and 21% had poor passive and active flexibility, respectively; 42% and 29% had deficits in functional movements and core stability, respectively; 7% and 26% presented bilateral imbalance for hamstring concentric and eccentric strength, respectively; 87% and 94% obtained low values for hamstring-to-quadriceps conventional and functional ratios, respectively. Two-thirds of players had 3 to 5 risk factors per leg. None of the players was fully free of HSI risk factors. Conclusion: Most football players present multiple risk factors for sustaining an HSI. Hamstring weakness is the most prevalent risk factor, but the teams should also be aware of deficits in flexibility, core stability, functional movements, and hamstring fascicle length.
A 20th-Century Narrative on the Origins of the Physical Literacy Construct
Authors: Cairney John , Kiez Tia , Roetert E. Paul , Kriellaars Dean
Published: February 2019

While it is commonly thought that physical literacy is an early 21st-century construct and is often credited to Margaret Whitehead, in fact, the term physical literacy can be traced back to the late 1800s. In this narrative, the authors review descriptions of physical literacy that appeared in the late 19th and early to mid-20th century literature and show how physical literacy is historically tied to the reoccurring contextual issue of threats to active lifestyles and how definitional components of the construct have both remained consistent, while others changed over the course of the century. They conclude by discussing some tensions that have arisen with the Whiteheadian construction of the term, as well as the conflation of the term with fitness or physical education. In doing so, the authors hope to open up greater discussion of the multidisciplinary potential of this construct.
Motivational Climate in Physical Education, Achievement Motivation, and Physical Activity: A Latent Interaction Model
Authors: Girard Stéphanie , St-Amand Jérôme , Chouinard Roch
Published: February 2019

Purpose: To assess if high school students’ leisure-time physical activity is predicted by their perception of the motivational climate, their perceived competence, and their achievement goals in physical education (PE) and if these variables interact with each other.Methods: A sample of 843 high school students completed self-reported questionnaires in the middle and at the end of the school year. The data were analyzed by structural equation modeling and latent moderated structural equations.Results: Leisure-time physical activity was positively predicted by students’ performance-approach goals and perceived competence in PE and by the interaction between their perceived competence and their adoption of mastery goals.Discussion/Conclusion: Only individual variables in PE were related to leisure-time physical activity. The significant interaction effect between students’ mastery goals and perceived competence in PE suggests that teachers need to foster students’ perceptions of competence. The authors therefore discuss the scope of the results with regard to pedagogical practices.
Development and Validation of the Teacher RISE Support Scale in Physical Education
Authors: Hsu Wei-Ting , Pan Min
Published: February 2019

Purpose: To develop a measure of student-perceived teacher relation-inferred self-efficacy (RISE) support in physical education in terms of the Teacher RISE Support Scale, through a series of three studies.Methods: In Studies 1 and 2, interviews, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted to develop a conceptually sound and psychometrically robust measure for teachers’ RISE-supporting behaviors. In Study 3, the authors examined the concurrent validity of teachers’ RISE support construct in relation to students’ RISE and relevant student outcomes.Results: The three-factor, second-order structure of the Teacher RISE Support Scale was confirmed, with results supporting construct validity and providing evidence of factorial, convergent, and discriminant validity. Furthermore, structural equation modeling supported concurrent validity, showing that students’ perceptions of teacher RISE support correlated positively with RISE and responsibility.Conclusions: Overall, the results provide preliminary evidence for the reliability and validity of the Teacher RISE Support Scale as a measurement for teacher RISE-supporting behaviors in physical education.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis: Pathophysiology, Epidemiology, Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Management
Authors: Galar Alicia , Weil Ana A. , Dudzinski David M. , Muñoz Patricia , Siedner Mark J.
Published: February 2019

Staphylococcus aureus
prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) remains among the most morbid bacterial infections, with mortality estimates ranging from 40% to 80%. The proportion of PVE cases due to methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) has grown in recent decades, to account for more than 15% of cases of
S. aureus
PVE and 6% of all cases of PVE.
The KupA and KupB Proteins of
Lactococcus lactis
IL1403 Are Novel c-di-AMP Receptor Proteins Responsible for Potassium Uptake
Authors: Quintana Ingrid M. , Gibhardt Johannes , Turdiev Asan , Hammer Elke , Commichau Fabian M. , Lee Vincent T. , Magni Christian , Stülke Jörg
Published: February 2019

Potassium is an essential ion in every living cell. Even though potassium is the most abundant cation in cells, its accumulation can be toxic. Therefore, the level of potassium has to be tightly controlled. In many Gram-positive bacteria, the second messenger cyclic di-AMP plays a key role in the control of potassium homeostasis by binding to potassium transporters and regulatory proteins and RNA molecules. In the lactic acid bacterium
Lactococcus lactis
, none of these conserved c-di-AMP-responsive molecules are present. In this study, we demonstrate that the KupA and KupB proteins of
L. lactis
IL1403 are high-affinity potassium transporters and that their transport activity is inhibited by the second messenger c-di-AMP.
The US11 Gene of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Promotes Neuroinvasion and Periocular Replication following Corneal Infection
Authors: Charron Audra J. , Ward Stephen L. , North Brian J. , Ceron Stacey , Leib David A.
Published: February 2019

Alphaherpesviruses are ubiquitous DNA viruses and include the human pathogens herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 and are significant causes of ulcerative mucosal sores, infectious blindness, encephalitis, and devastating neonatal disease. Successful primary infection and persistent coexistence with host immune defenses are dependent on the ability of these viruses to counter the antiviral response. HSV-1 and HSV-2 and other primate viruses within the
Simplexvirus
genus encode US11, an immune antagonist that promotes virus production by preventing shutdown of protein translation. Here we investigated the impact of US11 deletion on HSV-1 growth
in vitro
and pathogenesis
in vivo
. This work supports a role for US11 in pathogenesis and emergence from latency, elucidating immunomodulation by this medically important cohort of viruses.
A Controlled Human Infection Model of Group A
Streptococcus
Pharyngitis: Which Strain and Why?
Authors: Osowicki Joshua , Azzopardi Kristy I. , McIntyre Liam , Rivera-Hernandez Tania , Ong Cheryl-lynn Y. , Baker Ciara , Gillen Christine M. , Walker Mark J. , Smeesters Pierre R. , Davies Mark R. , Steer Andrew C.
Published: February 2019

GAS (
Streptococcus pyogenes
) is a leading global cause of infection-related morbidity and mortality. A modern CHIM of GAS pharyngitis could help to accelerate vaccine development and drive pathogenesis research. Challenge strain selection is critical to the safety and success of any CHIM and especially so for an organism such as GAS, with its wide strain diversity and potential to cause severe life-threatening acute infections (e.g., toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis) and postinfectious complications (e.g., acute rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease, and acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis). In this paper, we outline the rationale for selecting an
emm
75 strain for initial use in a GAS pharyngitis CHIM in healthy adult volunteers, drawing on the findings of a broad characterization effort spanning molecular epidemiology,
in vitro
assays, whole-genome sequencing, and animal model studies.
Identification of Recessive Lethal Alleles in the Diploid Genome of a Candida albicans Laboratory Strain Unveils a Potential Role of Repetitive Sequences in Buffering Their Deleterious Impact
Authors: Marton Timea , Feri Adeline , Commere Pierre-Henri , Maufrais Corinne , d’Enfert Christophe , Legrand Melanie
Published: February 2019

Candida albicans
is a major fungal pathogen, whose mode of reproduction is mainly clonal. Its genome is highly tolerant to rearrangements, in particular loss of heterozygosity events, known to unmask recessive lethal and deleterious alleles in heterozygous diploid organisms such as
C. albicans
. By combining a site-specific DSB-inducing system and mining genome sequencing data of 182 
C. albicans
isolates, we were able to ascribe the chromosome 7 homozygosis bias of the
C. albicans
laboratory strain SC5314 to an heterozygous SNP introducing a premature STOP codon in the
MTR4
gene. We have also proposed genome-wide candidates for new recessive lethal alleles. We additionally observed that the major repeat sequences (MRS) on chromosome 7 acted as hot spots for interhomolog recombination. Maintaining MRS in
C. albicans
could favor haplotype exchange, of vital importance to LOH events, leading to homozygosis of recessive lethal or deleterious alleles that inevitably accumulate upon clonality.
Risk factors associated with myopia in schoolchildren in Ireland
Authors: Harrington Siofra Christine , Stack Jim , O'Dwyer Veronica
Published: February 2019

Aim

To examine the demographic and social factors associated with myopia in schoolchildren in Ireland.

Methods

Thirty-seven schools participated, representing a mix of urban and rural schools and schools in socioeconomically disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged areas in Ireland. Examination included cyclopleged autorefraction (1% cyclopentolate hydrochloride). Height and weight of participants were measured. Parents filled in a participant’s lifestyle questionnaire, including questions on daily screen time use and daylight exposure. Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent ≤−0.50 D.

Results

Data from 1626 participants (881 boys, 745 girls) in two age groups, 6–7 years (728) and 12–13 years (898), were examined. Myopia prevalence was significantly higher in children aged 12–13 years old (OR=7.7, 95%CI 5.1 to 11.6, p<0.001) and significantly associated with non-white ethnicity (OR=3.7, 95% CI 2.5 to 5.3, p<0.001). Controlling for age group and ethnicity, myopia prevalence was also significantly linked with height (p<0.001) and higher in participants in the following groups: using screens >3 hours per day (OR=3.7, 95% CI 2.1 to 6.3, p<0.001), obesity (OR=2.7, 95% CI 1.9 to 3.9, p<0.001), sedentary lifestyle (OR=2.9, 95% CI 1.9 to 4.4, p<0.001), frequently reading/writing (OR=2.2, 95% CI 1.4 to 3.5, p=0.001), less daylight exposure during summer time (OR=5.00, 95% CI 2.4 to 10.3, p<0.001), spring season births (OR=1.9, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.3, p=0.02), paternal history of myopia (OR=2.4, 95% CI 1.8 to 3.3, p<0.001) and bottle fed for the first three months of life (OR=1.7, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.5, p=0.02).

Conclusions

The associations found between myopia prevalence in schoolchildren in Ireland and demographic and lifestyle factors suggest that longitudinal research investigating the associations between myopia prevalence and these factors may be beneficial in advising preventative public health programmes.
Iris colour and astigmatism among Chinese teenagers
Authors: Pan Chen-Wei , Ke Chaofu , Hu Dan-Ning , Li Jun , Zhong Hua
Published: February 2019

Background/aims

Iris colour might contribute to refractive development, but it is uncertain whether it is related to astigmatism. We aim to examine the association of iris colour with the presence of astigmatism in a school-based sample of Chinese students.

Methods

2346 grade 7 students from 10 middle schools aged 13 to 14 years in Southwestern China participated in the study. We obtained standardised slit-lamp photographs and developed a grading system assessing iris colour (higher grade denoting darker). Astigmatism was defined as a cylinder power of more than 0.50, 0.75 or 1.00 dioptre (D). Logistic regression models with generalised estimating equation were fitted to assess the relationship between iris colour and astigmatism, accounting for the correlation between both eyes. ORs and 95% CIs were presented.

Results

The overall prevalence of astigmatism for three different definitions was 30.4% (95% CI 28.6% to 32.2%) (<−0.5 D), 12.7 % (95% CI 11.3% to 14.0%) (<−0.75 D) and 5.3% (95% CI 4.4% to 6.2%) (<−1.0 D), respectively. In multivariate analysis adjusting for the effect of gender and height, darker iris colour was associated with an increasing trend of astigmatism (p for trend <0.05). Compared with individuals with iris colour of grade 4 or 5 (the darkest), those with grade 1 or 2 (the lightest) were significantly less likely to be affected by astigmatism (<−0.75 D) in gender-adjusted model (OR 0.67) and multivariate-adjusted model (OR 0.72).

Conclusion

Darker iris colour might be a risk factor for astigmatism in Chinese adolescents.
Contribution of spurious transcription to intellectual disability disorders
Authors: Scandaglia Marilyn , Barco Angel
Published: February 2019

During the development of multicellular organisms, chromatin-modifying enzymes orchestrate the establishment of gene expression programmes that characterise each differentiated cell type. These enzymes also contribute to the maintenance of cell type-specific transcription profiles throughout life. But what happens when epigenomic regulation goes awry? Genomic screens in experimental models of intellectual disability disorders (IDDs) caused by mutations in epigenetic machinery-encoding genes have shown that transcriptional dysregulation constitutes a hallmark of these conditions. Here, we underscore the connections between a subset of chromatin-linked IDDs and spurious transcription in brain cells. We also propose that aberrant gene expression in neurons, including both the ectopic transcription of non-neuronal genes and the activation of cryptic promoters, may importantly contribute to the pathoaetiology of these disorders.
Characteristics and toxicant emissions of JUUL electronic cigarettes
Authors: Talih Soha , Salman Rola , El-Hage Rachel , Karam Ebrahim , Karaoghlanian Nareg , El-Hellani Ahmad , Saliba Najat , Shihadeh Alan
Published: February 2019

Introduction

JUUL is an electronic cigarette (ECIG) with a compact form factor. It is prefilled with a liquid that is advertised to contain a high concentration of nicotine salt. JUUL commands 50% of the US ECIG market share, and its wide popularity with underage users has triggered unprecedented actions by the US FDA. Apart from its nicotine salt-containing liquid and compact form, a salient advertised design feature is a control circuit that limits the heating coil temperature, presumably reducing unwanted toxicants. In this study, several tobacco-flavoured JUUL devices were reverse engineered, and their aerosol emissions were studied.

Methods

Total nicotine and its partitioning (freebase and protonated), propylene glycol/vegetable glycerin (PG/VG) ratio, and carbonyls were quantified by gas chromatography (GC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The temperature control functionality of JUUL was investigated using a temperature-controlled bath in which the coil was submerged.

Results

The liquid nicotine concentration was found to be 69 mg/mL, and the liquid and aerosol PG/VG ratio was found to be 30/70. In 15 puffs, JUUL emitted 2.05 (0.08) mg of nicotine, overwhelmingly in the protonated form. Carbonyl yields were significantly lower than those reported for combustible cigarettes, but similar to other closed-system ECIG devices. The heating coil resistance was 1.6 (0.66) Ohm, while the maximum power delivered by the JUUL device was 8.1 W. The control circuit limited the peak operating temperature to approximately 215C.

Conclusions

JUUL emits a high-nicotine concentration aerosol predominantly in the protonated form. JUUL’s nicotine-normalised formaldehyde and total aldehyde yields are lower than other previously studied ECIGs and combustible cigarettes.
Energy–momentum distributions of Ruban universe in general relativity and teleparallel gravity
Authors: Aktaş C.
Published: February 2019

In this study, we obtain Einstein, Bergmann–Thomson (BT), Landau–Lifshitz (LL), Møller, Papapetrou (PP) and Tolman energy–momentum (EM) distributions for Ruban universe model in general relativity (GR) and teleparallel gravity (TG). We obtain same results for Einstein, Bergmann–Thomson and Landau–Lifshitz energy–momentum distributions in GR and TG. Also, we get same results for Einstein and Tolman energy–momentum distributions in GR. The Møller energy–momentum results are different in GR and TG. Also, using Ruban universe model, we obtain LRS Bianchi type I solutions and we get zero energy–momentum results for this universe model in GR and TG. These results of LRS Bianchi type I universe model agree with Aygün et al., Taşer et al., Doğru et al., Banerjee–Sen, Tryon and Xulu in different gravitation theories.
Extension of the electrodynamics in the presence of the axion and dark photon
Authors: Huang Fa Peng , Lee Hye-Sung
Published: February 2019

We present the extended electrodynamics in the presence of the axion and dark photon. We derive the extended versions of Maxwell’s equations and dark Maxwell’s equations (for both massive and massless dark photons) as well as the wave equations. We discuss the implications of this extended electrodynamics including the enhanced effects in the particle conversions under the external magnetic or dark magnetic field. We also discuss the recently reported anomaly in the redshifted 21 cm spectrum using the extended electrodynamics.
Boost invariant regulator for field theories
Authors: Polonyi Janos
Published: February 2019

It is shown that by imposing the relativistic symmetries on the cutoff in field theories, one rules out all known nonperturbative regulators except the point splitting. The relativistic cutoff dynamics is nonlocal in time and thereby unstable, bringing the very existence of relativistic field theory into question. A stable, relativistic regulator is proposed for a scalar field theory model and its semiclassical stability is shown numerically.
Sm3+-doped bismuthate glasses and proton-implanted near-infrared waveguides
Authors: Chen Jing-Yi , Pan He , Zhang Liao-Lin , Guo Hai-Tao , Liu Chun-Xiao
Published: February 2019

Sm[Formula: see text]-doped bismuthate glass has been synthesized by means of the classic melt-quenching technique. Its optical properties were characterized, which included refractive index, absorption and fluorescence spectra. The measured data suggest that the Sm[Formula: see text]-doped bismuthate glass is suitable for optoelectronic applications. A Sm[Formula: see text]-doped bismuthate glass waveguide operating at 1.539 [Formula: see text]m has been manufactured by using the proton implantation with a 0.4 MeV energy and a 8.0 × 10[Formula: see text] ions⋅cm[Formula: see text] fluence for the first time to our knowledge. The effective refractive indices of the propagation modes for the glass waveguide were obtained by the m-line technique. The energy loss caused by the collision of the irradiated protons and the nuclei of the target Sm[Formula: see text]-doped bismuthate glass was calculated by the SRIM 2013. The refractive index profile and the near-field guided mode distribution for the waveguide structure were fitted through the reflectivity calculation method (RCM) and the FD-BPM method, respectively. The proton-implanted Sm[Formula: see text]-doped bismuthate glass waveguide is an alternative for an integrated device in the telecommunication band.
Electronic, transport, and magnetic properties of (Ca, Ba)0.9La0.1Fe1.9Pt0.1As2 compounds
Authors: Guler A. , Boyraz C. , Avci S. , Arda L. , Özdemir M. , Oner Y.
Published: February 2019

Superconductivity and magnetic properties were studied for La and Pt substituted (Ca, Ba)[Formula: see text]La[Formula: see text]Fe[Formula: see text]Pt[Formula: see text]As2 samples using structural, resistivity and magnetic measurement techniques. All bulk samples were synthesized by solid-state reaction method and annealed under a specific annealing technique with a time-dependent annealing process in vacuumed quartz tubes. ThCr2Si2-type crystal structure was concluded for both samples varying with in- and out-of-plane lattice parameters. The superconducting critical temperatures were determined by resistivity and under H = 20 Oe magnetization measurements, which were performed between the temperature ranges of 0–200 K. The upper and lower critical fields were determined and possible Meissner effects were roughly figured out to understand the level of shielding from M–H measurements. The maximum critical temperature was obtained from Ca[Formula: see text]La[Formula: see text]Fe[Formula: see text]Pt[Formula: see text]As2.
Spatio-Temporal Pattern Formation in Holling–Tanner Type Model with Nonlocal Consumption of Resources
Authors: Pal Swadesh , Banerjee Malay , Ghorai S.
Published: February 2019

A wide variety of spatio-temporal models are available in literature which are unable to generate stationary patterns through Turing bifurcation. Introduction of nonlocal terms to the same model can produce Turing patterns and this is true even for a single species population model. In this paper, we consider a prey–predator model of Holling–Tanner type with a generalist predator and a nonlocal interaction in the intra-specific competition term of the prey population. Nonmonotonic functional response is assumed to describe consumption rate of the prey by the predator. The Turing instability condition has been studied for the model without the nonlocal term around coexisting steady states. We also determine the Turing domain in the presence of nonlocal interaction term. The spatial-Hopf bifurcation has been studied and it plays an important role to find the pure Turing domain for the nonlocal model. Furthermore, in the presence of nonlocal interaction, the nonlocal model produces traveling wave solution. Using linear stability analysis, we have obtained the wave speed for the traveling wave front analytically. With the help of numerical simulation, we have verified that the speed of the traveling wave front for the complete nonlinear nonlocal model matches with the analytical approximation. The emergence of wave trains has also been established for higher range of nonlocal interaction.
Hopf Bifurcation Analysis of KdV–Burgers–Kuramoto Chaotic System with Distributed Delay Feedback
Authors: Liu Jie , Guan Junbiao , Feng Zhaosheng
Published: February 2019

In this paper, the KdV–Burgers–Kuramoto chaotic system with distributed delay feedback is studied. The local stability of equilibrium points of this system is analyzed and the conditions under which Hopf bifurcation occurs are obtained by choosing the mean time delay as a bifurcation parameter. The direction and stability of bifurcating periodic solutions are derived by means of the normal form theory and the center manifold theorem. Numerical simulations are also illustrated which are in agreement with our theoretical results.
Representation of Robots in Matlab
Authors: Sanchez Antonio , Gracia Luis , Morales Ricardo , Perez-Vidal Carlos
Published: February 2019

This paper presents a new software tool, namely RoboClass, to include and manage realistic robots and elements of the environment in Matlab simulations. These elements are loaded from CAD models using an STL-file and can be as detailed as desired. All the steps involved in the process are explained in detail. Furthermore, two illustrative examples are considered to show the effectiveness and versatility of the proposed approach: the ABB-IRB120 industrial robot and the CSA research robot. The developed tool is especially useful both for robotics research and teaching.
The Influence Ranking for Testers in Bug Tracking Systems
Authors: Li Hui , Gao Guofeng , Chen Rong , Ge Xin , Guo Shikai , Hao Li-Ying
Published: February 2019

At present, bug tracking systems are used to collect and manage bug reports in many software projects. As participants, the testers not only submit bug reports to the system, but also comment on bug reports in the system. The tester’s behaviors of submitting and commenting reflect his/her influence in bug tracking systems. However, with the rapid increase of the bug reports in software projects, evaluating the testers’ influence in the projects accurately becomes more and more difficult. Aiming at solving this problem, the submission and comment on bug report can be regarded as social behaviors of the testers, and thus the method of Influence Ranking for Testers (IRfT) in bug tracking systems is presented and used for measuring the influence of the testers in this paper. The case study of the Eclipse project in Bugzilla shows that the result produced by IRfT is consistent with the actual performance of the testers in this project. The ranking results can keep stable in the cases of link adding or removing and tester removing in tester networks, and the results are also proved to be valid in the future. The further investigation on the speed of network break-down by node removal demonstrates that the top-ranking testers are important in the organization of tester networks. Additionally, the results also show that the ranking of the testers is related to the existence time in bug tracking system. Therefore, IRfT is proved to be an effective measurement for evaluating the influence of the testers in bug tracking system, and it can further demonstrate the testers’ contributions in software testing, such as bug validations, bug fixes, etc.
New timing and geochemical constraints on the Capitanian (Middle Permian) extinction and environmental changes in deep-water settings: evidence from the Lower Yangtze region of South China
Authors: Zhang Bolin , Yao Suping , Wignall Paul B. , Hu Wenxuan , Liu Biao , Ren Yongle
Published: February 2019

The Capitanian (Guadalupian) witnessed one of the major crises of the Phanerozoic and, like many other extinctions, it coincided with the eruption of a large igneous province, in this case the Emeishan Traps of SW China. However, the timing and causal relationships of this event are in dispute. This study concentrates on the deep-water chert–mudstone strata of the Gufeng Formation and its transition to the Yinping Formation at Chaohu. Zircons from tuffs in the uppermost Gufeng Formation yield a U–Pb age of 261.6 ± 1.6 Ma, and comparison with sections around Emeishan suggests that the tuffs appeared in the
Jinogondolella altudaensis
conodont zone and persisted to the
Jinogondolella xuanhanensis
zone. This coincides with the Emeishan eruptions, and suggests that the tuffs probably derived from this province. Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics also show the tuffs are of acid volcanogenic origin and have a geochemical fingerprint of the Emeishan large igneous province. Our dating shows that a crisis amongst radiolarian and a subsequent productivity decline occurred during the middle Capitanian, prior to the Guadalupian–Lopingian boundary. The Emeishan eruptions began immediately before this, indicating a likely causal relationship between these events. Major regression and marine anoxia/euxinia are two other important extinction-relevant environmental changes that occurred during this critical interval.
Exhumation history of the Aydın range and the role of the Büyük Menderes detachment system during bivergent extension of the central Menderes Massif, western Turkey
Authors: Nilius Nils-Peter , Glotzbach Christoph , Wölfler Andreas , Hampel Andrea , Dunkl István , Akal Cüneyt , Heineke Caroline , Hetzel Ralf
Published: February 2019

The central Menderes Massif (western Turkey) is a prominent example of symmetrical exhumation of a core complex. It comprises the Bozdaǧ and Aydın ranges, which represent the footwalls of the north-dipping Gediz detachment and the south-dipping Büyük Menderes detachment, respectively. In contrast to the Gediz detachment, the role of the Büyük Menderes detachment during Late Cenozoic extension and exhumation of the central Menderes Massif is less well resolved. Here, we present results from structural and geological mapping as well as new fission-track and (U–Th)/He data to show that two low-angle normal faults contributed to the exhumation of the Aydın range. Our data indicate that the sustained activity of the Büyük Menderes detachment since the early Miocene is followed by the onset of faulting along the previously unrecognized Demirhan detachment, which is situated in the hanging wall of the Büyük Menderes detachment, in the latest Miocene/Pliocene. Thermokinematic modelling of cooling ages from the footwalls of the Büyük Menderes and Demirhan detachments yielded exhumation rates of
c.
0.5 and
c.
0.4 km Ma
-1
, respectively. Apatite fission track ages from the Demirhan detachment indicate a slip rate of
c.
2 km Ma
-1
during the Pliocene. High-angle normal faulting along the modern Büyük Menderes graben commenced in the Quaternary.

Supplementary material:
Further results of thermal history modelling are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4392905
Artemether/Lumefantrine for the Treatment of P. malariae in a Patient on Hemodialysis
Authors: Patrocínio-Jesus Rita , Cunha João , Trigo Diva , Flor-de-Lima Bárbara , Pacheco Patrícia
Published: February 2019

The combination of artemether/lumefantrine is indicated for the treatment of acute uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. There have been no clinical trials to assess the efficacy of this medication in patients with renal impairment. While it is unlikely that artemether/lumefantrine would be removed during dialysis, clinical experience regarding drug use in this setting is limited. In this article, the authors report successful treatment of Plasmodium malariae malaria on a patient with end-stage kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis.
Distributed Real‐Time Pricing Method Incorporating Load Uncertainty Based on Nonsmooth Equations for Smart Grid
Authors: Wang Hongjie , Gao Yan
Published: February 2019

The real‐time pricing mechanism of smart grid based on demand response is an effective means to adjust the balance between energy supply and demand, whose implementation will impact the user′s electricity consumption behaviour, the operation, and management in the future power systems. In this paper, we propose a complementarity algorithm to solve the real‐time pricing of smart grid. The Karush–Kuhn–Tucker condition is considered in the social welfare maximisation model incorporating load uncertainty to transforming the model into a system of nonsmooth equations with Lagrangian multipliers, i.e., the shadow prices. The shadow price is used to determine the basic price of electricity. The system of nonsmooth equations is a complementarity problem, which enables us to study the existence and uniqueness of the equilibrium price and to design an online distributed algorithm to achieve the equilibrium between energy supply and demand. The proposed method is implemented in a simulation system composed of an energy provider and 100 users. Simulations results show that the proposed algorithm can motivate the users’ enthusiasm to participate in the demand side management and shift the peak loading. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm can improve the supply shortage. When compared with an online distributed algorithm based on the dual optimisation method, the proposed algorithm has a significantly lower running time and more accurate Lagrangian multipliers.