bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leaf and infructescence fossils of Alnus (Betulaceae) from the late Eocene of the southeastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Xu He , Su Tao , Zhou Zhe‐Kun
Published: October 2018

Plant fossils from the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP), China are critical to understand not only the diversification history of plants there, but also the paleoenvironmental conditions. Alnus are deciduous trees, mainly distributed in temperate and subtropical regions of Eurasia and North America, and they are well known in the fossil records throughout the Cenozoic in the Northern Hemisphere. We collected numerous well‐preserved Alnus leaf and infructescence fossils from the Lawula Formation (∼34.6 Ma with 40Ar/39Ar dating) at the present elevation of 3910 m a.s.l. in the southeastern QTP. Based on detailed morphological comparisons with existing and fossil species, these fossils show closest affinity to Alnus ferdinandi‐coburgii C. K. Schneid., and we refer to these fossils as A. cf. ferdinandi‐coburgii. These specimens comprise the oldest megafossil record of Alnus in the QTP, and provide solid evidence for the distribution of Alnus there as early as the late Eocene. Extant A. ferdinandi‐coburgii is distributed in areas with mean annual temperature values between 9.7 °C and 16.9 °C, and mean annual precipitation values ranging from 896.2 mm to 1161.2 mm; therefore, fossils of A. cf. ferdinandi‐coburgii suggest a much warmer and wetter climate during the late Eocene than today in the southeastern QTP. This finding is consistent with other evidence for continued uplift of the southeastern QTP after the late Eocene that might be due to the eastward extension of the QTP.
Public open collaborative creation (POCC): A new archetype of authorship?
Authors: Mendis Sunimal
Published: October 2018

Public open collaborative creation (POCC) model constitutes an important method of creating intellectual content within the sphere of digital humanities. POCC is defined as creation that takes place through the contributions of a multiplicity of persons (contributors) under a model of sequential innovation, resulting in the production of a literary, artistic, or scientific work which remains in a continuous state of change and development over an undefined period of time. This article examines the POCC model in relation to three creation projects that employ(ed) it for the production of literary and artistic content. It argues that the use of the POCC model has given rise to a new form of collaborative authorship that is inclusive and dynamic and as such cannot be adequately captured within the traditional notion of collaborative authorship currently recognized by copyright law. It concludes by outlining the need to revisit the existing notion of collaborative authorship in copyright law in order to enable it to accommodate the notion of POCC authorship.
Aggregate demand deficiency, labor unions, and long‐run stagnation
Authors: Murota Ryu‐ichiro
Published: October 2018

Using a money‐in‐the‐utility‐function model, this paper considers long‐run stagnation where insatiable demand for money persistently creates aggregate demand deficiency and consequent unemployment in the presence of nominal wage stickiness attributed to union wage setting. In this long‐run stagnation, generous unemployment benefits reduce unemployment. Moreover, paradoxically, unemployment declines if labor unions give weight to nominal wage gains rather than employment increases.
Shared modes of presentation
Authors: Prosser Simon
Published: October 2018

What is it for two people to think of something under the same mode of presentation (MOP)? This has seemed a difficult question for “atomistic” theories such as the Mental Files approach or the Language of Thought hypothesis. Here I propose a simple answer. I first argue that, by parallel with the synchronic intrapersonal case, the sharing of a MOP should involve epistemic transparency between the token thoughts of the two thinkers. I then explain how shared words help bring about this transparency. Finally, I show how the account can deal with MOPs expressed using demonstratives and indexicals.
Functional Analysis at the Fin de Siècle: Genre, Compositional Process and the Demonic in the Rondo of Elgar's Second Symphony
Authors: RILEY MATTHEW
Published: October 2018

The most interesting recent developments in formal function theory have tested its application on nineteenth‐century repertoire. Hitherto, however, functional analysis has touched only lightly on the post‐Wagnerian symphony from around 1900. When music analysis addresses this repertoire today, it is usually by means of the approaches that have become ‘Sonata Theory’. Functional analysis brings different insights, switching the focus to syntax and local formal process. The third‐movement ‘Rondo’ from Elgar's Second Symphony (1911) exemplifies the challenges inherent in progressive Romantic repertoire: while functional analysis can illuminate the syntax and formal processes of this music, it must be applied with an ear to shifting and overlapping functional meanings. The Rondo manifests parallel ambiguities at the levels of paratext and genre. The syntactic continuity and instability foregrounded by functional analysis resonate directly with the movement's thematisation of the demonic and the uncanny through paratext, topic, cyclic reminiscence and generic ambiguity. This article uses the concepts of functional theory to open and discuss questions of genre and compositional process and to reframe the Rondo's programmatic themes from an analytically informed perspective.
Raising awareness, screening and prevention of chronic kidney disease: It takes more than a village
Authors: Hsiao Li‐Li
Published: October 2018

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health problem worldwide. Its prevalence and incidence are increasing, particularly among the ethnic minority populations. Diabetes, hypertension and obesity have been the three major aetiologies for CKD in all developed countries. While diabetes and hypertension remain the major causes of CKD in developing countries, environmental pollution, pesticides, water, analgesic abuse and herbal medications are common causes in these regions. Rapid urbanization and globalization are thought to be the contributing factors to rising prevalence and incidents of CKD. Despite the rising prevalence of CKD, disease awareness remains profoundly low. Worldwide, only 6% of the general population and 10% of the high‐risk population are aware of their CKD statuses. Health screenings have been shown to be effective in improving the incidence of ESRD. However, currently there is no effective tool to assess and evaluate the awareness objectively.
Salt, water and nephron: Mechanisms of action and link to hypertension and chronic kidney disease
Authors: Qian Qi
Published: October 2018

Our knowledge on sodium and water homeostasis and regulation continues to evolve. A considerable amount of new information in this area has emerged in recent years. This review summarizes existing and new literature and discusses complex multi‐organ effects of high‐salt and low‐water intake and role of arginine vasopressin in this process, as well as the potential clinical significance of non‐osmotic sodium storage pool and rhythmicity of urine sodium excretion. It has become clear that sodium and water dysregulation can exert profound effects on kidney and vascular health, far greater than previously recognized. Maladaptation to a combined high‐salt and low‐water intake can be linked to the growing epidemic of hypertension and chronic kidney disease.
Patient‐reported outcome measures and their utility in the management of patients with advanced chronic kidney disease
Authors: Ducharlet Kathryn , Sundararajan Vijaya , Philip Jennifer , Weil Jennifer , Barker Nuala , Langham Robyn G , Burchell Jodie , Gock Hilton
Published: October 2018

Symptom and quality of life (QOL) measures in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease are recognized indicators of patient‐centred care and represent important research, quality and clinical measures. This study examined relationships between symptom burden, QOL and functional status and associations of symptoms and mortality risk. A multisite longitudinal cohort analysis was undertaken in chronic kidney disease stage 4/5 (no dialysis) and dialysis patients. Patients completed symptom and QOL measures (Palliative Care Outcome Symptom Score renal), World Health Organisation QOL Brief Version) and Karnofsky Performance scale. Clinical and demographic data were recorded.
Necrotizing enterocolitis attenuates developmental heart rate variability increases in newborn rats
Authors: Meister Alissa L. , Doheny Kim K. , Travagli R. Alberto
Published: October 2018

Background

We have shown previously that a decreased high‐frequency spectrum of heart rate variability (HF‐HRV), indicative of reduced vagal tone, shows promise in predicting neonates likely to develop necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) before its clinical onset. We hypothesized that NEC induction in rat pups decreases HF‐HRV power; subdiaphragmatic vagotomy worsens the severity of the NEC phenotype, increases levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, and alters the myenteric phenotype.

Methods

Newborn Sprague‐Dawley rats, representative of preterm human neonates, were subjected to 7‐8 days of brief periods of cold stress and hypoxia to induce NEC with or without unilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy. HRV was measured at postnatal days one and five, pups were sacrificed at day 8/9, and gastrointestinal tissues and blood were collected for immunohistochemical, corticosterone, and cytokine analysis.

Key Results

Compared to control, NEC‐induced rats showed the following: (a) typical histological signs of grade 2 NEC, which were more severe in rats that underwent vagotomy; (b) reduced developmental increases in time (RMSSD) and frequency (HF) HRV spectra when combined with the stress of laparotomy/vagotomy; (c) increases in nitric oxide synthase‐immunoreactivity in the myenteric plexus of jejunum and ileum; furthermore, compared to mild NEC and controls, vagotomized NEC rats had increased plasma values of pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐1β and IL‐6.

Conclusions and Inferences

Our data suggest that in rodents, similar to neonatal observations, NEC induction attenuated developmental HF‐HRV increases, furthermore, subdiaphragmatic vagotomy worsened the histological severity, increased pro‐inflammatory cytokines, and altered the nitrergic myenteric phenotype, suggesting a role of the vagus in the development of NEC pathology.
Evidence of increased fecal granins in children with irritable bowel syndrome and correlates with symptoms
Authors: Shulman Robert J. , Öhman Lena , Stridsberg Mats , Cain Kevin , Simrén Magnus , Heitkemper Margaret
Published: October 2018

Background

Granins have been implicated in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adults. We sought to determine whether fecal granins are altered in children with IBS and associated with symptoms.

Methods

Children (7‐12 years of age) with IBS and healthy controls (HC) kept daily pain and stool diaries for 2 weeks. Stool samples were analyzed for chromogranins A and B (CgA, CgB) and secretogranins II and III (SgII, SgIII). Children also completed psychological measures to assess anxiety, depression, somatization, and internalizing symptoms.

Key Results

Fecal CgB and SgIII concentrations were higher in all the boys (IBS plus HC, n = 48) than in all the girls (IBS plus HC, n = 75) (P = 0.02 and P = 0.046, respectively). CgA and SgIII were greater in children with IBS (n = 52) vs HC (n = 69) (P = 0.01, P = 0.017, respectively). CgB and SgII did not differ between groups. In children with IBS, the number of pain episodes per week and mean daily pain rating correlated positively with all four granins. The number of stools per day correlated positively with CgB and SgII, and the percent of diarrheal stools (6 or 7 on the Bristol Scale) correlated inversely with all four granins in boys but not in girls. Fecal granins did not correlate with psychological measures.

Conclusions and Inferences

As measured by fecal granins, there is evidence of neuroimmune activation in children with IBS. Granins are related to abdominal pain symptoms, stooling frequency, and stool form in children with IBS. Sex influences the fecal concentration of CgB and SgIII.
Brain corticotropin‐releasing factor signaling: Involvement in acute stress‐induced visceral analgesia in male rats
Authors: Larauche Muriel , Moussaoui Nabila , Biraud Mandy , Bae Won Ki , Duboc Henri , Million Mulugeta , Taché Yvette
Published: October 2018

Background

Water avoidance stress (WAS) induces a naloxone‐independent visceral analgesia in male rats under non‐invasive conditions of monitoring. The objective of the study was to examine the role of brain CRF signaling in acute stress‐induced visceral analgesia (SIVA).

Methods

Adult male Sprague‐Dawley rats were chronically implanted with an intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannula. The visceromotor response (VMR) to graded phasic colorectal distension (CRD: 10, 20, 40, 60 mm Hg, 20 seconds, 4 minutes intervals) was monitored using manometry. The VMR to a first CRD (baseline) was recorded 5 minutes after an ICV saline injection, followed 1 hour later by ICV injection of either CRF (30, 100, or 300 ng and 1, 3, or 5 μg/rat) or saline and a second CRD, 5 minutes later. Receptor antagonists against CRF1/CRF2(astressin‐B, 30 μg/rat), CRF2(astressin2‐B, 10 μg/rat), oxytocin (tocinoic acid, 20 μg/rat), or vehicle were injected ICV 5 minutes before CRF (300 ng/rat, ICV) or 15 minutes before WAS (1 hour).

Key Results

ICV CRF (100 and 300 ng) reduced the VMR to CRD at 60 mm Hg by −36.6% ± 6.8% and −48.7% ± 11.7%, respectively, vs baseline (P < 0.001), while other doses had no effect and IP CRF (10 µg/kg) induced visceral hyperalgesia. Astressin‐B and tocinoic acid injected ICV induced hyperalgesia and prevented the analgesic effect of ICV CRF (300 ng/rat) and WAS, while astressin2‐B only blocked WAS‐induced SIVA.

Conclusions & Inferences

These data support a role for brain CRF signaling via CRF2in SIVA in a model of WAS and CRD likely mediated by the activation of brain oxytocin pathway.
A tripartite toxin‐antitoxin module induced by quorum sensing is associated with the persistence phenotype in Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Dufour Delphine , Mankovskaia Alexandra , Chan Yuki , Motavaze Kamyar , Gong Siew‐Ging , Lévesque Céline M.
Published: October 2018

The oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans communicates using a canonical Gram‐positive quorum sensing system, CSP‐ComDE. The CSP pheromone already known to be involved in the development of genetic competence positively influences the formation of persisters, dormant variants of regular cells that are highly tolerant to antimicrobial therapy. It is now believed that the persistence phenotype is the end result of a stochastic switch in the expression of toxin‐antitoxin (TA) modules. TAs consist of a pair of genes that encode two components, a stable toxin and its cognate labile antitoxin. Transcription analyses revealed that three core genes encoding a putative TA system, called SmuATR, were members of the S. mutans CSP regulon. We hypothesized that S. mutans is using its CSP‐ComDE system as a deterministic mechanism for persister formation through the activation of smuATR locus. We showed here that the SmuATR system constitutes a novel tripartite type II TA system in which the smuA and smuT genes encode an antitoxin and a toxin, respectively, while SmuR is a transcriptional repressor involved in the autoregulation of the operon. Ectopic expression of SmuA – SmuT is associated with the CSP‐inducible persistence phenotype. In contrast, overexpression of SmuT alone is bactericidal and causes membrane permeabilization. To our knowledge, SmuATR is the first functional chromosomal tripartite TA system shown to be induced by the bacterial quorum sensing system and involved in persister formation.
Mutagenesis of kiwifruit CENTRORADIALIS‐like genes transforms a climbing woody perennial with long juvenility and axillary flowering into a compact plant with rapid terminal flowering
Authors: Varkonyi‐Gasic Erika , Wang Tianchi , Voogd Charlotte , Jeon Subin , Drummond Revel S. M. , Gleave Andrew P. , Allan Andrew C.
Published: October 2018

Annualization of woody perennials has the potential to revolutionize the breeding and production of fruit crops and rapidly improve horticultural species. Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) is a recently domesticated fruit crop with a short history of breeding and tremendous potential for improvement. Previously, multiple kiwifruit CENTRORADIALIS (CEN)‐like genes have been identified as potential repressors of flowering. In this study, CRISPR/Cas9‐ mediated manipulation enabled functional analysis of kiwifruit CEN‐like genes AcCEN4 and AcCEN. Mutation of these genes transformed a climbing woody perennial, which develops axillary inflorescences after many years of juvenility, into a compact plant with rapid terminal flower and fruit development. The number of affected genes and alleles and severity of detected mutations correlated with the precocity and change in plant stature, suggesting that a bi‐allelic mutation of either AcCEN4 or AcCEN may be sufficient for early flowering, whereas mutations affecting both genes further contributed to precocity and enhanced the compact growth habit. CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated mutagenesis of AcCEN4 and AcCEN may be a valuable means to engineer Actinidia amenable for accelerated breeding, indoor farming and cultivation as an annual crop.
Linguistic Complexity, Information Processing, and Public Acceptance of Supreme Court Decisions
Authors: Hansford Thomas G. , Coe Chelsea
Published: October 2018

Scholars suggest that judges have an incentive to use complex language to increase support for their decisions. Research on the effects of processing fluency, however, points towards a different set of expectations. Using a survey experiment, we manipulate the complexity of the language conveying two Court decisions and two types of source cue. For the less polarizing of the two decisions, we find that by decreasing processing fluency, complex decision language can both decrease acceptance of the decision and diminish the importance of source cues in arriving at this judgment. Legalistic terminology, however, increases acceptance.
The impact of sustained attention on labor market outcomes: The case of Ghana
Authors: Tan Chih Ming , Thamarapani Dhanushka
Published: October 2018

In this paper, we go beyond traditional measures of cognitive abilities (IQ) in explaining labor market and social outcomes in developing countries. We exploit a rich dataset from Ghana that provides information on demographics, labor market outcomes, and a direct measure of cognitive ability along with other test scores to construct a measure of sustained attention. Our work is therefore related to the broader literature in psychology on the importance of executive function on individual behavior and outcomes. We find that, at least for the case of Ghana, after controlling for IQ and other covariates, higher levels of sustained attention are associated with higher educational attainment and a higher likelihood of being employed in a white‐collar job.
Intergenerational transmission of education in China: New evidence from the Chinese Cultural Revolution
Authors: Chen Yanbin , Guo Yumei , Huang Jingyi , Song Yang
Published: October 2018

This paper estimates the effect of parental education on children's education by using instruments generated by the Chinese Cultural Revolution, and further explores the mechanisms of this causal relationship. Several important findings stand out from our empirical analyses. We find a larger intergenerational persistence in education for higher level in urban areas but for a lower level of education in rural areas. The main results from instrumental variable estimation show that the nurture effect is larger and more significant for fathers than for mothers. A deeper investigation of the mechanism behind this nurture effect informs us that a father's education passes on to his children's education partly through the income channel. Another notable finding is that even after controlling for fathers’ income, parental education still has a significantly positive effect on children's education through the nurture effect. This indicates that beyond the income channel, there may exist other channels such as better home environment, which deserve to be explored in future research.
FERONIA mutation induces high levels of chloroplast‐localized Arabidopsides which are involved in root growth
Authors: Hansen Rebecca L. , Guo Hongqing , Yin Yanhai , Lee Young Jin
Published: October 2018

The FERONIA (FER) signaling pathway is known to have diverse roles in Arabidopsis thaliana, such as growth, reproduction, and defense, but how this receptor kinase is involved in various biological processes is not well established. In this work, we applied multiple mass spectrometry techniques to identify metabolites involved in the FER signaling pathway and to understand their biological roles. A direct infusion Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT‐ICR)‐MS approach was used for initial screening of wild‐type and feronia (fer) mutant plant extracts, and Arabidopsides were found to be significantly enriched in the mutant. As Arabidopsides are known to be induced by wounding, further experiments on wounded and non‐wounded leaf samples were carried out to investigate these oxylipins as well as related phytohormones using a quadrupole‐time‐of‐flight (Q‐TOF) MS by direct injection and LC‐MS/MS. In a root growth bioassay with Arabidopside A isolated from fer mutants, the wild‐type showed significant root growth inhibition compared with the fer mutant. Our results therefore implicated Arabidopsides, and Arabidopside A specifically, in FER functions and/or signaling. Finally, matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization MS imaging (MALDI‐MSI) was used to visualize the localization of Arabidopsides, and we confirmed that Arabidopsides are highly abundant at wounding sites in both wild‐type and fer mutant leaves. More significantly, five micron high‐spatial resolution MALDI‐MSI revealed that Arabidopsides are localized to the chloroplasts where many stress signaling molecules are made.
A pilot study documenting increased thrombin generation following abrupt withdrawal of heparin therapy in healthy dogs
Authors: Mays Erin M. , Dorman David C. , McKendry Colleen , Hanel Rita M.
Published: October 2018

Objective

To document if a transient hypercoagulable state occurs in healthy dogs following abrupt cessation of unfractionated heparin (UFH) therapy.

Design

Prospective experimental pilot study.

Setting

University research facility.

Animals

Seven adult random‐source male dogs.

Intervention

Thromboelastography (TEG) and thrombin–antithrombin (TAT) complex formation were used to assess coagulation status in healthy dogs. Seven adult research dogs received 200–300 IU/kg subcutaneous UFH every 8 hours for 4 days. A final IV bolus of 100 IU/kg was given on day 4 and the peak measured heparin concentration 1 hour later is defined as the start of heparin withdrawal (time 0). Citrated whole blood samples were collected at baseline (prior to heparin administration) and 3, 6, 12, 30, and 48 hours after UFH withdrawal. At all time points, a kaolin‐activated TEG was performed and citrated plasma for measurement of TAT concentration was collected for batch analysis. Fibrinogen concentration, PCV, total plasma proteins, and platelet count were measured at baseline and 48 hours after heparin withdrawal.

Measurements and Main Results

Compared to baseline, TAT was increased 12 hours after heparin withdrawal and returned to baseline by 30 hours. TEG clot formation time (K) was decreased 30 and 48 hours after heparin withdrawal.

Conclusion

TAT results suggest that a transient increase in thrombin generation developed 12 hours after withdrawal of UFH therapy. Though clot kinetics were rapid compared to baseline beginning 30 hours after heparin withdrawal, a return to baseline was not documented. Future studies are warranted to determine the clinical relevance of these results and to evaluate the effect of UFH withdrawal in critically ill animals.
Study of mathematical models for the removal of Ni2+ from aqueous solutions using Citrullus lanatus rind, an agro‐based waste
Authors: Mathangi J.B. , Helen Kalavathy M.
Published: October 2018

The defilement of water bodies is going on increasing due to the use of noxious chemicals. In the present study, to alleviate the deadly effects of the heavy metal, the agricultural solid waste Citrullus lanatus rind was used as the precursor for the Nickel ion removal. To remove Nickel from synthetic solution, adsorption studies were conducted. Characterization was done using TGA, SEM and FT‐IR analysis. Various parameters on the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent, isotherm and kinetic studies were carried out. The maximum loading capacity of Ni2+ was found to be 38.98 mg/g from Langmuir model. Error analyses were also studied to validate the best fit of the curve for isotherm models. The kinetic models were studied to understand the adsorption mechanism. The dynamic behaviour of the fixed column and the modelling of the breakthrough curves were carried out. Desorption studies were performed to consider the reusability of the rind.
A fast and automated hydrologic calibration tool for SWAT
Authors: Ozdemir Ayfer , Leloglu Ugur Murat
Published: October 2018

In order to apply hydrological models in the water resources investigation successfully, careful calibration and uncertainty analysis are required. Although many automatic calibration methods were developed, the time consumed for running the hydrologic model is still a problem for hydrologic modelers. To reduce the computational complexity and increase performance of the calibration procedure, a software package (Fast Automated Calibration Tool, FACT) that works on Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was developed. Sequential Uncertainty Fitting Algorithm (SUFI‐2) was chosen to build the software package on, because SUFI‐2 combines optimization with uncertainty analysis and can handle a large number of parameters. SUFI‐2 implemented in SWAT‐CUP (a software program that was developed for SWAT) is very useful in an interactive manner, however; it has some drawbacks which are the time consumed, user interaction requirement and update problems of SWAT model files. In this study, the calibration procedure was implemented in a MATLAB script, which completes the full calibration in one single run. The developed tool was applied on Sarısu‐Eylikler Basin SWAT model that had r2 = 0.41, NSE = 0.11 between 1992 and 2010 without calibration. When the model was calibrated using SUFI‐2 in SWAT‐CUP, the model was improved to r2 = 0.57, NSE = 0.44, P‐factor = 0.69 and R‐factor = 1.00 at the end of 42 iterations using 100 simulation counts in each iteration. However; when the developed calibration tool was applied with 250 simulation counts without any user interaction for each iteration, the model was improved to r2 = 0.59, NSE = 0.57, P‐factor  = 0.72, and R‐factor = 1.32 at the end of three iterations. Thus, the developed calibration procedure took a shorter time (unlike SUFI2 in SWAT‐CUP, FACT takes several hours) compared to SWAT‐CUP with minimum user involvement.
Intervarietal translation and the theory of intelligibility
Authors: Proshina Zoya G.
Published: October 2018

The article discusses Larry Smith's contribution to the world Englishes paradigm, represented as his theory of three stages of understanding varieties of English in intercultural communication. The author argues that this pivotal theory is fundamental not only for teaching English as an International Language, but is also applicable to translation studies, where a new type of translation – from one variety to another variety of English – proves to be emerging and needs elaboration due to the intensification of divergence processes in this language.
Integrative species delimitation and phylogeny of the branchiate worm Branchiodrilus (Clitellata, Naididae)
Authors: Martin Patrick , Martinsson Svante , Wuillot Jean , Erséus Christer
Published: October 2018

The clitellate branchiate genus Branchiodrilus presently includes three nominal species with a mainly tropical distribution. A recent molecular phylogeny of the subfamily Naidinae suggested that species complexes may occur within the genus. In order to delimit species, we studied a total of 91 Branchiodrilus specimens collected in Asia, Africa and Europe; the genus is introduced in the latter area. We used an integrative approach, where genetic data were analysed for 42 specimens (single‐locus and multiple‐locus methods) and then compared with patterns shown by morphology. Ten Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units could be identified within Branchiodrilus, potentially representing 10 different species. Most of the delimited species are genetically well separated. In contrast, morphological scrutiny identified only three non‐overlapping clusters of specimens, one of them grouping all specimens from the Palaearctic region and belonging to the same species. Other morphological groups are mostly consistent with the biogeographic distribution of species. The Oriental region harbours six species and might be the centre of origin from which Branchiodrilus species have dispersed and radiated. Two other species are present in the Afrotropical region, among them B. cleistochaeta newly obtained from the type locality and genetically characterized, but the presence of B. hortensis in Africa is queried. The taxonomic relevance of the morphological criteria traditionally used to distinguish nominal species is useless at the species level. B. hortensis and B. semperi are now considered as species inquirenda. To document the genital organs of species remains highly desirable, although hardly practicable for this species complex with a primarily asexual reproductive mode.
REVIEW ON COLUMN FIRE RESISTANCE DESIGN FOR CONCRETE FILLED STEEL TUBE
Authors: Kado Bishir , Mohammad Shahrin , Lee Yeong Huei , Shek Poi Ngian , Ab. Kadir Mariyana Aida , Muftah Fadhluhartini
Published: October 2018

The use of concrete filled steel tube (CFST) columns offers an alternative for providing the required fire resistance and load bearing capacity, making its use in medium and high rise structures are highly popular. This paper aims to review the previous studies on CFST column under fire. The standards or codes of practice used in fire resistance designs have been highlighted. The design of the CFST column is summarised with previous investigations on experiments and numerical modelling at ambient temperature and elevated temperature. Different conclusions were drawn depending on the material’s properties, considered parameters and the method used for the investigations. Outer diameter or width of the steel tube, steel tube thickness, concrete grade, column length, and eccentricity of loadings are among the parameters that affects the structural behaviour of CFST columns under fire. Several numerical analyses software were adequately used for simulating the behaviour of CFST columns at elevated temperatures, and validated using experimental results. Furthermore, the advantages of using the fire resistance design approaches on CFST columns filled with lightweight foamed concrete is highlighted. In conclusion, there is the need for more studies on standard fire tests of CFST column filled with light weight foamed concrete which is not covered in the current design guide.
EFFECT OF SN COMPONENT ON PROPERTIES AND MICROSTRUCTURE CU-NI-SN ALLOYS
Authors: Nguyen D. N. , Hoang A. T. , Pham X. D. , Sai M. T. , Chau M. Q. , Pham V. V.
Published: October 2018

This paper investigates a high electrical conductivity and high strength of alloys based on Cu-Ni-Si system It proclaimed the results of the effect of tin (Sn) component on the mechanical properties and microstructure of Cu-Ni-Sn alloy. The conditions for processing the Cu-Ni-Si alloy were presented, the analysis of microstructure and mechanical properties after heat treatment was examined by X-ray, SEM, EDS and specialized machines. The results showed that with 3% mass of Sn added into the Cu-Ni-Sn alloy along with heat treatment and deformation, the hardness value reached the range of 221-240HV, the tensile strength and elastic limit reached around 1060MPa and 903MPa respectively. However, after heat treatment and deformation for the Cu-Ni-Sn alloy based on 6% mass of Sn, the hardness value reached the range of 221-318HV, the tensile strength and elastic limit were respectively 222MPa and 263MPa higher than those of the Cu-Ni-Sn alloy with 3% mass of Sn. The result from X-ray analysis showed the deflection of peaks. Nonetheless, the new phases were not observed in SEM and EDS, contrariwise, generated modular structure was considered as the proof of the Spinodal cluster. This fact might be explained by two mechanisms: deformation mechanism and Spinodal decomposition.
SIMULATION ON THE CONDITIONS AFFECTING PARTIAL DISCHARGE INITIATION IN MICROBUBBLE IMMERSED IN DIELECTRIC LIQUID
Authors: Mukhtaruddin Azharudin , Isa Muzamir , Mohd Noor Mazlee , Adzman Mohd Rafi , Ismail Baharuddin , Rohani M. N. K. H. , Ain Mohd Fadzil
Published: October 2018

Microbubble floating in liquid dielectric and subjected to an electric field may initiate partial discharge (PD). This paper studies the parameters that affect the initiation through a computer simulation. This study inspects how the type of gas inside the microbubble, the size of the microbubble, distance from an electric field, Eo, source and, the magnitude of source’s voltage affect the start of PD. For a prolate spheroid shape, there is an important parameter called ‘c’. This ratio is between the radius of the microbubble polar (‘a’) and the radius of the equator (‘b’). At constant Eo and c, different gases will initiate PD at different distances from source due to differences in a localised electric field inside the microbubble (Emax). Emax is one of the important factors for PD initiation. It is interesting to report that if the ‘a’ and ‘b’ values are chosen so that ‘c’ will be constant, changes in Emax are insignificant. On the other hand, changes in ‘c’ will result in significant changes in Emax. Finally, changes in source’s voltage certainly affect the Emax.
Multiple Inputs-Single Accumulated Output Mechanism for Soft Linear Actuators
Authors: Cho Kyeong Ho , Kim Ho Moon , Kim Youngeun , Yang Sang Yul , Choi Hyouk Ryeol
Published: October 2018

Soft linear actuators (SLAs) such as shape memory alloy (SMA) wires, pneumatic soft actuators, dielectric elastomer actuator, and twisted and coiled soft actuator (TCA) called artificial muscle actuators in general, have many advantages over the conventional actuators. SLAs can realize innovative robotic technologies like soft robots, wearable robots, and bionic arms in the future, but further development is still needed in real applications because most SLAs do not provide large displacement or force as needed. This paper presents a novel mechanism supplementing SLAs by accumulating the displacement of multiple SLAs. It adopts the principle of differential gears in reverse. Since the input units of the mechanism are extensible, more displacement can be accumulated by increasing the number of the input units as many as needed. The mechanism is basically used to accumulate displacements, but can be used to accumulate forces by changing its operating mode. This paper introduces the design and working principle of the mechanism and validates its operation experimentally. In addition, the mechanism is implemented on a robotic arm and its effectiveness is confirmed.
Passive Discrete Variable Stiffness Joint (pDVSJ-II): Modeling, Design, Characterization, and Testing Toward Passive Haptic Interface
Authors: Awad Mohammad I. , Hussain Irfan , Gan Dongming , Az-zu'bi Ali , Stefanini Cesare , Khalaf Kinda , Zweiri Yahya , Taha Tarek , Dias Jorge , Seneviratne Lakmal
Published: October 2018

In this paper, the modeling, design, and characterization of the passive discrete variable stiffness joint (pDVSJ-II) are presented. The pDVSJ-II is an extended proof of concept of a passive revolute joint with discretely controlled variable stiffness. The key motivation behind this design is the need for instantaneous switching between stiffness levels when applied for remote exploration applications where stiffness mapping is required, in addition for the need of low-energy consumption. The novelty of this work lies in the topology used to alter the stiffness of the variable stiffness joint. Altering the stiffness is achieved by selecting the effective length of an elastic cord with hook's springs. This is realized through the novel design of the cord grounding unit (CGU), which is responsible for creating a new grounding point, thus changing the effective length and the involved springs. The main features of CGU are the fast response and the low-energy consumption. Two different levels of stiffness (low, high) can be discretely selected besides the zero stiffness. The proposed physical-based model matched the experimental results of the pDVSJ-II in terms of discrete stiffness variation curves, and the stiffness dependency on the behavior of the springs. Two psychophysiological tests were conducted to validate the capabilities to simulate different levels of stiffness on human user and the results showed high relative accuracy. Furthermore, a qualitative experiment in a teleoperation scenario is presented as a case study to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed haptic interface.
Effect of Shear and Water Cut on Phase Inversion and Droplet Size Distribution in Oil–Water Flow
Authors: Zhang Mo , Dabirian Ramin , Mohan Ram S. , Shoham Ovadia
Published: October 2018

Oil–water dispersed flow occurs commonly in the petroleum industry during the production and transportation of crudes. Phase inversion occurs when the dispersed phase grows into the continuous phase and the continuous phase becomes the dispersed phase caused by changes in the composition, interfacial properties, and other factors. Production equipment, such as pumps and chokes, generates shear in oil–water mixture flow, which has a strong effect on phase inversion phenomena. The objective of this paper is to investigate the effects of shear intensity and water cut (WC) on the phase inversion region and also the droplet size distribution. A state-of-the-art closed-loop two phase (oil–water) flow facility including a multipass gear pump and a differential dielectric sensor (DDS) is used to identify the phase inversion region. Also, the facility utilizes an in-line droplet size analyzer (a high speed camera), to record real-time videos of oil–water emulsion to determine the droplet size distribution. The experimental data for phase inversion confirm that as shear intensity increases, the phase inversion occurs at relatively higher dispersed phase fractions. Also the data show that oil-in-water emulsion requires larger dispersed phase volumetric fraction for phase inversion as compared with that of water-in-oil emulsion under the same shear intensity conditions. Experiments for droplet size distribution confirm that larger droplets are obtained for the water continuous phase, and increasing the dispersed phase volume fraction leads to the creation of larger droplets.
Reduced Order Modeling of Transient Heat Transfer in Microchip Interconnects
Authors: Nokhosteen Arman , Soltani M. , Barabadi Banafsheh
Published: October 2018

The high current densities in today's microelectronic devices and microchips lead to hotspot formations and other adverse effects on their performance. Therefore, a computational tool is needed to not only analyze but also accurately predict spatial and temporal temperature distribution while minimizing the computational effort within the chip architecture. In this study, a proper orthogonal decomposition (POD)-Galerkin projection-based reduced order model (ROM) was developed for modeling transient heat transfer in three-dimensional (3D) microchip interconnects. comsol software was used for producing the required data for ROM and for verifying the results. The developed technique has the ability to provide accurate results for various boundary conditions on the chip and interconnects domain and is capable of providing accurate results for nonlinear conditions, where thermal conductivity is temperature dependent. It is demonstrated in this work that a limited number of observations are sufficient for mapping out the entire evolution of temperature field within the domain for transient boundary. Furthermore, the accuracy of the results obtained from the developed ROM and the stability of accuracy over time is investigated. Finally, it is shown that the developed technique provides a 60-fold reduction in simulation time compared to finite element techniques.
Nanoparticle Sintering Model: Simulation and Calibration Against Experimental Data
Authors: Dibua Obehi G. , Yuksel Anil , Roy Nilabh K. , Foong Chee S. , Cullinan Michael
Published: October 2018

One of the limitations of commercially available metal additive manufacturing (AM) processes is the minimum feature size most processes can achieve. A proposed solution to bridge this gap is microscale selective laser sintering (μ-SLS). The advent of this process creates a need for models which are able to predict the structural properties of sintered parts. While there are currently a number of good SLS models, the majority of these models predict sintering as a melting process which is accurate for microparticles. However, when particles tend to the nanoscale, sintering becomes a diffusion process dominated by grain boundary and surface diffusion between particles. As such, this paper presents an approach to model sintering by tracking the diffusion between nanoparticles on a bed scale. Phase field modeling (PFM) is used in this study to track the evolution of particles undergoing sintering. Changes in relative density are then calculated from the results of the PFM simulations. These results are compared to experimental data obtained from furnace heating done on dried copper nanoparticle inks, and the simulation constants are calibrated to match physical properties.
Charged-Particle Emissions During Material Deformation, Failure and Tribological Interactions of Machining
Authors: Govindaraj Jagadeesh , Subbiah Sathyan
Published: October 2018

Charged particles are emitted when materials undergo tribological interactions, plastic deformation, and failure. In machining, plastic deformation and shearing of work piece material takes place continuously along with intense tool-chip rubbing contact interactions; hence, the emission of charged particles can be expected. In this work, an in-situ sensor has been developed to capture the emitted positive (positive ion) and negative (electron and negative ion) charged particles in real-time in an orthogonal machining process at atmospheric conditions without the use of coolant. The sensor consists of a Faraday plate, mounted on the flank face of the cutting tool, to collect the emitted ions and the intensity of emissions is measured with an electrometer. Positively and negatively charged particles are measured separately by providing suitable bias voltage supply to the Faraday plate. Ion emissions are measured during machining of three different work piece materials (mild steel, copper, and stainless steel) using a carbide cutting tool. The experimental results show a strong correlation between the emission intensity and the variation in machining parameters and material properties. Increasing material removal rate increases the intensity of charged particle emissions because of the increase in volume of material undergoing shear, fracture, and deformation. It is found that emission intensity is directly proportional to the resistivity and strength of workpiece material. Charged particles emission intensity is found to be sensitive to the machining conditions which enables the use of this sensor as an alternate method of condition monitoring.
Friction-Induced Vibration Due to Mode-Coupling and Intermittent Contact Loss
Authors: Niknam Alborz , Farhang Kambiz
Published: October 2018

A two degrees-of-freedom (2DOFs) single mass-on-belt model is employed to study friction-induced instability due to mode-coupling. Three springs, one representing contact stiffness, the second providing lateral stiffness, and the third providing coupling between tangential and vertical directions, are employed. In the model, mass contact and separation are permitted. Therefore, nonlinearity stems from discontinuity due to dependence of friction force on relative mass-belt velocity and separation of mass-belt contact during oscillation. Eigenvalue analysis is carried out to determine the onset of instability. Within the unstable region, four possible phases that include slip, stick, separation, and overshoot are found as possible modes of oscillation. Piecewise analytical solution is found for each phase of mass motion. Then, numerical analyses are used to investigate the effect of three parameters related to belt velocity, friction coefficient, and normal load on the mass response. It is found that the mass will always experience stick-slip, separation, or both. When separation occurs, mass can overtake the belt causing additional nonlinearity due to friction force reversal. For a given coefficient of friction, the minimum normal load to prevent separation is found proportional to the belt velocity.
Modeling the Large Deformation and Microstructure Evolution of Nonwoven Polymer Fiber Networks
Authors: Zhang Mang , Chen Yuli , Chiang Fu-pen , Gouma Pelagia Irene , Wang Lifeng
Published: October 2018

The electrospinning process enables the fabrication of randomly distributed nonwoven polymer fiber networks with high surface area and high porosity, making them ideal candidates for multifunctional materials. The mechanics of nonwoven networks has been well established for elastic deformations. However, the mechanical properties of the polymer fibrous networks with large deformation are largely unexplored, while understanding their elastic and plastic mechanical properties at different fiber volume fractions, fiber aspect ratio, and constituent material properties is essential in the design of various polymer fibrous networks. In this paper, a representative volume element (RVE) based finite element model with long fibers is developed to emulate the randomly distributed nonwoven fibrous network microstructure, enabling us to systematically investigate the mechanics and large deformation behavior of random nonwoven networks. The results show that the network volume fraction, the fiber aspect ratio, and the fiber curliness have significant influences on the effective stiffness, effective yield strength, and the postyield behavior of the resulting fiber mats under both tension and shear loads. This study reveals the relation between the macroscopic mechanical behavior and the local randomly distributed network microstructure deformation mechanism of the nonwoven fiber network. The model presented here can also be applied to capture the mechanical behavior of other complex nonwoven network systems, like carbon nanotube networks, biological tissues, and artificial engineering networks.