bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Offshore wind turbine fault alarm prediction
Authors: Koltsidopoulos Papatzimos Alexios , Thies Philipp R. , Dawood Tariq
Published: September 2019

Offshore wind operations and maintenance (O&M) costs could reach up to one third of the overall project costs. In order to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind farms, costs need to come down. A key contributor to the O&M costs is the component failures and the downtime caused by them. Thus, an understanding is needed on the root cause of these failures. Previous research has indicated the relationship between wind turbine failures and environmental conditions. These studies are using work‐order data from onshore and offshore assets. A limitation of using work orders is that the time of the failure is not known and consequently, the exact environmental conditions cannot be identified. However, if turbine alarms are used to make this correlation, more accurate results can be derived. This paper quantifies this relationship and proposes a novel tool for predicting wind turbine fault alarms for a range of subassemblies, using wind speed statistics. A large variation of the failures between the different subassemblies against the wind speed are shown. The tool uses 5 years of operational data from an offshore wind farm to create a data‐driven predictive model. It is tested under low and high wind conditions, showing very promising results of more than 86% accuracy on seven different scenarios. This study is of interest to wind farm operators seeking to utilize the operational data of their assets to predict future faults, which will allow them to better plan their maintenance activities and have a more efficient spare part management system.
Characterization and treatment of landfill leachates by electro‐Fenton process: A case study in Algeria
Authors: Rouidi Lina M. , Maurício Rita , Boukhrissa Athir , Ait‐Amar Hamid , Balamane Ouafia
Published: September 2019

The feasibility of the electro‐Fenton (EF) process to improve the biodegradability of Algerian leachates was examined, in order to prepare this kind of flux for conventional biological treatment. This work also included, for the first time in Algeria, the control and monitorization of a landfill—the “Hamici” landfill. Several physicochemical parameters were determined allowing its classification into an intermediate degradation phase, namely considering their alkaline pH (8.7), high ammonium concentration (3,120 mg/L), low content in heavy metals, and biodegradability (BOD5/COD = 0.22). The effects of important parameters such as current intensity, treatment time, and temperature on COD removal have been studied and optimized by using response surface analysis of a central composite design, where 91.1% of COD was removed with a treatment time of 285 min, a current intensity of 3 A, and a temperature of 20°C. A biodegradability test, which was performed on a solution electrolyzed with 120 min, 2 A, and 20°C, allowed to improve the leachates biodegradability from 0.2 to 0.42, with a removal rate of COD and TOC of 53.35% and 34.5%, respectively. However, the current efficiency declined from 137% to 76.6% when the current intensity was rise from 0.5 to 2 A. These results showed the relevance of EF process applied on raw intermediate leachates and its possible benefit in the Algiers leachates treatment processes. Thus, it was concluded that biological treatment can be combined with EF process for optimal mineralization of leachates with clear advantages in this studied location.

Practitioner points

Characterization and treatment of leachates by electro‐Fenton (EF) process were carried out.

The leachates are intermediate type and therefore biologically recalcitrant.

The operating parameter for EF process were modeled and optimized by the central composite design.

Current intensity of 2 A reduces COD and TOC of 53.35% and 34.5%, respectively.

The ratio BOD5/COD increased from 0.2 to 0.42 after 120 min of electrolysis time.
Physicochemical properties of antibiotics: A review with an emphasis on detection in the aquatic environment
Authors: Jafari Ozumchelouei Elnaz , Hamidian Amir Hossein , Zhang Yu , Yang Min
Published: September 2019

Antibiotics have extensively been applied to rescue a great number of lives through prevention and treatment of contagious diseases and infections. They are either natural or human‐made substances, which are broadly employed for promoting the health condition of human, plant, and animal. However, antibiotics are known to exert detrimental impacts on useful and nontarget microbiota of the biological system due to the overuse, continuous discharge into the environment, and subsequently aggregation in various environmental matrices. Physical and chemical properties help to evaluate whether a substance is more likely to concentrate on the terrestrial, aquatic, or atmospheric environmental matrix as well as its fate. Therefore, appropriate characterization and proper understanding of physicochemical attributes of antibiotics are indispensable to protect ecosystem health. In this paper, the antibiotic classifications and their physicochemical properties were reviewed with emphasis on detection in the aqueous environment.

Practitioner points

Antibiotic compounds were classified in main classes, groups, and their main use.

Tetracyclines, sulfonamides, aminoglycosides, macrolides, β‐lactams, quinolones, polyether ionophores, and glycopeptides are the most commonly detected antibiotics in the aquatic environment.

Physical–chemical properties of the main antimicrobial classes were mentioned.

Physicochemical properties can change under different environmental conditions such as pH and temperature.
Clarifying how hunt‐specific experiences affect satisfaction among more avid and less avid waterfowl hunters
Authors: Schroeder Susan A. , Fulton David C. , Cornicelli Louis , Cordts Steven D. , Lawrence Jeffrey S.
Published: September 2019

Marketing research methods could enhance understanding of hunter satisfaction, a key metric for state wildlife management agencies. We used 3 marketing research approaches—revised importance‐performance, importance‐grid, and penalty‐reward‐contrast analysis—to test determinants of waterfowl hunter satisfaction in Minnesota, USA. These methods have seen limited application in research on hunting and other outdoor recreation activities. Using results from a 2015 mail survey, we examined the implicit and explicit motivations and overall satisfaction of Minnesota waterfowl hunters. We also differentiated how experiences relate to satisfaction for more avid and less avid hunters, defined by self‐reported importance of the activity. Seeing ducks in the field was important to satisfaction for both avidity groups. Bagging ducks each day in the field was more important to satisfaction for less avid hunters, whereas bagging a lot of ducks over the season and attracting ducks with decoys were more important to the satisfaction of more avid hunters. Our methods illuminate differences between explicit and implicit motivations for participation in waterfowl hunting, clarify factors crucial to satisfaction, and identify asymmetric influences of experiences on satisfaction and dissatisfaction. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.
Recombinant production of a hard‐to‐express membrane‐bound cytochrome P450 in different yeasts—Comparison of physiology and productivity
Authors: Hausjell Johanna , Schendl Dominik , Weissensteiner Julia , Molitor Christian , Halbwirth Heidi , Spadiut Oliver
Published: September 2019

Cytochrome P450s comprise one of the largest protein superfamilies. They occur in every kingdom of life and catalyse a variety of essential reactions. Their production is of utmost interest regarding biotransformation and structure‐function elucidation. However, they have proven hard to express due to their membrane anchor, their complex co‐factor requirements and their need for a redox‐partner. In our study, we investigated and compared different yeast strains for the production of the plant cytochrome P450 chalcone 3‐hydroxylase. To our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating different yeasts for the expression of this abundant and highly significant protein superfamily.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae and three different strains of Pichia pastoris expressing chalcone 3‐hydroxylase were cultivated in controlled bioreactor runs and evaluated regarding physiological parameters and expression levels of the cytochrome P450. Production differed significantly between the different strains and was found highest in the investigated P. pastoris MutS strain KM71H where 8 mg P450 per gram dry cell weight were detected. We believe that this host could be suitable for the expression of many eukaryotic, especially plant‐derived, cytochrome P450s as it combines high specific product yields together with straightforward cultivation techniques for achieving high biomass concentrations. Both factors greatly facilitate subsequent establishment of purification procedures for the cytochrome P450 and make the yeast strain an ideal platform for biotransformation as well.
Navigating Higher Education Institutions in Times of Quality Assurance: The Assumptive Worlds of Vice Chancellors
Authors: Hult Agneta
Published: September 2019

In this chapter, the vice chancellors’ views of the idea of the university, quality in higher education, and national evaluation and quality assurance are described and analysed as parts of their assumptive worlds. A majority of all Swedish vice chancellors were interviewed, and their different and partly conflicting views are outlined as different regions of the Swedish higher education landscape. As a background, the changes to the governing of higher education in Sweden are briefly presented. The vice chancellors’ assumptive worlds are discussed in relation to these transformations and to governing higher education by evaluation and as potential grounds for their common policy and action.
LSTM and 1-D Convolutional Neural Networks for Predictive Monitoring of the Anaerobic Digestion Process
Authors: McCormick Mark , Villa Alessandro E. P.
Published: September 2019

Anaerobic digestion is a natural process that transforms organic substrates to methane and other products. Under controlled conditions the process has been widely applied to manage organic wastes. Improvements in process control are expected to lead to improvements in the technical and economic efficiency of the process. This paper presents and compares 3 different neural network model architectures for use as anaerobic digestion process predictive models. The models predict the future biogas production trend from measured physical and chemical parameters. The first model features an LSTM layer, the second model features a 1-D convolutional layer and the third model combines 2 separate inputs and parallel treatment using LSTM and 1-D convolutional layers followed by merging to produce a single prediction. The predictions can be used to adaptively adjust the substrate feeding rate in accordance with the transient state of the digestion process as defined by liquid feeding rate, the organic acid and ammonium ion concentrations and the pH of the digester liquid phase. The training and testing data were obtained during 1 year of continuous operation of a pilot-plant treating restaurant wastes. PLS regression and ICA were used to select the most relevant process parameters from the data. The 1-D Convolutional based model comprising 272 trainable parameters predicted the future biogas flow rate changes with accuracy as high as 89% and an average accuracy of 58% . The work-flow can be applied to optimize the control of the study digester and to control bioreactors in general.
Predictive Power of Time-Series Based Machine Learning Models for DMPK Measurements in Drug Discovery
Authors: von Korff Modest , Corminboeuf Olivier , Gatfield John , Jeay Sébastien , Reymond Isabelle , Sander Thomas
Published: September 2019

Four datasets measuring DMPK (drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics) parameters, and one target protein-specific dataset were analyzed by machine learning methods. Parameters measured for the five compound sets were biological activity data, plasma protein binding, permeability in MDCK I cell layers, intrinsic clearance by human liver microsomes, and plasma exposure in orally dosed rats. The measured data were sorted chronologically, reflecting the order in which they had been obtained in the discovery project. Subsets of the chronologically sorted data that appeared early in the project were used as training datasets to build predictive models for subsequent compounds based on kNN, partial least squares regression (PLSR), nonlinear PLSR, random forest regression, and support vector regression. A median model was used as a baseline to assess the machine learning model prediction quality. Data sets sorted in order of increasing test set prediction error: intrinsic clearance, plasma protein binding, cell layer permeability, biological activity on target protein, and bioavailability as AUC in rats. Our results give a first estimation of the power of machine learning to predict DMPK properties of compounds in an ongoing drug discovery project.
Application of Materials Informatics Tools to the Analysis of Combinatorial Libraries of All Metal-Oxides Photovoltaic Cells
Authors: Senderowitz Hanoch , Yosipof Abraham , Kaspi Omer
Published: September 2019

Material informatics is engaged with the application of informatics tools, frequently in the form of machine learning algorithms, to gain insight into structure properties relationships of materials and to design new materials with desired properties. Here we describe the application of such algorithms to the analysis of solar cell (i.e., photovoltaic; PV) libraries made entirely from metal oxides (MOs). MOs-based solar cells hold the potential to provide clean and affordable energy if their power conversion efficiencies are improved. We demonstrate the power of dimensionality reduction methods to visualize the MOs-based solar cell space and the power of several algorithms to develop predictive models for key PV properties. We stress the importance of conducting such studies in collaboration with experimentalists.
Analysis and Modelling of False Positives in GPCR Assays
Authors: Ghosh Dipan , Tetko Igor , Klebl Bert , Nussbaumer Peter , Koch Uwe
Published: September 2019

G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCR) are involved in all the major signaling pathways. As a result, they often serve as potential target for therapeutic drugs. In this study we analyze publicly available assays involving different classes of GPCR to identify false positives. Using the latest developments in Machine Learning, we then build models that can predict such compounds with high confidence. Given the ubiquity of GPCR assays, we believe such models will be very helpful in flagging potential false positives for further testing.
Conformational Oversampling as Data Augmentation for Molecules
Authors: Hemmerich Jennifer , Asilar Ece , Ecker Gerhard F.
Published: September 2019

Toxicological datasets tend to be small and imbalanced. This quickly causes models to overfit and disregard the minority class. To solve this issue we generate conformations of molecules. Thereby, we can balance datasets as well as increase their size. Using this approach on the Tox21 Challenge data we observed conformational oversampling to be a viable approach to train datasets, increasing the balanced accuracy of trained models.
Positive Self-adjoint Operator Extensions with Applications to Differential Operators
Authors: Brown B. M. , Evans W. D. , Wood I. G.
Published: September 2019

In this paper we consider extensions of positive operators. We study the connections between the von Neumann theory of extensions and characterisations of positive extensions via decompositions of the domain of the associated form. We apply the results to elliptic second order differential operators and look in particular at examples of the Laplacian on a disc and the Aharonov–Bohm operator.
Aktualisierung der S2k-Leitlinie zur Diagnostik, Therapie und Metaphylaxe der Urolithiasis (AWMF Registernummer 043-025)
Authors: Seitz C. , Bach T. , Bader M. , Berg W. , Knoll T. , Neisius A. , Netsch C. , Nothacker M. , Schmidt S. , Schönthaler M. , Siener R. , Stein R. , Straub M. , Strohmaier W. , Türk C. , Volkmer B.
Published: September 2019

Die Zunahme des medizinischen Wissens, technische Neuerungen gemeinsam mit demographischem Wandel stellen eine Herausforderung an die Neukonzeption von Leitlinien und klinischen Studien dar. Die vorliegende S2k-Leitlinie, die sich ausschließlich mit Nieren- und Harnleitersteinen beschäftigt, soll die Behandlung von Harnsteinpatienten in Klinik und Praxis unterstützen, aber auch Patienteninformationen zur Urolithiasis geben. Die zunehmende interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit in der Steintherapie zeigt sich auch an der Anzahl beteiligter Fachgruppen und Arbeitsgemeinschaften in der Erstellung des neuen Leitlinienupdates. Die vorliegende, aus einem interdisziplinären Konsensusprozess hervorgegangene S2k-Leitlinie stellt die aktuellen Empfehlungen praxisnah dar und gibt Entscheidungshilfen für Diagnostik‑, Therapie- und Metaphylaxemaßnahmen auf Basis von Expertenmeinungen und verfügbaren Evidenzgrundlagen aus der Literatur.
Crime, deterrence and punishment revisited
Authors: Bun Maurice J. G. , Kelaher Richard , Sarafidis Vasilis , Weatherburn Don
Published: September 2019

Despite an abundance of empirical evidence on crime spanning over 40 years, there exists no consensus on the impact of the criminal justice system on crime activity. We construct a new panel data set that contains all relevant variables prescribed by economic theory. Our identification strategy allows for a feedback relationship between crime and deterrence variables, and it controls for omitted variables and measurement error. We deviate from the majority of the literature in that we specify a dynamic model, which captures the essential feature of habit formation and persistence in aggregate behaviour. Our results show that the criminal justice system exerts a large influence on crime activity. Increasing the risk of apprehension and conviction is more influential in reducing crime than raising the expected severity of punishment.
A short proof of the deformation property of Bridgeland stability conditions
Authors: Bayer Arend
Published: September 2019

The key result in the theory of Bridgeland stability conditions is the property that they form a complex manifold. This comes from the fact that given any small deformation of the central charge, there is a unique way to correspondingly deform the stability condition. We give a short direct proof of an effective version of this deformation property.
Feeding Honeybee Colonies with Honeybee-Specific Lactic Acid Bacteria (Hbs-LAB) Does Not Affect Colony-Level Hbs-LAB Composition or Paenibacillus larvae Spore Levels, Although American Foulbrood Affected Colonies Harbor a More Diverse Hbs-LAB Community
Authors: Lamei Sepideh , Stephan Jörg G. , Nilson Bo , Sieuwerts Sander , Riesbeck Kristian , de Miranda Joachim R. , Forsgren Eva
Published: September 2019

The main current methods for controlling American Foulbrood (AFB) in honeybees, caused by the bacterial pathogen Paenibacillus larvae, are enforced incineration or prophylactic antibiotic treatment, neither of which is fully satisfactory. This has led to an increased interest in the natural relationships between the pathogenic and mutualistic microorganisms of the honeybee microbiome, in particular, the antagonistic effects of Honeybee-Specific Lactic Acid Bacteria (hbs-LAB) against P. larvae. We investigated whether supplemental administration of these bacteria affected P. larvae infection at colony level over an entire flowering season. Over the season, the supplements affected neither colony-level hbs-LAB composition nor naturally subclinical or clinical P. larvae spore levels. The composition of hbs-LAB in colonies was, however, more diverse in apiaries with a history of clinical AFB, although this was also unrelated to P. larvae spore levels. During the experiments, we also showed that qPCR could detect a wider range of hbs-LAB, with higher specificity and sensitivity than mass spectrometry. Honeybee colonies are complex super-organisms where social immune defenses, natural homeostatic mechanisms, and microbiome diversity and function play a major role in disease resistance. This means that observations made at the individual bee level cannot be simply extrapolated to infer similar effects at colony level. Although individual laboratory larval assays have clearly demonstrated the antagonistic effects of hbs-LAB on P. larvae infection, the results from the experiments presented here indicate that direct conversion of such practice to colony-level administration of live hbs-LAB is not effective.
Factors Influencing a Medical Student's Decision to Pursue Surgery as a Career
Authors: Shelton Jarod , Obregon Michael , Luo Jessica , Feldman‐Schultz Oren , MacDowell Martin
Published: September 2019

Background

Recent match trends from the National Resident Matching Program suggest that the number of allopathic medical students (MD) pursuing general surgery is declining. This decline may have profound consequences given the surgeon shortage predicted by the Association of American Medical Colleges. Early exposure to surgery opportunities may increase a student's desire to pursue the specialty as a career. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect surgical activities have on promoting student interest in surgery.

Methods

Medical students (years 1–3) at the University of Illinois at Rockford completed a two‐component activity: a questionnaire and laparoscopic box activity. Differences in lifestyle factors, psychomotor aptitude, and future career interests were compared.

Results

A total of 64 medical students completed the activity. 45.3% of students reported that the activity positively influenced their decision to pursue a career in surgery. Rating of the importance of living in a rural versus urban community was an important lifestyle factor (p = 0.01) for students without rather than with an interest in surgery, 3.95 and 3.19, respectively. No differences were observed in other lifestyle factors.

Conclusion

Early exposure to surgical activities may foster interest in students who lacked previous intention to pursue the specialty.
The Croker Carbonate Slabs: extensive methane-derived authigenic carbonate in the Irish Sea—nature, origin, longevity and environmental significance
Authors: Judd Alan , Noble-James Tamsyn , Golding Neil , Eggett Andrew , Diesing Markus , Clare David , Silburn Briony , Duncan Graeme , Field Lorraine , Milodowski Antoni
Published: September 2019

The Croker Carbonate Slabs, in the UK sector of the Irish Sea, has shallow (70 to 100 m) water, strong (> 2 knot) tidal currents, coarse mobile surficial sediments and the most extensive methane-derived authigenic carbonate (MDAC) known in European waters. Multi-disciplinary studies (2004 to 2015) were commissioned specifically to document the benthic habitat, and have resulted in the designation of this site as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) under the European Commission’s Habitats Directive as an example of “Submarine structures formed by leaking gases”. However, this paper is focussed on the geoscience aspects of the site: the mineralogy and isotopic composition of the MDAC, its formation and age. It considers the implications of these findings with respect to the timing of the deglaciation of the area since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), and the environmental implications of the seepage of methane from the site over a period of at least 17,000 years. Carbon isotope ratios (δ13C − 34 to − 54‰) confirm that the carbonate minerals (high-Mg calcite and aragonite) result from the anaerobic oxidation of methane. Widespread shallow gas within post-glacial sediments is sourced from underlying coal-bearing Carboniferous strata. Geophysical (side-scan sonar and multi-beam echo sounder) and visual surveys show that the MDAC occurs as isolated lumps, continuous pavements, and cliffs < 6 m tall, which post-date the post-glacial sediments, but are in places covered by a veneer of coarse mobile surficial sediments. U-Th dates (17,000 ± 5500 to 4000 ± 200 BP) suggest continual MDAC formation since the last glacial maximum, and constrain the postglacial sea level rise in this part of the Irish Sea; the site must have been submarine before MDAC formation started, whether or not methane was escaping. Visual and acoustic evidence of gas seepage is limited, but methane concentrations in the water are high (< 21.4 nmol l−1) and suggest present-day export to the atmosphere. It is also implied that significant methane release to the atmosphere occurred immediately after the retreat of the ice that covered the site during the LGM until 21.9 to 20.7 ka BP.
Bedside placement of ventricular access devices under local anaesthesia in neonates with posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus: preliminary experience
Authors: van Lindert Erik J. , Liem K. Djien , Geerlings Martin , Delye Hans
Published: September 2019

Purpose

Posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation in preterm infants is primarily treated using temporising measures, of which the placement of a ventricular access device (VAD) is one option. Permanent shunt dependency rates are high, though vary widely. In order to improve the treatment burden and lower shunt dependency rates, we implemented several changes over the years. One of these changes involves the setting of the surgery from general anaesthesia in the OR to local anaesthesia in bed at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which may seem counterintuitive to many. In this article, we describe our surgical technique and present the results of this regimen and compare it to our previous techniques.

Methods

Retrospective study of a consecutive series of 37 neonates with posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (PHVD) treated using a VAD, with a cohort I (n = 13) treated from 2004 to 2008 under general anaesthesia in the OR, cohort II (n = 11) treated from 2009 to 2013 under general anaesthesia in the NICU and cohort III (n = 13) treated from December 2013 to December 2017 under local anaesthesia on the NICU.

Results

The overall infection rate was 14%; the VAD revision rate was 22% and did not differ significantly between the cohorts. Procedures under local anaesthesia never required conversion to general anaesthesia and were well tolerated. After an average of 33 tapping days, 38% of the neonates received a permanent ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. The permanent VP shunt rate was 9% with VAD placement under local anaesthesia and 52% when performed under general anaesthesia (p = 0.02).

Conclusion

Bedside placement of VADs for PHVD under local anaesthesia in neonates is a low-risk, well-tolerated procedure that results in at least equal results to surgery performed under general anaesthesia and/or performed in an OR.
Resistance is futile: RNA-sequencing reveals differing responses to bat fungal pathogen in Nearctic Myotis lucifugus and Palearctic Myotis myotis
Authors: Lilley Thomas M. , Prokkola Jenni M. , Blomberg Anna S. , Paterson Steve , Johnson Joseph S. , Turner Gregory G. , Bartonička Tomáš , Bachorec Erik , Reeder DeeAnn M. , Field Kenneth A.
Published: September 2019

Resistance and tolerance allow organisms to cope with potentially life-threatening pathogens. Recently introduced pathogens initially induce resistance responses, but natural selection favors the development of tolerance, allowing for a commensal relationship to evolve. Mycosis by Pseudogymnoascus destructans, causing white-nose syndrome (WNS) in Nearctic hibernating bats, has resulted in population declines since 2006. The pathogen, which spread from Europe, has infected species of Palearctic Myotis for a longer period. We compared ecologically relevant responses to the fungal infection in the susceptible Nearctic M. lucifugus and less susceptible Palearctic M. myotis, to uncover factors contributing to survival differences in the two species. Samples were collected from euthermic bats during arousal from hibernation, a naturally occurring phenomenon, during which transcriptional responses are activated. We compared the whole-transcriptome responses in wild bats infected with P. destructans hibernating in their natural habitat. Our results show dramatically different local transcriptional responses to the pathogen between uninfected and infected samples from the two species. Whereas we found 1526 significantly upregulated or downregulated transcripts in infected M. lucifugus, only one transcript was downregulated in M. myotis. The upregulated response pathways in M. lucifugus include immune cell activation and migration, and inflammatory pathways, indicative of an unsuccessful attempt to resist the infection. In contrast, M. myotis appears to tolerate P. destructans infection by not activating a transcriptional response. These host-microbe interactions determine pathology, contributing to WNS susceptibility, or commensalism, promoting tolerance to fungal colonization during hibernation that favors survival.

Graphic abstract
Evaluation of a laboratory-developed test for simultaneous detection of norovirus and rotavirus by real-time RT-PCR on the Panther Fusion® system
Authors: Kulis-Horn Robert K. , Tiemann Carsten
Published: September 2019

The Hologic Panther Fusion® Open Access™ functionality allows implementation of laboratory-developed tests (LDTs), with fully automated sample extraction, real-time PCR, and result interpretation. We report the development and validation of a multiplex LDT for norovirus G1, norovirus G2, and rotavirus from stool samples on this system. The LDT was optimized for primer and probe sequences, salt concentration, and PCR annealing temperature. Reproducibility of the PCR and extraction process was assessed. Performance of the multiplex LDT assay was evaluated with external quality assessment (EQA) samples and compared to a commercial multiplex assay (Allplex™ GI-Virus Assay, Seegene) in clinical samples. Salt concentrations and annealing/extension temperature were optimized to 4 mM MgCl2, 70 mM KCl, 20 mM Tris, and 60 °C, respectively. The user-prepared part of the LDT PCR mix (containing salts, probes, and primers) was stable for ≥ 11 days onboard the instrument. We observed reproducible results of PCR and the extraction process. The LDT had a sensitivity comparable to or greater than the commercial Allplex™ assay and showed excellent linearity. Forty-five EQA samples yielded the expected result with the LDT. There was 100% concordance between LDT and Allplex™ results in 160 clinical samples. Results from the suspension and direct swab stool sample preparation methods were highly concordant in the LDT. We report the successful development and validation of a multiplex PCR LDT for detection of norovirus G1, norovirus G2, and rotavirus from stool samples on the Panther Fusion® system.
Diffusion of ideas in the era of the Belt and Road: Insights from China–CEE think tank cooperation
Authors: Vangeli Anastas
Published: September 2019

To address part of the puzzle on China’s ideational impact in the era of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the article studies social interaction of Chinese and CEE think tanks by employing the concept of diffusion of ideas. The article proposes a theoretical framework to study diffusion inspired by reflexive social science that focuses on frames, (geoeconomic) imaginaries, and translations. The asymmetrical interaction of think tanks led to aligning the frames of the different actors and producing a context of peaceful and pragmatic cooperation, extension of the geoeconomic imaginaries to include previously unorthodox positions, and translation of policy concepts that are localized in accord with the dispositions of the CEE actors involved. Nevertheless, the China–CEE think tank cooperation, when analyzed in a broader context, has relatively limited impact on societal and policy levels, and is increasingly challenged by actors with greater leverage in the region. What sustain the diffusion of ideas are the potent narratives of imagined futures of prosperity under the New Silk Roads.
The Entrance Law of the Excursion Measure of the Reflected Process for Some Classes of Lévy Processes
Authors: Chaumont Loïc , Małecki Jacek
Published: September 2019

We provide integral formulae for the Laplace transform of the entrance law of the reflected excursions for symmetric Lévy processes in terms of their characteristic exponent. For subordinate Brownian motions and stable processes we express the density of the entrance law in terms of the generalized eigenfunctions for the semigroup of the process killed when exiting the positive half-line. We use the formulae to study in-depth properties of the density of the entrance law such as asymptotic behavior of its derivatives in time variable.
Psychological Therapy for Postnatal Depression in UK Primary Care Mental Health Services: A Qualitative Investigation Using Framework Analysis
Authors: Hadfield Holly , Glendenning Suzanne , Bee Penny , Wittkowski Anja
Published: September 2019

Objectives

Postnatal depression (PND) can have negative consequences for mother and infant. Current psychological therapies are effective in treating depression but improvements in mother-infant outcomes have not yet been established. We aimed to capture mothers’ experiences of therapy for PND with a focus on parenting-related outcomes. We also sought their views on including parenting support within interventions.

Methods

Fourteen mothers who received psychological therapy in the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed, coded and analysed using Framework Analysis.

Results

Three main themes were identified: ‘The experience of therapy’, ‘Therapy outcomes’ and ‘Views about parenting interventions for postnatal depression’. The main themes were underpinned by other themes. Overall the findings revealed that mothers perceived therapy as helpful in improving mood, confidence as a parent and relationship with their infant. Mothers valued the process of normalising their experiences within group therapy and by their therapists because it reduced any shame and stigma associated with PND. Mothers thought parenting support within therapy would be acceptable if delivered collaboratively.

Conclusions

Primary care-based psychological therapy for PND was perceived as helpful and acceptable. It clearly met some of the mothers’ goals, especially if their beliefs about being a ‘bad mother’ was challenged and modified. Barriers to engagement, such as childcare issues and therapist’s knowledge about perinatal mental health, would also need to be overcome. Finally, mother-infant interventions should be further explored as an adjunct treatment option.
Probabilistic linear solvers: a unifying
view
Authors: Bartels Simon , Cockayne Jon , Ipsen Ilse C. F. , Hennig Philipp
Published: September 2019

Several recent works have developed a new, probabilistic interpretation
for numerical algorithms solving linear systems in which the solution is inferred in
a Bayesian framework, either directly or by inferring the unknown action of the
matrix inverse. These approaches have typically focused on replicating the behaviour
of the conjugate gradient method as a prototypical iterative method. In this work,
surprisingly general conditions for equivalence of these disparate methods are
presented. We also describe connections between probabilistic linear solvers and
projection methods for linear systems, providing a probabilistic interpretation of a
far more general class of iterative methods. In particular, this provides such an
interpretation of the generalised minimum residual method. A probabilistic view of
preconditioning is also introduced. These developments unify the literature on
probabilistic linear solvers and provide foundational connections to the literature
on iterative solvers for linear systems.
The Role of Natural Killer Cells as a Platform for Immunotherapy in Pediatric Cancers
Authors: Kimpo Miriam Santiago , Oh Bernice , Lee Shawn
Published: September 2019

Purpose of Review

We aim to review the most recent findings in the use of NK cells in childhood cancers.

Recent Findings

Natural killer cells are cytotoxic to tumor cells. In pediatric leukemias, adoptive transfer of NK cells can bridge children not in remission to transplant. Interleukins (IL2, IL15) can enhance NK cell function. NK cell-CAR therapy has advantages of shorter life span that lessens chronic toxicities, lower risk of graft versus host disease when using allogeneic cells, ability of NK cells to recognize tumor cells that have downregulated MHC to escape T cells, and possibly less likelihood of cytokine storm. Cytotoxicity to solid tumors (rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, neuroblastoma) is seen with graft versus tumor effect in transplant and in combination with antibodies. Challenges lie in the microenvironment which is suppressive for NK cells.

NK cell immunotherapy in childhood cancers is promising and recent works aim to overcome challenges.
Early Warning Systems: Lost in Translation or Late by Definition? A FORIN Approach
Authors: Alcántara-Ayala Irasema , Oliver-Smith Anthony
Published: September 2019

Early warning systems (EWSs) are widely considered to be one of the most important mechanisms to prevent disasters around the globe. But as disasters continue to affect countries where EWSs have already been implemented, the striking disaster consequences have led us to reflect on the focus, architecture, and function of the warning systems. Since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami there has been a rapid rise in the promotion and use of EWSs to minimize disaster losses and damage. However, few researchers have addressed the question of their acceptability as an adaptive measure to the existing exposure conditions. EWSs are far more linked to emergency response and humanitarian crises and accepted technological interventions as solutions than they are to explicitly advance integrated analysis, disaster risk reduction, and policy making. A major flaw of EWSs is that the term “early” has been essentially used in reference to the speed of hazard onset, founded on a physicalist perspective that has encouraged a considerable dependence on technology. In this article we address the need for a clear understanding of the root causes and risk drivers of disaster risk creation, as advanced in the FORIN (forensic investigation of disasters) approach, as a prerequisite for the development of more articulated EWSs that could contribute to disaster risk reduction through policy making and practice, based on integrated and transdisciplinary management, in the interest of sustainable development, and human welfare and well-being.
Effect of three types of liquid compost combined with Avicennia marina leaves on growth and survival of tiger prawns (Penaeus monodon)
Authors: Ariyati Restiana Wisnu , Rejeki Sri , Widowati Lestari L. , Elfitasari Tita , Bosma Roel H.
Published: September 2019

The sustainability of prawn farming in brackish water ponds is controversial because of low yields and a history of mangrove clearing. Low yields are due largely to insufficient preparation of pond bottoms. Mangrove trees are often planted on pond bunds as window dressing. This study examines the effect of three types of liquid compost from vegetable, fruit, and both vegetable and fruit in tanks to which whole or choppedAvicennia marinaleaves have been added to mimic local pond conditions. In a split-plot design, 28 square tanks were each stocked with one hundred 15-day-old post-larvae tiger prawns (Penaeus monodon). Four tanks were used as controls and 24 were assigned to the treatments, 12 with whole and 12 with chopped leaves. Of the treatment tanks, 4 received liquid compost from vegetable, 4 received fruit, and 4 received mixed vegetable and fruit. Shrimp were weighed at the start, halfway point, and the end of the 50-day trial, and fed at 5% of the estimated total weight; survival was counted at the end. The survival rates of treatments and controls (65–76%) were not significantly different. Shrimp in water with vegetable compost grew significantly faster (2.7% day−1) than in both treatments with fruit (2.5% day−1), while all treatments were associated with significantly faster growth than were the controls (2.0% day−1). The lower growth rate of shrimp fed fruit compost may have been due to dinoflagellates, which are known to negatively affect shrimp. Shrimp in tanks with chopped mangrove leaves grew slightly better than shrimp in tanks with whole mangrove leaves.
Emergent Constraints on Climate-Carbon Cycle Feedbacks
Authors: Cox Peter M.
Published: September 2019

Purpose of Review

Feedbacks between CO2-induced climate change and the carbon cycle are now routinely represented in the Earth System Models (ESMs) that are used to make projections of future climate change. The inconclusion of climate-carbon cycle feedbacks in climate projections is an important advance, but has added a significant new source of uncertainty. This review assesses the potential for emergent constraints to reduce the uncertainties associated with climate-carbon cycle feedbacks.

Recent Findings

The emergent constraint technique involves using the full ensemble of models to find an across-ensemble relationship between an observable feature of the Earth System (such as a trend, interannual variation or change in seasonality) and an uncertain aspect of the future. Examples focussing on reducing uncertainties in future atmospheric CO2concentration, carbon loss from tropical land under warming and CO2fertilization of mid- and high-latitude photosynthesis are exemplars of these different types of emergent constraints.

The power of emergent constraints is that they use the enduring range in model projections to reduce uncertainty in the future of the real Earth System, but there are also risks that indiscriminate data-mining, and systematic model errors could yield misleading constraints. A hypothesis-driven theory-led approach can overcome these risks and also reveal the true promise of emergent constraints—not just as ways to reduce uncertainty in future climate change but also to catalyse advances in our understanding of the Earth System.
MHD turbulence
Authors: Beresnyak Andrey
Published: September 2019

We review the current status of research in MHD turbulence theory and numerical experiments and their applications to astrophysics and solar science. We introduce general tools for studying turbulence, basic turbulence models, MHD equations and their wave modes. Subsequently, we cover the theories and numerics of Alfvénic turbulence, imbalanced turbulence, small-scale dynamos and models and numerics for supersonic MHD turbulence.
The Alzheimer's Disease Exposome
Authors: Finch Caleb E. , Kulminski Alexander M.
Published: September 2019

Introduction

Environmental factors are poorly understood in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias. The importance of environmental factors in gene environment interactions (GxE) is suggested by wide individual differences in cognitive loss, even for carriers of AD‐risk genetic variants.

Results and Discussion

We propose the “AD exposome” to comprehensively assess the modifiable environmental factors relevant to genetic underpinnings of cognitive aging and AD. Analysis of endogenous and exogenous environmental factors requires multi‐generational consideration of these interactions over age and time (GxExT). New computational approaches to the multi‐level complexities may identify accessible interventions for individual brain aging. International collaborations on diverse populations are needed to identify the most relevant exposures over the life course for GxE interactions.
The Justinianic Plague: an interdisciplinary review
Authors: Eisenberg Merle , Mordechai Lee
Published: September 2019

This article is a detailed critical review of all the major scholarly publications in the rapidly expanding field of the Justinianic Plague published from 2000 through 2018. It updates the article in this journal by Dionysios Stathakopoulos from 2000, while also providing a detailed appraisal of the state of the field across all disciplines, including: literary studies, archaeology, DNA evidence, climatology, and epidemiology. We also identify the current paradigm for the Justinianic Plague as well as survey possible avenues forward for the field in the future.1
‘Literary Evenings’ at the Greek National Theatre, 1945–6: popular education and the literary canon
Authors: Antonelaki Fiona
Published: September 2019

This article recounts the little-known story of the ‘Literary Evenings’ (1945–6), a series of literary recitals staged at the Greek National Theatre and organized by members of the Generation of the 1930s. Set against the background of intense political rivalry that followed the Varkiza Agreement, the ‘Literary Evenings’ capture the post-war aspirations for the popularization of high culture. Drawing upon hitherto unexplored archival material, this article aims to offer a new, historically informed understanding of the Generation of the 1930s, while also directing attention to the aural consumption of literary texts as an unacknowledged force behind canon formation.
Lives in exile: foreign political refugees in early independent Greece (1830–53)
Authors: Aliprantis Christos
Published: September 2019

This article discusses the stay in Greece of Italian and Polish political refugees of the 1830–1 and 1848–9 European revolutions. The article depicts the human geography of the refugees and examines the experience of exile both collectively and individually. Apart from studying the émigré communities as a whole in Athens, Patras and Syros, this paper also analyses the problems and expectations of specific refugees in Greece after 1849 (e.g. Antonio Morandi, Marco Antonio Canini, Oronzio Spinazzolla). This contribution thus adds to our understanding of both Greece under King Otto and the Mediterranean by highlighting aspects of transnational mobility and interaction of peoples and ideas in the mid-nineteenth century.
Rare transitions to thin-layer turbulent condensates
Authors: van Kan Adrian , Nemoto Takahiro , Alexakis Alexandros
Published: September 2019

Turbulent flows in a thin layer can develop an inverse energy cascade leading to spectral condensation of energy when the layer height is smaller than a certain threshold. These spectral condensates take the form of large-scale vortices in physical space. Recently, evidence for bistability was found in this system close to the critical height: depending on the initial conditions, the flow is either in a condensate state with most of the energy in the two-dimensional (2-D) large-scale modes, or in a three-dimensional (3-D) flow state with most of the energy in the small-scale modes. This bistable regime is characterised by the statistical properties of random and rare transitions between these two locally stable states. Here, we examine these statistical properties in thin-layer turbulent flows, where the energy is injected by either stochastic or deterministic forcing. To this end, by using a large number of direct numerical simulations (DNS), we measure the decay time $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}_{d}$ of the 2-D condensate to 3-D flow state and the build-up time $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}_{b}$ of the 2-D condensate. We show that both of these times $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}_{d},\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}_{b}$ follow an exponential distribution with mean values increasing faster than exponentially as the layer height approaches the threshold. We further show that the dynamics of large-scale kinetic energy may be modelled by a stochastic Langevin equation. From time-series analysis of DNS data, we determine the effective potential that shows two minima corresponding to the 2-D and 3-D states when the layer height is close to the threshold.