bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevention of infection in xenotransplantation: Designated pathogen‐free swine in the safety equation
Authors: Fishman Jay A.
Published: June 2020

Post‐transplantation infections are common. In immunosuppressed human xenograft recipients, infection is most likely to be due to the same pathogens seen in human allotransplantation. However, organisms derived from swine and transmitted with xenografts have the potential to cause novel infections in xenograft recipients. The specific organisms likely to cause infection or “xenosis” are unknown but are postulated to be like those causing infection in allograft recipients. On this basis, theoretical exclusion criteria have been developed to guide the development of source animal herds. Herds developed based on the exclusion of potential human pathogens have been termed “designated pathogen‐free” (DPF). Lists of potential pathogens will require revision with changing epidemiology of infection in swine worldwide and clinical experience. Development of new microbiological assays is required both for animal screening and in clinical diagnosis should infections occur. Genetic modifications of swine have the potential to eliminate certain infectious agents such as the porcine endogenous retrovirus; infectious complications of such modifications have not been observed. Unexpected, off target effects of genetic modifications require further study. Monitoring for infection in asymptomatic recipients is important to define infectious risks which are unknown in the absence of clinical trials data. Advanced microbiological techniques may be applied to diagnose and prevent infection in xenograft recipients.
The problem with fuzzy eigenvalue parameter in one of the boundary conditions
Authors: Gültekin Çitil Hülya
Published: June 2020

In this work, we study the problem with fuzzy eigenvalue parameter in one of the boundary conditions. We find fuzzy eigenvalues of the problem using the Wronskian functions \underline{W}_{\alpha }\left( \lambda \right) and \overline{W}_{\alpha }\left( \lambda \right). Also, we find eigenfunctions associated with eigenvalues. We draw graphics of eigenfunctions.
Impact of passive heat acclimation on markers of kidney function during heat stress
Authors: Ravanelli Nicholas , Barry Hadiatou , Schlader Zachary J. , Gagnon Daniel
Published: June 2020

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Does passive heat acclimation alter glomerular filtration rate and urine‐concentrating ability in response to passive heat stress?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Glomerular filtration rate remained unchanged after passive heat stress, and heat acclimation did not alter this response. However, heat acclimation mitigated the reduction in urine‐concentrating ability and reduced the incidence of albuminuria in young healthy adults after passive heat stress. Collectively, these results suggest that passive heat acclimation might improve structural integrity and reduce glomerular permeability during passive heat stress.

Little is known about the effect of heat acclimation on kidney function during heat stress. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of passive heat stress and subsequent passive heat acclimation on markers of kidney function. Twelve healthy adults (seven men and five women; 26 ± 5 years of age; 72.7 ± 8.6 kg; 172.4 ± 7.5 cm) underwent passive heat stress before and after a 7 day controlled hyperthermia heat acclimation protocol. The impact of passive heat exposure on urine and serum markers of kidney function was evaluated before and after heat acclimation. Glomerular filtration rate, determined from creatinine clearance, was unchanged with passive heat stress before (pre, 133 ± 41 ml min−1; post, 127 ± 51 ml min−1; P = 0.99) and after (pre, 129 ± 46 ml min−1; post, 130 ± 36 ml min−1; P = 0.99) heat acclimation. The urine‐to‐serum osmolality ratio was reduced after passive heating (P < 0.01), but heat acclimation did not alter this response. In comparison to baseline, free water clearance was greater after passive heating before (pre, −0.86 ± 0.67 ml min−1; post, 0.40 ± 1.01 ml min−1; P < 0.01) but not after (pre, −0.16 ± 0.57 ml min−1; post, 0.76 ± 1.2 ml min−1; P = 0.11) heat acclimation. Furthermore, passive heating increased the fractional excretion rate of potassium (P < 0.03) but not sodium (P = 0.13) or chloride (P = 0.20). Lastly, heat acclimation reduced the fractional incidence of albuminuria after passive heating (before, 58 ± 51%; after, 8 ± 29%; P = 0.03). Collectively, these results demonstrate that passive heat stress does not alter the glomerular filtration rate. However, heat acclimation might improve urine‐concentrating ability and filtration within the glomerulus.
E‐cigarettes and respiratory health: the latest evidence
Authors: Miyashita Lisa , Foley Gary
Published: June 2020

The E‐cigarette market continues to expand at an alarming rate with thousands of flavours available for purchase and continuously evolving devices. Now that it is a multi‐billion dollar industry and one without stringent regulation, there is rising concern over the safety of vaping products. Since June 2019, over 2800 cases of E‐cigarette‐associated acute lung toxicity have been reported in the USA, over 60 of which resulted in death. Many argue that E‐cigarettes offer a safer alternative to smoking, but we are evidently far from fully understanding the potential hazards that they pose to respiratory health. Although the risk of an outbreak in the UK has been considered low due to tighter E‐cigarette regulations, we cannot fully eliminate the possibility of similar events occurring in the future. With evidence frequently emerging of the harmful effects of E‐cigarettes to pulmonary health, there is an urgent need to define the long‐term implications of vaping. Studies show that E‐cigarette exposure can disrupt pulmonary homeostasis, with reports of gas exchange disturbance, reduced lung function, increased airway inflammation and oxidative stress, downregulation of immunity, and increased risk of respiratory infection. In this review, the latest research on the effect of E‐cigarette use on respiratory health will be presented.

image
Multibody Analysis and Control of a Full-Wrist Exoskeleton for Tremor Alleviation
Authors: Wang Jiamin , Barry Oumar R.
Published: June 2020

Uncontrollable shaking in the human wrist, caused by pathological tremor, can significantly undermine the power and accuracy in object manipulation. In this paper, the design of a tremor alleviating wrist exoskeleton (TAWE) is introduced. Unlike the works in the literature that only consider the flexion/extension (FE) motion, in this paper, we model the wrist joint as a constrained three-dimensional (3D) rotational joint accounting for the coupled FE and radial/ulnar deviation (RUD) motions. Hence TAWE, which features a six degrees-of-freedom (DOF) rigid linkage structure, aims to accurately monitor, suppress tremors, and provide light-power augmentation in both FE and RUD wrist motions. The presented study focuses on providing a fundamental understanding of the feasibility of TAWE through theoretical analyses. The analytical multibody modeling of the forearm–TAWE assembly provides insight into the necessary conditions for control, which indicates that reliable control conditions in the desired workspace can be acquired by tuning the design parameters. Nonlinear regressions are then implemented to identify the information that is crucial to the controller design from the unknown wrist kinematics. The proposed analytical model is validated numerically with V-REP and the result shows good agreement. Simulations also demonstrate the reliable performance of TAWE under controllers designed for tremor suppression and movement assistance.
Vacuum ultraviolet-absorption spectroscopy and delocalized plasma-induced emission used for the species detection in a down-stream soft-etch plasma reactor
Authors: Soriano Robert , Cunge Gilles , Sadeghi Nader
Published: June 2020

Vacuum ultraviolet-absorption spectroscopy (AS) and emission spectroscopy (ES) from delocalized probe plasma are implemented in the downstream chamber of a soft-etch industrial plasma reactor. A capacitively coupled plasma plasma, running in the upper compartment in He/NF3/NH3/H2 mixtures at about 1 Torr, produces reactive species which flow through a shower head into a downstream chamber, where they can etch different μ-electronic materials: Si, SiO2, SiN, etc. The ES reveals the presence of F atoms, while the dissociation rates of NF3 and NH3 are deduced from the AS, as well as the density of HF molecules, produced by chemical chain-reactions between dissociation products of NF3, NH3, and H2. The variations of HF density as a function of the NH3 flow rate suggest the possible formation of NH4F molecules in the plasma.
Can Insoles Be Used to Improve Static and Dynamic Balance of Community-Dwelling Older Adults? A Systematic Review on Recent Advances and Future Perspectives
Authors: Ma Christina Zong-Hao , Lam Wing-Kai , Chang Bao-Chi , Lee Winson Chiu-Chun
Published: June 2020

This systematic review investigated the effects of orthopedic, vibrating, and textured insoles on the postural balance of community-dwelling older adults. Articles published in English from 1999 to 2019 investigating the effects of (a) orthopedic, (b) vibrating, and (c) textured insoles on static and dynamic balance in community-dwelling older adults were considered. Twenty-four trials with a total of 634 older adults were identified. The information gathered generally supported the balance-improving effects of orthopedic, vibrating, and textured insoles in both static and dynamic conditions among community-dwelling older adults. Further examination found that rigidity, texture patterns, vibration thresholds, and components like arch supports and heel cups are important factors in determining whether insoles can improve balance. This review highlights the potential of insoles for improving the static and dynamic balance of community-dwelling older adults. Good knowledge in insole designs and an understanding of medical conditions of older adults are required when attempts are made to improve postural balance using insoles.
The Effect of Rewards and Punishments on Learning Action Selection and Execution Components of a Motor Skill
Authors: Bacelar Mariane F.B. , Lohse Keith R. , Miller Matthew W.
Published: June 2020

It is unknown whether rewards improve the capability to select appropriate targets for one’s movement (action selection) and/or the movement itself (action execution). Thus, we devised an experimental task wherein participants categorized a complex visual stimulus to determine toward which one of two targets to execute an action (putt a golf ball) on each trial under one of three conditions: reward, punishment, or neutral. After practicing the task under their assigned condition, participants performed an immediate, 24-hr, and 7-day post-test. Results revealed participants putted to the correct target more frequently during the post-tests than the first practice block, and putted more accurately during the post-tests than a pretest. However, the condition in which participants practiced did not moderate post-test performance (for either task component). Additionally, motivation scores explained action selection and action execution for the immediate post-test performance but not long-term retention, suggesting that motivation might be related to immediate performance, but not long-term learning. Further, the present task may be useful for researchers studying action selection and execution, since the task yielded learning effects that could be moderated by factors of interest.
Body-Worn Sensors Are a Valid Alternative to Forceplates for Measuring Balance in Children
Authors: Shieh Vincent , Sansare Ashwini , Jain Minal , Bulea Thomas , Mancini Martina , Zampieri Cris
Published: June 2020

Aims: Clinical evaluation of balance has relied on forceplate systems as the gold standard for postural sway measures. Recently, systems based on wireless inertial sensors have been explored, mostly in the adult population, as an alternative given their practicality and lower cost. Our goal was to validate body-worn sensors against forceplate balance measures in typically developing children during tests of quiet stance.Methods: 18 participants (8 males) 7 to 17 years old performed a quiet stance test standing on a forceplate while wearing 3 inertial sensors. Three 30-second trials were performed under 4 conditions: firm surface with eyes open and closed, and foam surface with eyes open and closed. Sway area, path length, and sway velocity were calculated.Results: We found 20 significant and 8 non-significant correlations. Variables found to be significant were represented across all conditions, except for the foam eyes closed condition.Conclusions: These results support the validity of wearable sensors in measuring postural sway in children. Inertial sensors may represent a viable alternative to the gold standard forceplate to test static balance in children.
The pandemic's first major research scandal erupts
Authors: Servick Kelly , Enserink Martin
Published: June 2020

Critics question patient data used to challenge malaria drugs.
There’s plenty of room at the Top: What will drive computer performance after Moore’s law?
Authors: Leiserson Charles E. , Thompson Neil C. , Emer Joel S. , Kuszmaul Bradley C. , Lampson Butler W. , Sanchez Daniel , Schardl Tao B.
Published: June 2020

From bottom to top

The doubling of the number of transistors on a chip every 2 years, a seemly inevitable trend that has been called Moore's law, has contributed immensely to improvements in computer performance. However, silicon-based transistors cannot get much smaller than they are today, and other approaches should be explored to keep performance growing. Leisersonet al.review recent examples and argue that the most promising place to look is at the top of the computing stack, where improvements in software, algorithms, and hardware architecture can bring the much-needed boost.

Science, this issue p.eaam9744
Unexpected conservation and global transmission of agrobacterial virulence plasmids
Authors: Weisberg Alexandra J. , Davis Edward W. , Tabima Javier , Belcher Michael S. , Miller Marilyn , Kuo Chih-Horng , Loper Joyce E. , Grünwald Niklaus J. , Putnam Melodie L. , Chang Jeff H.
Published: June 2020

Agrobacteria virulence writ large

Plasmids are widespread among bacteria and are important because they spread virulence and antibiotic resistance traits, among others. They are horizontally transferred between strains and species, so it is difficult to work out their evolution and epidemiology. Agrobacteria, a diverse grouping of species that infect plants, inject oncogenic Ti and Ri plasmids, which cause crown galls and hairy root diseases, respectively. The upside is that these plasmids have become valuable biotechnological tools. Weisberg
et al.
combed through an 80-year-old collection of
Agrobacterium
strains but found a surprisingly low diversity of plasmids. It is puzzling how limited the number of plasmid lineages is despite reported high levels of plasmid recombination, but what is clear is how plant production systems have influenced plasmid spread into various genomic backbones.

Science
, this issue p.
eaba5256
Determining plasmonic hot-carrier energy distributions via single-molecule transport measurements
Authors: Reddy Harsha , Wang Kun , Kudyshev Zhaxylyk , Zhu Linxiao , Yan Shen , Vezzoli Andrea , Higgins Simon J. , Gavini Vikram , Boltasseva Alexandra , Reddy Pramod , Shalaev Vladimir M. , Meyhofer Edgar
Published: June 2020

Taking the temperature of hot carriers

Hot carriers are expected to arise in plasmonic nanostructures because of the nonradiative decay of surface plasmons. However, identifying and determining just how “hot” these carriers actually are has been challenging. Reddy
et al.
devised a technique that looks at the carrier transport through a single molecular junction, which effectively acts as an energy filter, and show that it can be used to determine the distribution of hot carriers in a plasmonic nanostructure (see the Perspective by Martín-Moreno). These hot carriers could be harnessed to enhance the performance of technologies, including plasmon-driven photochemistry, solar energy–harvesting devices, and efficient photodetectors.

Science
, this issue p.
423
; see also p.
375
The link between electrolytes and metals
Authors: Isborn Christine M.
Published: June 2020

Photoelectron spectroscopy maps a gradual transition for solvated electrons in ammonia
Filling gaps in science exposes gaps in chemical regulation
Authors: Gold Steve C. , Wagner Wendy E.
Published: June 2020

Examination of U.S. and EU regulatory systems raises more questions than answers
Colonialism and its consequences
Floating Coast: An Environmental History of the Bering Strait
Bathsheba Demuth
Norton, 2019. 416 pp.
Authors: Hannibal Mary Ellen
Published: June 2020

A ravaged Arctic ecosystem serves as a warning of the perils of human advancement
Unblinding with infrared nanosensors
Authors: Franke Katrin , Vlasits Anna
Published: June 2020

Gene therapy and nanotechnology come together to fight degenerative blindness
The specifics of innate immune memory
Authors: Domínguez-Andrés Jorge , Netea Mihai G.
Published: June 2020

Innate immune cells develop specific memory involved in transplant rejection in mice
Weekly and seasonal changes of intraocular pressure measured with an implanted intraocular telemetry sensor
Authors: Mansouri Kaweh , Gillmann Kevin , Rao Harsha Laxmana , Weinreb Robert N
Published: June 2020

Background/Aims

To better understand seasonal and weekday intraocular pressure (IOP) variations, long-term daily IOP measurements were assessed in patients with glaucoma using an intraocular telemetric sensor.

Methods

This prospective, open-label, multicentre observational study analysed the IOP variation patterns in 22 eyes of 22 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (67.8±6.8 years, 36.4% female) who had undergone placement of an intraocular telemetric sensor at the time of cataract surgery. The telemetric system combines an implantable IOP sensor with a hand-held reading device. Patients were instructed to self-measure their IOP as often as desired, but at least four times daily. Analysis of variance and Tukey multiple-comparison correction were used to assess the statistical significance of average and peak IOP variations between individual weekdays and months.

Results

Each enrolled patient recorded daily IOP measurements for an average duration of 721 days. On average, IOPs were highest on Wednesdays and lowest on Fridays (p=0.002). There were significant variations of IOP throughout the year, and IOP showed a seasonal pattern. Between mid-winter (December–January) and mid-summer months, there was a reduction in mean IOP of 8.1% (-1.55 mm Hg, p<0.05).

Conclusion

This study confirms previously observed seasonal variations of IOP. IOP was significantly higher in winter compared with summer months. Moreover, IOP was lower on Friday than on other days. The explanation for these results is not known.
Evaluating the credibility of anchor based estimates of minimal important differences for patient reported outcomes: instrument development and reliability study
Authors: Devji Tahira , Carrasco-Labra Alonso , Qasim Anila , Phillips Mark , Johnston Bradley C , Devasenapathy Niveditha , Zeraatkar Dena , Bhatt Meha , Jin Xuejing , Brignardello-Petersen Romina , Urquhart Olivia , Foroutan Farid , Schandelmaier Stefan , Pardo-Hernandez Hector , Vernooij Robin WM , Huang Hsiaomin , Rizwan Yamna , Siemieniuk Reed , Lytvyn Lyubov , Patrick Donald L , Ebrahim Shanil , Furukawa Toshi , Nesrallah Gihad , Schünemann Holger J , Bhandari Mohit , Thabane Lehana , Guyatt Gordon H
Published: June 2020

Objective

To develop an instrument to evaluate the credibility of anchor based minimal important differences (MIDs) for outcome measures reported by patients, and to assess the reliability of the instrument.

Design

Instrument development and reliability study.

Data sources

Initial criteria were developed for evaluating the credibility of anchor based MIDs based on a literature review (Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycInfo databases) and the experience of the authors in the methodology for estimation of MIDs. Iterative discussions by the team and pilot testing with experts and potential users facilitated the development of the final instrument.

Participants

With the newly developed instrument, pairs of masters, doctoral, or postdoctoral students with a background in health research methodology independently evaluated the credibility of a sample of MID estimates.

Main outcome measures

Core credibility criteria applicable to all anchor types, additional criteria for transition rating anchors, and inter-rater reliability coefficients were determined.

Results

The credibility instrument has five core criteria: the anchor is rated by the patient; the anchor is interpretable and relevant to the patient; the MID estimate is precise; the correlation between the anchor and the outcome measure reported by the patient is satisfactory; and the authors select a threshold on the anchor that reflects a small but important difference. The additional criteria for transition rating anchors are: the time elapsed between baseline and follow-up measurement for estimation of the MID is optimal; and the correlations of the transition rating with the baseline, follow-up, and change score in the patient reported outcome measures are satisfactory. Inter-rater reliability coefficients (ĸ) for the core criteria and for one item from the additional criteria ranged from 0.70 to 0.94. Reporting issues prevented the evaluation of the reliability of the three other additional criteria for the transition rating anchors.

Conclusions

Researchers, clinicians, and healthcare policy decision makers can consider using this instrument to evaluate the design, conduct, and analysis of studies estimating anchor based minimal important differences.
Protocol for LAsting Symptoms after Oesophageal Resectional Surgery (LASORS): multicentre validation cohort study
Authors: Markar Sheraz Rehan , Griffiths Ewen A , Behrens Paul , Singh Pritam , Vohra Ravi S , Gossage James , Underwood Tim , Hanna George B
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Surgery is the primary curative treatment for oesophageal cancer, with considerable recent improvements in long-term survival. However, surgery has a long-lasting impact on patient’s health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Through a multicentre European study, our research group was able to identify key symptoms that affect patient’s HRQOL. These symptoms were combined to produce a tool to identify poor HRQOL following oesophagectomy (LAsting Symptoms after Oesophageal Resection (LASOR) tool). The objective of this multicentre study is to validate a six-symptom clinical tool to identify patients with poor HRQOL for use in everyday clinical practice.

Methods and analysis

Included patients will: (1) be aged 18 years or older, (2) have undergone an oesophagectomy for cancer between 2015 and 2019, and (3) be at least 12 months after the completion of adjuvant oncological treatments. Patients will be given the previously created LASOR questionnaire. Each symptom from the LASOR questionnaire will be graded according to impact on quality of life and frequency of the symptom, with a composite score from 0 to 5. The previously developed LASOR symptom tool will be validated against HRQOL as measured by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQC30 and OG25.

Sample size

With a predicted prevalence of poor HRQOL of 45%, based on the previously generated LASOR clinical symptom tool, to validate this tool with a sensitivity and specificity of 80%, respectively, a minimum of 640 patients will need to be recruited to the study.

Ethics and dissemination

NHS Health Research Authority (North East—York Research Ethics Committee) approval was gained 8 November 2019 (REC reference 19/NE/0352). Multiple platforms will be used for the dissemination of the research data, including international clinical and patient group presentations and publication of research outputs in a high impact clinical journal.
Using a system dynamics model to study the obesity transition by socioeconomic status in Colombia at the country, regional and department levels
Authors: Meisel Jose D , Ramirez Angie M , Esguerra Valentina , Montes Felipe , Stankov Ivana , Sarmiento Olga L. , Valdivia Juan A
Published: June 2020

Objective

We study the obesity transition by socioeconomic status (SES), gender and age within the Colombian urban population at the country, regional and department levels.

Design

The study is informed by cross-sectional data from the 2005 and 2010 ENSIN survey. We used these data to develop a system dynamics model that simulates the dynamics of obesity by body mass index (BMI) categories, gender and SES at the country, regional and department levels from 2005 to 2030.

Participants

The sample size of the 2005 ENSIN comprised 8515 children younger than 5 years, 32 009 children and adolescents aged 5–17 years and 48 056 adults aged 18–64 years. In 2010, the corresponding numbers were 11 368, 32 524 and 64 425, respectively.

Primary and secondary outcome measure

The obesity prevalence ratio and prevalence rates for each BMI category.

Results

The results show, at the country level, transitions from overweight to obesity were projected to increase sharply among lower SES adults, particularly among women, suggesting that these groups will undergo an obesity transition by 2030. The model projections also indicate that the regions of Colombia are in different stages of the obesity transition. In the case of women, five out of the six regions were expected to undergo an obesity transition by SES over time. For men, only one region was expected to undergo an obesity transition. However, at the department level, trends in the burden of obesity varied.

Conclusions

We evidence that the Colombian population could be experiencing an obesity transition where the increase in the GDP could be related to shifts in the burden of obesity from higher to lower SES, especially in women. These patterns support the need for policy planning that considers SES and gender, at the national and subnational levels, as important determinants of overweight and obesity among adults in Colombia.
Integrating physical activity promotion into UK medical school curricula: testing the feasibility of an educational tool developed by the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine
Authors: Pugh Gemma , O'Halloran Patrick , Blakey Laura , Leaver Hannah , Angioi Manuela
Published: June 2020

Background

At present education on exercise medicine and physical activity (PA) promotion does not feature heavily within the medical curriculum.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of a self-directed educational tool (Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine (FSEM) exercise prescription booklet) on medical students’ understanding of PA in disease management.

Methods

Students from 22 UK medical schools were invited to complete a brief online questionnaire before and after being provided access to the FSEM exercise prescription booklet.

Results

A total of 205 students responded to the open invitation to participate. At baseline 59% of students agreed that PA promotion was an important part of a doctor’s job with 86% agreeing that PA was important in the prevention of disease. However, confidence to prescribe PA and knowledge of chief medical officer’s adult PA guidelines was low. Following use of the FSEM booklet students’ (n=53) knowledge of PA guidelines and confidence to advise patients about PA significantly improved (p<0.05). Correct response answers to case scenarios covering PA in disease management (specifically osteoarthritis and cancer) also improved (32% and 44% increase, respectively, p<0.01).

Conclusion

Self-guided educational tools have the potential to improve the exercise prescription skills of undergraduate medical students. Future research should compare different methods of delivering education on PA within medical schools to determine the most effective means of integrating PA into the curriculum.
Simulating the impacts of land reclamation and de-reclamation on the morphodynamics of tidal networks
Authors: Chen Lei , Zhou Zeng , Xu Fan , Jimenez Mirian , Tao Jianfeng , Zhang Changkuan
Published: June 2020

The morphodynamic responses of tidal networks to anthropogenic reclamation and de-reclamation projects are investigated through a three-stage numerical simulation. In the first stage, the natural development of tidal networks is modelled in an open coast without any anthropogenic interventions. At the beginning of the second stage, parts of the computational domain are enclosed by sea dikes, which represents the implementation of the reclamation project. These sea dikes are removed or opened in the third stage to simulate the recovery of the tidal networks after de-reclamation. Each stage was set to last 100 years. The model results indicate that land reclamation can lead to three effects on tidal network morphology: (i) completely terminating the development of channels inside the projected area, (ii) hindering the development of the channel network in front of the dikes, and (iii) turning the channel direction near the corners of the dikes. When removing all the sea dikes, the previously reclaimed areas are quickly occupied by tidal networks. However, the morphology cannot be fully restored to its original natural state, although the entire reclaimed areas are returned. The effects of opening breaches are relatively slow, and tree-like network structures are formed inside the reclaimed areas.
The accurate prediction of sweat rate from energy expenditure and air temperature: a proof-of-concept study
Authors: Sollanek Kurt J. , Liu Mia , Carballo Andrei , Caldwell Aaron R. , Cheuvront Samuel N.
Published: June 2020

This proof-of-concept study used a web application to predict runner sweat losses using only energy expenditure and air temperature. A field study (FS) of n = 37 runners was completed with n = 40 sweat loss observations measured over 1 h (sweat rate, SR). Predictions were also compared with 10 open literature (OL) studies in which individual runner SR was reported (n = 82; 109 observations). Three prediction accuracy metrics were used: for FS, the mean absolute error (MAE) and concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) were calculated to include a 95% confidence interval [CI]; for OL, the percentage concordance (PC) was examined against calculation of accumulated under- and over-drinking potential. The MAE for FS runners was 0.141 kg [0.105, 0.177], which was less than estimated scale weighing error on 85% of occasions. The CCC was 0.88 [0.82, 0.93]. The PC for OL was 96% for avoidance of both under- and over-drinking and 93% overall. All accuracy metrics and their CIs were below acceptable error tolerance. Input errors of ±10% and ±1 °C for energy expenditure and air temperature dropped the PC to between 84% and 90%. This study demonstrates the feasibility of accurately predicting SR from energy expenditure and air temperature alone.

Novelty Results demonstrate that accurate runner SR prediction is possible with knowledge of only energy expenditure and air temperature. SR prediction error was smaller than scale weighing error in 85% of observations. Accurate runner SR prediction could help mitigate the common risks of over- and under-drinking.
Longevity of 12 geomembranes in chlorinated water
Authors: Morsy M.S. , Rowe R. Kerry , Abdelaal F.B.
Published: June 2020

The long-term performance of geomembranes with 12 different resin–antioxidant master-batch combinations, including eight high-density polyethylene (HDPE), three linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), and one blended polyolefin (BPO) base resins, is investigated. Results are reported for immersion tests in chlorinated water (0.5 ppm) for 35 months at 85 °C. The degradation trends show that the choice of resin type played a key role in the longevity of the geomembranes but also that some hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS) packages contributed to better resistance to degradation in chlorinated water. The results show that the specific antioxidant package is more important than the initial oxidative induction time (OIT) in terms of long-term performance. Finally, it is shown that while increased thickness may be beneficial, a more resistant resin or antioxidant–stabilizer package can be more effective than increasing thickness in improving geomembrane performance in chlorinated water. The conclusion regarding the beneficial role of HALS is specific to chlorinated water and generally is not true in other cases of submerged or buried geomembranes.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a new challenge in untreated wastewater
Authors: Chaudhry Akshay Kumar , Sachdeva Payal
Published: June 2020

COVID-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic by the WHO on 12 March 2020. As of 27 May 2020, WHO statistics exhibited that more than five million confirmed cases have been reported globally. Much remains unclear about the fate and impact of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus 2019, in wastewater. SARS-CoV-2 infection, the etiologic agent of the current COVID-19 pandemic, is followed by virus shedding in the stool. The quantification of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, therefore, enables monitoring of the prevalence of infections among the population through wastewater-based epidemiology. This review discusses the possible spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater and its impact on human health, if any. The information and resources outlined in this paper are based on recently published studies and provide information to decision-makers on the successful management of COVID-19 and reduce the risk of human exposure to COVID-19. Additionally, systems-based approaches to curtail COVID-19 spread are also discussed.
Searching for heavy charged Higgs bosons through top quark polarization
Authors: Arhrib Abdesslam , Jueid Adil , Moretti Stefano
Published: June 2020

We study the production of a heavy charged Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in [Formula: see text] within a 2-Higgs Doublet Model (2HDM). The chiral structure of the [Formula: see text] coupling can trigger a particular spin state of the top quark produced in the decay of a charged Higgs boson and, therefore, is sensitive to the underlying mechanism of the Electroweak Symmetry Breaking (EWSB). Taking two benchmark models (2HDM type-I and 2HDM type-Y) as an example, we show that inclusive rates, differential distributions and forward–backward asymmetries of the top quark’s decay products can be used to search for heavy charged Higgs bosons and also as model discriminators.
Relativistic calculations of R(D(∗)), R(Ds(∗)), R(ηc) and R(J/ψ)
Authors: Zhou Tian , Wang Tianhong , Jiang Yue , Tan Xiao-Ze , Li Geng , Wang Guo-Li
Published: June 2020

Recently, the deviation of the ratios [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] have been found between experimental data and the Standard Model predictions, which may be the hint of new physics. In this work, we calculate these ratios within the Standard Model by using the improved instantaneous Bethe–Salpeter method. The emphasis is pad to the relativistic correction of the form factors. The results are [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text], which are consistent with predictions of other models and the experimental data. The semileptonic decay rates and corresponding form factors at zero recoil are also given.
Study of entropy decrease phenomenon in shock layer
Authors: Chen Jin-Duo , Shi Ai-Ming , Shen Tong
Published: June 2020

An entropy decrease phenomenon in the shock wave is studied. The statistical entropy of a unit mass system (UMS) is constructed based on statistical mechanics. Two terms in the microscopic statistical entropy are connected with the macroscopic entropy increment. In order to obtain the number density and velocity distribution function of argon gas, the direct simulation Monto Carlo method is adopted. The physical mechanism for entropy decrease phenomenon in the shock layer is revealed as compression work winning internal energy to produce the heat loss of a UMS.
Preliminary study on flutter scaling of high-aspect ratio wings
Authors: Fu Zhi-Chao , Liu Zi-Qiang , Lv Ji-Nan
Published: June 2020

As a result of the increasing demand for aircraft performance, the high-aspect-ratio wing (HARW) becomes the primary structural type of the emerging aircraft as it improves the lift-to-drag ratio. However, HARWs result in higher deflections, leading to a geometrical nonlinear behavior and nonlinear aeroelastic problems. In this work, the preliminary study on aeroelastic behavior of two classic types of HARWs, namely, Goland wing and High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) wing, are investigated. Aeroelastically scaled models using two scaling methods, called classic scaling method and modified scaling method, are applied and compared with each other. Froude number is considered in the modified scaling method. Both static aeroelastic and flutter analyses are conducted on each scaled model by using different scaling methods. The results show that the Froude number is important to the HALE wing, where both static deflects and flutter velocity obtained by the scaled model agree well with the full model when the Froude number similarity is met. Thus, the Froude number may be the key similar parameter for the HALE wing scaling model design. For the Goland wing scaling model, the Froude number could be ignored.
A modified two-lane lattice hydrodynamics model considering the downstream traffic conditions
Authors: Gong Jinchou , Ma Changxi , Zhu Chenqiang
Published: June 2020

The difference between the optimal current difference and the actual current difference will be used as the correction item. The dynamic multiple current information about the front lattice will be considered. A modified lattice traffic hydrodynamics model is established by considering the downstream traffic conditions in the two-lane system. Through the stability analysis, it is found that the downstream traffic condition can be added as a correction term to increase the stability of the system. The area of the stable region on the phase diagram is enlarged by the derived stability. The mKdV equation, which can describe density wave, is derived by nonlinear analysis. Finally, the phase diagram of stability condition in linear analysis and the kink wave diagram of mKdV equation in nonlinear analysis are obtained by numerical simulation, which verifies the theoretical derivation of this paper. The results show that in the two-lane traffic flow expansion model, considering the downstream traffic conditions can effectively suppress traffic jams and make the traffic flow stable.
Improved Results on Stability Criteria for Singular Systems with Interval Time-Varying Delays
Authors: Noreddine Chaibi , Sadek Belamfedel Alaoui , El Houssaine Tissir , Boukili Bensalem
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this paper is to address the problem of assessing the stability of singular time-varying delay systems. In order to highlight the relations between the delay and the state, the singular system is transformed into a neutral form. Then, a model transformation using a three-terms approximation of the delayed state is exploited. Based on the lifting method and the Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional (LKF) method, a new linear matrix inequality (LMI) is obtained, allowing conclusions on stability to be drawn using the scaled small gain theorem (SSG). The use of SSG theorem for stability of singular systems with time-varying delay has not been investigated elsewhere in the literature. This represents the main novelty of this article. The result is applicable for assessing the stability of both singular systems and neutral systems with time-varying delays. The less conservativeness of the stability test is illustrated by comparison with recent literature results.
A systematic study on α-decay chains of superheavy nuclei, Z = 126 & 138
Authors: Naveya G. , Santhosh Kumar S. , Stephen A.
Published: June 2020

The [Formula: see text]-decay chain of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is studied using cubic plus proximity potential with improved transfer matrix (CPP-ITM) model. The nuclear mass models DD-PC1, WS4, WS3.3 are employed to evaluate the [Formula: see text]-decay energies. Thus calculated [Formula: see text]-decay half-lives and decay chain lengths are found to be in good agreement with other theoretical formalisms. The spontaneous fission (SF) half-lives are calculated using the formalism of Xu et al. [Phys. Rev. C 71 (2005) 014309; Phys. Rev. C 78 (2008) 044329] to have a vision on the possible decay modes and decay chain lengths, and the most probable decay chains associated with the isotopes of [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]. This paper unveils the mass region that survives fission and also predict the long [Formula: see text]-decay chains of [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] emitting 6[Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] emit 5[Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] 4[Formula: see text] particles, while for [Formula: see text] chains will have [Formula: see text] emission. The SF for [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] occur at [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. These current predictions may pave way to detect/synthesize the most probable isotopes of the superheavy elements [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] in the laboratory through future experiments.
Numerical Study of Inverse Source Problem for Internal Degenerate Parabolic Equation
Authors: Alahyane M. , Boutaayamou I. , Chrifi A. , Echarroudi Y. , Ouakrim Y.
Published: June 2020

This paper is devoted to numerical analysis of an inverse source problem in a degenerate parabolic equation. The aims of this work are to show the well-posedness of the discrete inverse problem and its convergence to the continuous one. For this, we reformulate first the encountered inverse problem to a regularized optimal control one. Then, we approximate our optimal control problem by finite element method and we show the existence of the discrete solution and its convergence to the continuous one. Finally, in order to confirm the efficiency of the proposed scheme, some numerical results are obtained using the augmented Lagrangian method.
Models of inhomogeneous polarization of ferroelectrics and their practical application
Authors: Skaliukh Alexander
Published: June 2020

A three-dimensional mathematical model is proposed that describes the ferroelectric response of polycrystalline ferroelectrics to an electric field in the absence of mechanical stresses. It is based on the separation of the switching process into two related parts: the rotation of the spontaneous polarization vectors and the destruction of the domain wall fixing mechanisms. For each of the parts, the energy costs are calculated, which are the components of the energy balance in the real polarization process. The constitutive relations for the induced and residual components of the polarization vector of the representative volume are obtained. A number of numerical experiments were performed, which showed good agreement with the experimental data.
Thermophysical properties of BiFeO3/REE multiferroics in a wide temperature range
Authors: Khasbulatov Sidek , Kallaev Suleiman , Gadjiev Haji , Omarov Zairbek , Bakmaev Abumuslim , Verbenko Iliya , Pavelko Aleksey , Reznichenko Larisa
Published: June 2020

The paper presents the results of a comprehensive study of the thermophysical properties (thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, heat capacity) of high-temperature multiferroic BiFeO3 modified with rare-earth elements (REEs) (La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Lu). The regularities of the formation of the mentioned characteristics were established. The assumptions about the nature of the observed phenomena were suggested.
Aqueous Ammonia Wetting of Gas-Diffusion Media for Electrochemical Cells
Authors: Santamaria Anthony D. , Mortazavi Mehdi
Published: June 2020

Increased interest in liquid ammonia (NH3) for hydrogen storage can be attributed to its lack of carbon, high energy density to volume and mass ratios (17.6 wt% hydrogen), a ubiquitous supply and distribution network, and lower cost. Recent progress in direct ammonia fuel cells for power generation, as well as ongoing work on the electrochemical synthesis of ammonia, motivate the need for fundamental investigations of aqueous ammonia interactions with electrode materials. Porous gas-diffusion media (GDM) play a large role in facilitating liquid, gas, and charge transport and are an inherent part of these technologies membrane electrode assemblies (MEA). This work characterizes how key wetting properties such as contact angle, advancing/receding contact angles, adhesion force, and breakthrough pressure are influenced by GDM wet-proofing, thickness, and structure. These properties are studied for aqueous ammonia solutions with 0, 10, 20, and 30 wt% NH3. The higher concentrations of NH3 along an electrode surface can lead to lower contact angles as surface tension is reduced. Wet-proofing with PTFE loadings up to 10 wt% increases hydrophobicity, while higher loadings have diminishing effects. The results are useful to those involved with modeling, design, construction, and optimization of these systems.
The enigmatic role of TIPE2 in asthma
Authors: Shi Bingqing , Hao Yuqiu , Li Wei , Dong Hongna , Xu Mengting , Gao Peng
Published: June 2020

Unlike other members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced protein 8 (TNFAIP8/TIPE) family that play a carcinogenic role and regulate apoptosis, TNFAIP8-like 2 (TIPE2) can not only maintain immune homeostasis but also regulate inflammation. TIPE2 mainly restrains the activation of T cell receptor (TCR) and Toll-like receptors (TLR), regulating its downstream signaling pathways, thereby regulating inflammation. Interestingly, TIPE2 is abnormally expressed in many inflammatory diseases and may promote or inhibit inflammation in different diseases. This review summarizes the molecular target and cellular function of TIPE2 in immune cells and inflammatory diseases and the underlying mechanism by which TIPE2 regulates inflammation. The function and mechanism of TIPE2 in asthma is also explained in detail. TIPE2 is abnormally expressed in asthma and participates in the pathogenesis of different phenotypes of asthma through regulating multiple inflammatory cells’ activity and function. Considering the indispensable role of TIPE2 in asthma, TIPE2 may be an effective therapeutic target in asthma. However, the available data are insufficient to provide a full understanding of the complex role of TIPE2 in human asthma. Further study is still necessary to explore the possible mechanism and functions of TIPE2 in different asthma phenotypes.
Multiplicity of Nodal Solutions for a Class of Double-Phase Problems
Authors: Yang Jie , Chen Haibo , Liu Senli
Published: June 2020

We consider the following parametric double-phase problem: −div∇up−2∇u+ax∇uq−2∇u=λfx,u in Ω,u=0,on ∂Ω.. We do not impose any global growth conditions to the nonlinearity fx,u, which refer solely to its behavior in a neighborhood of u=0. And we will show that they suffice for the multiplicity of signed and nodal solutions of the double-phase problem above when λ is large enough.
Fixed Point Theorems for Mizoguchi-Takahashi Type Contraction in Bicomplex-Valued Metric Spaces and Applications
Authors: He Fuli , Mostefaoui Z. , Abdalla M.
Published: June 2020

The main aim of this paper is to study and establish some new fixed point theorems for contractive maps that satisfied Mizoguchi-Takahashi’s condition in the setting of bicomplex-valued metric spaces. These new results improve and generalize the Banach contraction principle and some well-known results in the literature. Finally, as applications of our results, we give the existence and uniqueness of the solution of a nonlinear integral equation.