bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two new foliicolous species of Strigula (Strigulaceae, Strigulales) in Korea offer insight in phorophyte-dependent variation of thallus morphology

Authors: WOO JUNG-JAE , LÜCKING ROBERT , OH SEUNG-YOON , JEUN YONG-CHULL , HUR JAE-SEOUN
Published: May 2020

Foliicolous lichens grow on the surface of living leaves in tropical and subtropical forests. Compared to a large number of species of foliicolous lichens reported from other regions in tropical and subtropical Asia, only six species of the otherwise abundant genus Strigula have been registered from South Korea so far. Three of these, morphologically identified as S. concreta, S. macrocarpa, and S. smaragdula, had previously been shown to share near-identical ITS sequences, casting doubt about the usefulness of this marker for species delimitation in the genus Strigula. To shed light on this conundrum, we surveyed the diversity of the genus Strigula in the Gotjawal forest area on Jeju Island south of mainland Korea, where the climate and vegetation are suitable for foliicolous lichens. As the result of a combined analysis of phenotype and molecular data of the ITS fungal barcoding marker, we found that material morphologically similar to known species formed two strongly supported clades, representing two species new to science, S. depressa Woo, Lücking & Hur sp. nov. and S. multiformis Woo, Lücking & Hur sp. nov., which are described herein. Strigula multiformis included the four previously sequenced specimens identified as S. concreta, S. macrocarpa, and S. smaragdula. A detailed analysis of morphological and anatomical characters revealed that all specimens of S. multiformis were anatomically uniform but varied in thallus morphology, mostly resembling S. smaragdula but with some forms similar to S. concreta and S. macrocarpa, explaining the previous misidentifications. This variation was found to be driven by leaf characters of the phorophyte species, as these apparently influence the morphology of the subcuticular thalli.
The genus Phyllophorella (Phyllophoraceae, Rhodophyta) on the central coast of Peru, range extensions and anatomical description of the female gametophyte and carposporophyte

Authors: ARAKAKI NATALIA , PEREZ-ALANIA MELISSA , TELLIER FLORENCE , GIL-KODAKA PATRICIA , RAMIREZ MARIA ELIANA
Published: May 2020

Phyllophorella was recently described from two localities on the central coast of Peru (12°S), based on the endemic species Phyllophora (Ph.) peruviana. The genus currently accommodates three species, Phyllophorella (P.) peruviana, P. humboldtiana and P. limaensis. Recent field surveys for Phyllophorella on the central coast of Peru led to the discovery of collections outside the originally reported ranges. Morphological, anatomical, and genetic characterization of the specimens confirms range extensions for P. peruviana to 9° S and 15° S, and P. humboldtiana to 12° S and 15° S. A combined phylogenetic analysis of rbcL and COI-5P gene sequences supports the taxonomic status of these two species and reasserts the genus as monophyletic. Anatomically, the two species differ in nemathecial structure. Phyllophorella peruviana displays dome-shaped and well-defined circular nemathecia, whereas in P. humboldtiana they are irregular and diffuse in form. Mature cystocarps were observed for the first time in Phyllophorella, in P. humboldtiana from Lima and Ica, Peru. Phyllophorella, as well as the other genera classified to the family Phyllophoraceae, have a procarpic sexual system, with a carpogonial branch of three cells; the cystocarp develops a thickened cortex, is immersed in the medulla, and lacks a pericarp and an ostiole. This study demonstrates that field work, together with morphological, developmental, and genetic analyses, are useful methods for improving our understanding of seaweed distributions and systematics.
A new aerophilic species of the genus Diploneis (Bacillariophyta) from the Mawsmai cave of Meghalaya, Northeast India

Authors: BHATT CHINTAN , KARTHICK BALASUBRAMANIAN
Published: May 2020

A new aerophilic species, Diploneis mawsmaii sp. nov., is here described from a speleo-environment. The species is found on mosses growing under the water dripping region of Mawsmai cave, Meghalaya state of India. It is discussed based on detailed light and scanning electron microscopic observations and compared with morphologically similar Diploneis species like D. modica Hustedt, D. modicahassiaca Lange-Bertalot & A. Fuhrmann, D. boldtiana Cleve and D. zula Kulikovskiy & Lange Bertalot. Diploneis mawsmaii possesses distinct morphological features such as a largely expanded central area bearing a prominent circular to oval central nodule and the internal structure exhibiting short striation with acute ends and the flattening of longitudinal canals at the central area. This discovery increases our understanding of cavern biodiversity in the Indo-Burma hotspot region.
A new revision of Capirona (Rubiaceae, Ixoroideae, Condamineeae), with a new combination and additional notes on typification of the names involved

Authors: DELPRETE PIERO G.
Published: May 2020

A new taxonomic revision of Capirona (Rubiaceae, Condamineeae) is presented. Delprete (1999) treated Condaminea macrophylla as a new synonym of Capirona decorticans; as the former name has priority over the latter, the new combination Capirona macrophylla is here proposed. Full synonymy, type citations, further notes on lectotypification of C. decorticans, and an amplified description of the single species recognized in the genus are provided. Additional type specimens (i.e., not mentioned in previous revisions) and barcodes or accession numbers for all type specimens are here cited for the first time. A preliminary conservation assessment is proposed using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.
Use of Multiensemble Track Clustering to Inform Medium-Range Tropical Cyclone Forecasts
Authors: Kowaleski Alex M. , Evans Jenni L.
Published: May 2020

Tropical cyclone ensemble track forecasts from 153 initialization times during 2017–18 are clustered using regression mixture models. Clustering is performed on a four-ensemble dataset [ECMWF + GEFS + UKMET + CMC (EGUC)], and a three-ensemble dataset that excludes the CMC (EGU). For both datasets, five-cluster partitions are selected to analyze, and the relationship between cluster properties (size, ensemble composition) and 96–144-h cluster-mean error is evaluated. For both datasets, small clusters produce very large errors, with the least populous cluster producing the largest error in more than 50% of forecasts. The mean of the most populous EGUC cluster outperforms the most accurate (EGU) ensemble mean in only 43% of forecasts; however, when the most populous EGUC cluster from each forecast contains ≥30% of the ensemble population, its average cluster-mean error is significantly reduced compared to when the most populous cluster is smaller. Forecasts with a highly populous EGUC cluster also appear to have smaller EGUC-, EGU-, and ECMWF-mean errors. Cluster-mean errors also vary substantially by the ensembles composing the cluster. The most accurate clusters are EGUC clusters that contain threshold memberships of ECMWF, GEFS, and UKMET, but not CMC. The elevated accuracy of EGUC CMC-excluding clusters indicates the potential utility of including the CMC in clustering, despite its large ensemble-mean errors. Pruning ensembles by removing members that belong to small clusters reduces 96–144-h forecast errors for both EGUC and EGU clustering. For five-cluster partitions, a pruning threshold of 10% affects 49% and 35% of EGUC and EGU ensembles, respectively, improving 69%–74% of the forecasts affected by pruning.
Correlation of Measured and Estimated Creatinine Clearance in Hospitalized Elderly Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Lavelle Rachel I. , Brown Austin R. , Gerlach Anthony
Published: May 2020

Background: Accurate assessment of renal function is essential in hospitalized elderly patients. Few studies have examined the accuracy of Cockcroft-Gault (C-G) estimates of creatinine clearance (CrCl) compared with measured clearance in these patients. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the correlation between C-G estimates of CrCl and measured CrCl in hospitalized elderly patients. Methods: This Institutional Review Board–approved, single-center retrospective observational cohort study included all patients who were 65 years and older admitted to our medical center in January to September 2018 with either an 8- or 24-hour urine collected during admission. The primary outcome was correlation, bias, and precision of C-G estimates of CrCl versus measured CrCl using Pearson correlation, Spearman linear regression, and Bland-Altman analysis. Outliers were determined using a cut-off of ±20%. Data are presented as median (interquartile range) or percentages. Results: A total of 108 urine collections from 90 unique patients were included in the study. The patients were 51% female, median age was 71 (68-77) years, and median body mass index was 26.6 (22.8-31) kg/m2. Most collections were over 24 hours (66.7%), and 38% were performed while patients were in an intensive care unit. Median blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was 24.5 (17-36) mg/dL and median serum creatinine was 0.71 (0.55-1.09) mg/dL. The median C-G estimation was 75.4 (48.2-110.6) mL/min, and the median measured CrCl was 79.1 (38.1-99.5) mL/min, r2 = .56 ( P < .001). Bland-Altman analysis showed large limits of agreement (-75.5-57.7 mL/min), with a bias of −8.9 and precision (standard deviation of bias) of 34 mL/min. Outliers were common, with 38% of C-G estimation values >120% of measured CrCl, and 18% of C-G estimates <80% of measured CrCl. Conclusions: Measured CrCl varied significantly from C-G estimates in hospitalized elderly patients. It is important to recognize characteristics of patients who may benefit from measurement of CrCl. Future studies should examine the impact of this variance on clinical outcomes.
Changes in Perception Accompany the Development of Music Performance Skills
Authors: Hamilton Lani M. , Duke Robert A.
Published: May 2020

In two experiments we examined the extent to which musicians identify discrepancies between their intentions and their playing during individual practice. In the first experiment, 60 musicians representing four levels of skill development practiced a familiar piece from their own repertoire for 5 min while being audio recorded. They then listened to their recorded practice and pressed a computer key to mark moments of discrepancy between what they had intended while practicing and what they heard on the recordings. The mean rates of key presses did not differ among the four participant groups, although there were large within-group variances. In the second experiment, 13 high school and 11 expert participants from Experiment 1 returned 2 years later and listened to their original recordings, this time marking moments of discrepancy between what would be their current intentions and what they heard on their 2-year-old recordings. High school participants marked significantly more discrepancies after 2 years than they had in Experiment 1, but the mean rate of key presses among experts did not increase between Experiment 1 and Experiment 2. These results support the notion that the precision of performance goals and the acuity of perceptual discrimination are central features of musical expertise.
Rights not working? Grassroots-level impact of the European Court of Human Rights on religion
Authors: Fokas Effie
Published: May 2020

This article offers a sociology of religion approach to the study of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) religious freedoms jurisprudence. Specifically, it presents multidisciplinary research conducted on grassroots-level impact of that jurisprudence. That research maps onto the European context North American socio-legal theory which demonstrates that the direct effects of courts, in terms of prompting legal change, entail only a very small part of courts’ potential impact on society and which encourages instead attention to courts’ ‘indirect’ or ‘radiating’ effects, such as influence on how grassroots actors conceive of, talk about, and pursue their rights at the local and national level. Our relevant research in the European context shows how little attention grassroots social actors with a vested interest in religion-related rights are paying to the relevant ECtHR jurisprudence. The article discusses the broader importance of this finding for sociologists of religion.
Women’s Consumption of Pornography: Pleasure, Contestation, and Empowerment
Authors: Daskalopoulou Athanasia , Zanette Maria Carolina
Published: May 2020

This article draws on 27 interviews with women (with exclusive and non-exclusive sexual orientations) to understand the role of pornography in the construction of female sexuality. Building upon research that moves beyond the ‘negative effects paradigm’ in the study of pornography, we show that consuming pornography is both disciplining and empowering for women. Our informants recognise that pornography reproduces and promotes patriarchal discourses of sexuality, but they manage to use it to reach a state of pleasure (exercise of fantasy, sexual gratification) and perfection (optimal way of performing sex). We also show pornography’s role in cultivating a renewed understanding of female sexuality. In this process, aspects of the genre are questioned, negotiated and reconciled in order to continue using pornography to satisfy desire. We contribute to ongoing debates about the role of pornography in society by documenting the experiences of women whose voices have been hitherto underrepresented in the literature.
Are People Enrolled in NCMS and CURBMI Susceptible in Catastrophic Health Expenditure? Evidence From China
Authors: Xu Xinpeng , Gu Hai , You Hua , Bai Lan , Li Decheng , Cui Nan , Wu Wenxuan , Kou Yun
Published: May 2020

This study investigated associations between different types of medical insurance and the incidence of catastrophic health expenditure among middle-aged and the aged in China. The data came from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey implemented in 2013, with 9782 individuals analyzed. Probit regression models and multiple linear regressions were employed to explore the relationship mentioned above and potential mechanisms behind it. It was found that compared with participants in Urban Resident Basic Medical Insurance, individuals participating in New Cooperative Medical Scheme and Coordinating Urban and Rural Basic Medical Insurance was less likely to undergo catastrophic health expenditure ( P < .001, P = .008), especially for low-income and middle-income group. Participants in New Cooperative Medical Scheme and Coordinating Urban and Rural Basic Medical Insurance were more likely to utilize inpatient medical service ( P < .001, P = .020) and choose low-level medical institutions for treatment ( P = .003, P = .006). And individuals participating in New Cooperative Medical Scheme had lower out-of-pocket expenditure ( P = .034). The study showed the significant difference in the incidence of catastrophic health expenditure among participants in different medical insurances. Efforts should be made to improve the service quality of grassroots medical institutions except for the increase of reimbursement ratio, so that rural residents can enjoy high-quality medical services.
Nurse Health: The Influence of Chronotype and Shift Timing
Authors: Hittle Beverly M. , Caruso Claire C. , Jones Holly J. , Bhattacharya Amit , Lambert Joshua , Gillespie Gordon L.
Published: May 2020

Extreme chronotype and circadian disrupting work hours may increase nurse disease risks. This national, cross-sectional study of nurses ( N = 527) had three hypotheses. When chronotype and shift times are incongruent, nurses will experience increased likelihood of (1) obesity, (2) cardiovascular disease/risk factors, and (3) obesity or cardiovascular disease/risk factors when theoretically linked variables exist. Chronotype mismatched nurses’ ( n = 206) average sleep (6.1 hours, SD = 1.2) fell below 7–9 hours/24-hours sleep recommendations. Proportion of male nurses was significantly higher chronotype mismatched (12.3%) than matched (6.3%). Analyses found no direct relationship between chronotype match/mismatch with outcome variables. Exploratory interaction analysis demonstrated nurses with mismatched chronotype and above average sleep quality had an estimated 3.51 times the adjusted odds (95% CI 1.52,8.17; p = .003) of being obese. Although mechanism is unclear, this suggests sleep quality may be intricately associated with obesity. Further research is needed to inform nurses on health risks from disrupted sleep, chronotypes, and shift work.
Nia Imani Model of Care’s Impact on Homeless African-American Women
Authors: Dressel Anne , Hawkins Maren , Lopez Alexa A. , Pittman-McGee Belinda , Kako Peninnah , Gakii Dorothy , Mkandawire-Valhmu Lucy
Published: May 2020

This qualitative study assessed the impact of the Nia Imani model of care on homeless African-American women, many of whom abused drugs, experienced interpersonal violence, and faced other challenges when seeking to improve their lives and health. Nia Imani Family, Inc., is Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s, only long-term transitional living facility. Grounded in Black feminist thought, our study included focus group interviews with 39 women who had lived at Nia Imani, and successfully completed its programs; and one individual interview with the founder, who had also experienced homelessness (N=40). Themes were identified through thematic analysis, and included the following: crucial social support, learning self-worth, stability and structure, appreciation for strict rules, and importance of parenting and financial literacy classes. To ensure effective interventions, there is a need for nurses to understand how community-based and community-led programs, like Nia Imani, impact the health and well-being of African-American women, who have experienced homelessness.
Comparison of outcomes of the use of Del Nido and St. Thomas cardioplegia in adult and paediatric cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ler Ashlynn , Sazzad Faizus , Ong Geok Seen , Kofidis Theo
Published: May 2020

Background:

In recent years, the use of del Nido cardioplegia, initially intended for paediatric cardiac surgery, has been extended to adult cardiac surgery in many institutions. Our aim was thus to compare the outcomes of the use of del Nido cardioplegia with that of conventional cardioplegia and discuss its role in both adult and paediatric cardiac surgery.

Method:

A systematic literature search was conducted in August 2019 on Medline (via PubMed), Embase and Cochrane electronic databases according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Any retrospective studies and randomised controlled trials that reported findings comparing the outcomes of the use of del Nido cardioplegia with that of St. Thomas cardioplegia were included.

Results:

We observed shorter aortic cross-clamp time (mean difference: −15.18, confidence interval: −27.21 to −3.15, p = 0.01) and cardiopulmonary bypass time (mean difference: −13.52, confidence interval: −20.64 to −6.39, p = 0.0002) associated with the use of del Nido cardioplegia in adult cardiac surgery as compared to St. Thomas cardioplegia. Defibrillation rates were significantly lower in patients who had been given del Nido cardioplegia, in both adult (relative risk: 0.28, confidence interval: 0.12 to 0.64, p = 0.003) and paediatric patients (relative risk: 0.25, confidence interval: 0.08 to 0.79, p = 0.02).

Conclusion:

Del Nido cardioplegia may be a viable alternative to the use of St. Thomas cardioplegia in both adult and paediatric patients, providing similar postoperative outcomes while also affording the additional advantage of shorter aortic cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass time (in adult cardiac surgery) and decreased rates of defibrillation (in both adult and paediatric cardiac surgery).
Serum IL-23, E-selectin and sICAM levels in non-small cell lung cancer patients before and after radiotherapy
Authors: Kiziltunc Ozmen Hilal , Simsek Melih
Published: May 2020

Objective

The functions of E-selectin, interleukin (IL)-23, and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients before and after radiotherapy (RT) are poorly understood. The purpose of our study was to investigate serum IL-23, E-selectin and sICAM levels in NSCLC patients before and after RT.

Methods

Forty-four patients with pathologically confirmed NSCLC and 30 healthy individuals were included in the study. All patients received 66.6 Gy of concurrent RT.

Results

Significant differences were observed between serum IL-23, E-selectin and sICAM levels in controls and NSCLC patients both before and after radiotherapy. Inverse correlations were detected between serum IL-23 and E-selectin levels in NSCLC patients before and after RT. Positive correlations were detected between serum sICAM levels of NSCLC patients before and after RT and RT dose. No associations were observed between RT dose and IL-23 or E-selectin levels in patients before and after RT.

Conclusion

Serum IL-23, E-selectin and sICAM levels were elevated in NSCLC patients. While our results demonstrate the prognostic value of these parameters, further molecular studies of NSCLC patients are warranted.
His bundle pacing after failure of cardiac resynchronization therapy: a case study
Authors: Koščová Katarína , Chovanec Milan , Petrů Jan , Šedivá Lucie , Dujka Libor , Neužil Petr , Málek Filip
Published: May 2020

His bundle pacing is a relatively new method of cardiac pacing. This method is used in patients with atrioventricular block to prevent heart failure associated with right ventricular pacing, and in patients with bundle branch block and cardiomyopathy. We report a patient with cardiomyopathy and left bundle branch block with failure of cardiac resynchronization therapy. Permanent His bundle pacing was associated with clinical improvement and improvement of parameters of cardiac function.
Defining the Foundation Deposit in the Late and Ptolemaic Periods
Authors: Heinz Sanda S. , van der Wilt Elsbeth M.
Published: May 2020

In this article, we take a closer look at the process and contents of caching in the Sacred Animal Necropolis at North Saqqara. Most of the contents of the approximately 68 caches are unpublished, but we are using the information preserved in the excavation archive held at the Egypt Exploration Society in London. This study has three parts. First, we take a closer look at the conceptual categorization of caches, followed by a review of a particular deposition practice, that of foundation deposits. Then we consider in detail four caches of bronzes found during British excavations at the North Saqqara Sacred Animal Necropolis. Finally, we argue that these caches point towards a conceptual blending of foundation deposits with other categorizations of caches in the Late and Ptolemaic periods, opening up the possibility that new types of foundation deposits, otherwise unrecognized, may be added to the known corpus.
Learning to Recommend Signal Plans under Incidents with Real-Time Traffic Prediction
Authors: Yao Weiran , Qian Sean
Published: May 2020

The main question to address in this paper is to recommend optimal signal timing plans in real time under incidents by incorporating domain knowledge developed with the traffic signal timing plans tuned for possible incidents, and learning from historical data of both traffic and implemented signals timing. The effectiveness of traffic incident management is often limited by the late response time and excessive workload of traffic operators. This paper proposes a novel decision-making framework that learns from both data and domain knowledge to real-time recommend contingency signal plans that accommodate non-recurrent traffic, with the outputs from real-time traffic prediction at least 30 min in advance. Specifically, considering the rare occurrences of engagement of contingency signal plans for incidents, it is proposed to decompose the end-to-end recommendation task into two hierarchical models—real-time traffic prediction and plan association. The connections between the two models are learnt through metric learning, which reinforces partial-order preferences observed from historical signal engagement records. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated by testing this framework on the traffic network in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, U.S., in 2019. Results show that the recommendation system has a precision score of 96.75% and recall of 87.5% on the testing plan, and makes recommendations an average of 22.5 min lead time ahead of Waze alerts. The results suggest that this framework is capable of giving traffic operators a significant time window to access the conditions and respond appropriately.
Combining Machine Learning and Fuzzy Rule-Based System in Automating Signal Timing Experts’ Decisions during Non-Recurrent Congestion
Authors: Tariq Mosammat Tahnin , Massahi Aidin , Saha Rajib , Hadi Mohammed
Published: May 2020

Events such as surges in demand or lane blockages can create queue spillbacks even during off-peak periods, resulting in delays and spillbacks to upstream intersections. To address this issue, some transportation agencies have started implementing processes to change signal timings in real time based on traffic signal engineers’ observations of incident and traffic conditions at the intersections upstream and downstream of the congested locations. Decisions to change the signal timing are governed by many factors, such as queue length, conditions of the main and side streets, potential of traffic spilling back to upstream intersections, the importance of upstream cross streets, and the potential of the queue backing up to a freeway ramp. This paper investigates and assesses automating the process of updating the signal timing plans during non-recurrent conditions by capturing the history of the responses of the traffic signal engineers to non-recurrent conditions and utilizing this experience to train a machine learning model. A combination of recursive partitioning and regression decision tree (RPART) and fuzzy rule-based system (FRBS) is utilized in this study to deal with the vagueness and uncertainty of human decisions. Comparing the decisions made based on the resulting fuzzy rules from applying the methodology with previously recorded expert decisions for a project case study indicates accurate recommendations for shifts in the green phases of traffic signals. The simulation results indicate that changing the green times based on the output of the fuzzy rules decreased delays caused by lane blockages or demand surge.
Meaningful Modeling of Section Bus Running Times by Time Varying Mixture Distributions of Fixed Components
Authors: Büchel Beda , Corman Francesco
Published: May 2020

Understanding the variability of bus travel time is a key issue in the optimization of schedules, transit reliability, route choice analysis, and transit simulation. The statistical modeling of bus travel time data is of increasing importance given the increasing availability of data.

In this paper, we introduce a novel approach to modeling the day-to-day variability of urban bus running times on a section level. First, the explanatory power of conventionally used distributions is examined, based on likelihood and effect size. We show that a mixture model is a powerful tool to increase fitting performance, but the applied components need to be justified. To overcome this issue, we propose a novel model consisting of two individual characteristic distributions representing either off-peak or peak hour dynamics. The observed running time distribution at every hour of the day can be described as a combination (mixture) of the two dynamics. The proposed time varying model uses a small set of parameters, which are physically interpretable and capable of accurately describing running time distributions. With our modeling approach, we reduce the complexity of mixture models and increase the explanatory power and fit compared with conventional models.
Repair of Severely Damaged Reinforced Concrete Beams with High-Strength Cementitious Grout
Authors: Gergess Antoine N. , Shaikh Al Shabab Mahfoud , Massouh Razane
Published: May 2020

High-strength cementitious materials such as high-performance concrete are extensively used for retrofit of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. The effectiveness of these materials is increased when mixed with steel fibers. A commonly used technique for strengthening and repair of RC beams consists of applying high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete jackets around the beam perimeter. This paper investigates the jacketing method for repairing severely damaged RC beams. Four 2 m (6 ft 63/4 in.) long rectangular RC beams, 200 × 300 mm (8 ×12 in.) were initially cast and loaded until failure based on three-point bending tests. The four beams were then repaired by thickening the sides of the damaged RC beams using a commercially available high-strength shrinkage grout with and without steel fibers. Strain and deformation were recorded in the damaged and repaired beams to compare structural performance. It is shown that the flexural strength of the repaired beams is increased and the crack pattern under loading is improved, proving that the proposed repair method can restore the resistance capacity of RC beams despite the degree of damage. A method for repair is proposed and an analytical investigation is also performed to understand the structural behavior of the repaired beams based on different thickening configurations.
Exploratory Analysis of Real-Time E-Scooter Trip Data in Washington, D.C.
Authors: Zou Zhenpeng , Younes Hannah , Erdoğan Sevgi , Wu Jiahui
Published: May 2020

The proliferation of micromobility, evolving from station-based to dockless bikeshare programs, has dramatically accelerated since 2017 with an influx of investment from the private sector to a new product, dockless e-scooter share. As an alternative to pedal bikes, e-scooters have become widespread across the U.S.A. owing to the unprecedented convenience they bring to commuters and travelers with electric-power propulsion and freedom from docking stations. In cities like Washington, D.C., e-scooter share can play an important role to support transportation sustainability and boost accessibility in less-connected communities. This study takes advantage of publicly available but not readily accessible e-scooter share data in Washington, D.C. for an initial view of the travel patterns and behaviors related to this new mode. The study adopted an innovative approach to scrape and process general bikeshare feed specification data in real time for e-scooters. Not only locational time series data, but also e-scooter share trip trajectories were generated. The trip trajectory data provide a unique opportunity to examine travel patterns at the street link level—a level of analysis that has not been reached before for e-scooter share to the authors’ knowledge. The paper first provides descriptive statistics on e-scooter share trips, followed by an exploratory analysis of trip trajectories conjoined with street link level features. Important insights on e-scooter route choice are derived. Lastly, policy and regulatory implications in relation to e-scooter facility design and safety risks are discussed.
The use of calcium sulfo-aluminate cement as an alternative to Portland Cement for the recycling of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash in mortar
Authors: Antoun Marc , Becquart Frédéric , Gerges Najib , Aouad Georges
Published: May 2020

Municipal solid waste incineration generates large quantities of bottom ash that should be recycled. Current use of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MSWI-BA) in cementitious materials is mostly in Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). This paper considers using MSWI-BA as sand substitution in Calcium Sulfoaluminate Cement (CSA) as an alternative to OPC. A comparison between OPC and CSA mortars containing 0–2 mm MSWI-BA is conducted. The MSWI-BA used was treated to remove the ferrous and non-ferrous metals in order to obtain a better mineral fraction. Different percentages (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) of standard sand were substituted by MSWI-BA based on equivalent volume. Experimental results showed that the compressive strength and porosity of the CSA mortars were superior to OPC after substitution at 1, 7, 28, and 90 days. The compressive strength of OPC mortars with 25% substitution decreased by 40% compared to 11% for CSA mortars at 90 days. This is due to the difference in pH between the two cement pastes as OPC in contact with the MSWI-BA leads to a reaction with the aluminum content which releases hydrogen gas, increases the porosity, and decreases the compressive strength.
Application of transcriptomic and microRNA profiling in the evaluation of potential liver carcinogens
Authors: Nicolaidou Vicky , Koufaris Costas
Published: May 2020

Hepatocarcinogens are agents that increase the incidence of liver cancer in exposed animals or humans. It is now established that carcinogenic exposures have a widespread impact on the transcriptome, inducing both adaptive and adverse changes in the activities of genes and pathways. Chemical hepatocarcinogens have also been shown to affect expression of microRNA (miRNA), the evolutionarily conserved noncoding RNA that regulates gene expression posttranscriptionally. Considerable effort has been invested into examining the involvement of mRNA in chemical hepatocarcinogenesis and their potential usage for the classification and prediction of new chemical entities. For miRNA, there has been an increasing number of studies reported over the past decade, although not to the same degree as for transcriptomic studies. Current data suggest that it is unlikely that any gene or miRNA signature associated with short-term carcinogen exposure can replace the rodent bioassay. In this review, we discuss the application of transcriptomic and miRNA profiles to increase mechanistic understanding of chemical carcinogens and to aid in their classification.
Cognitive Screening Tools for Late Career Physicians: A Critical Review
Authors: Garrett Kelly Davis , Perry William , Williams Betsy , Korinek Lauri , Bazzo David E. J.
Published: May 2020

Screening measures are widely used in medicine to assess the increased probability that members of a defined population have a particular condition and therefore require more extensive assessment. The rationale for prospective screening of late career physicians (LCPs) is drawn from the following circumstances: Senior physicians—prone to the vicissitudes of aging—comprise nearly a third of the US physician workforce, physicians are poor at self-evaluation, data suggest many have clinically relevant cognitive decline, and screening is an evidence-based, method to detect individuals at risk and determine whether a comprehensive evaluation is necessary. A handful of professional organizations (eg, surgeons, obstetricians, and a growing number of medical staff credentialing committees) have developed policies in this arena. This focused review compares cognitive screening methods used or recommended for LCPs, with particular attention to the psychometric properties, ease of operational implementation, and appropriate application to physicians—a population selected for high cognitive reserve and skills. Further, we identify gaps in knowledge and practice, including the need for more career-span normative data on physicians’ cognitive and work performance. Stakeholders can improve rehabilitation and other supports to LCPs in transition, calling upon the unique expertise of those neuropsychologists who are trained on conducting fitness for duty evaluations, as well as rehabilitation professionals who can assist in developing modifications to practice when indicated or facilitate graceful transitions to retirement when necessary.
Secondary recycled acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene and graphene composite for 3D/4D applications: Rheological, thermal, magnetometric, and mechanical analyses
Authors: Kumar Vinay , Singh Rupinder , Ahuja IPS
Published: May 2020

This study reports investigation on nano-sized (5–10 nm) graphene (Gr)-reinforced, secondary (2°) recycled acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) as a smart composite material for 3D and 4D applications. Gr was blended (in different weight proportions) with 2°-recycled ABS granules mechanically for selection of composition/proportion after ascertaining rheological property (based upon melt flow index according to ASTM D 1238), thermal stability based upon differential scanning calorimetry, and magnetic property based upon vibration sample magnetometry. The selected compositions/proportions of ABS-Gr composite was further processed with a twin-screw extruder by varying screw temperature and torque. The results of the study suggest that as regards to mechanical properties (peak strength and Shore D hardness) are concerned, the best settings are 20 wt% Gr reinforcement in ABS at a screw temperature 210°C with torque of 0.4 Nm. The corresponding heat capacity and magnetization for the selected composition/proportion was observed as 0.77 J/g and 0.10 × 10−5 emu (+magnetization), 0.080 × 10−5 emu (−magnetization), respectively. The coercivity of the selected compositions ranges from 79.19 Oe to 1260.34 Oe (+coercivity) and 4.64 Oe to 639.50 Oe (−coercivity), whereas the retentivity of the investigated compositions ranges from 2.36 × 10−5 G to 5.44 × 10−4 G (+retentivity) and 4.31 × 10−5 G to 3.48 × 10−5 G (−retentivity). The results have been counter verified based upon optical photo micrographs, porosity analysis, scanning electron microscopy analysis, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy analysis.
ZnO nanoparticle-grafted PLA thermoplastic composites for 3D printing applications: Tuning of thermal, mechanical, morphological and shape memory effect
Authors: Kumar Ranvijay , Singh Rupinder , Singh Mohit , Kumar Pawan
Published: May 2020

The zinc oxide (ZnO)-grafted polymers have emerged as a prominent material for fabrication of 3D printed biosensor due to its inherent antibacterial, antifungal, room temperature ferromagnetic magnetic behaviour, crystallinity, high thermal conductivity and high exaction binding energy. In this study, ZnO (nanoparticles (NPs)) were grafted with polylactic acid (PLA) using twin-screw compounder for preparations of feedstock filaments. The filaments were prepared by varying input parameters of twin-screw compounder such as ZnO concentration in PLA (0–2%), forced loading (10–15 kg) and torque (0.1–0.2 Nm). Further tests were conducted for thermal properties (on differential scanning calorimetry set-up), mechanical properties (on ultimate tensile testing set-up, Shore D surface hardness, optical photomicrograph-based porosity analysis) and shape memory effect (with stimulus as water under different temperature conditions). The results of the study show that inducing 1% ZnO in PLA led to the formation of highly responsive composite with water as stimulus (at 25°C temperature), mechanically weak, porous, soft surface, while incorporation of 2% ZnO in PLA headed to less porous, harder and responsive composite to the water as stimulus (at 40°C temperature). The proposed combination of ZnO NPs and PLA shows encouraging range of crystallinity, tensile properties and shape memory effect, which made it an eligible candidate for 3D printing applications.
A review of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyurethane (PU), and polyaniline (PANI) composites-based materials for electromagnetic interference shielding
Authors: Nazir Ahsan
Published: May 2020

The extensive growth of telecommunication and electronic devices has led to significant concerns regarding electromagnetic (EM) radiations. Thus, the effect of EM radiations can be reduced by using highly efficient shielding materials. This review aimed to explore the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials based on polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyurethane (PU), and polyaniline (PANI) composites. It was found that the composites based on PVDF, PU, and PANI polymers have attracted considerable interest and highly efficient for EMI shielding due to their remarkable properties like lightweight, thermal stability, processing benefits, cheap, tremendous flexibility, and excellent resistance to corrosion. Hence, the PVDF-, PU-, and PANI-based composites are efficient EMI shielding materials.
Intimate sovereigns: Patriarchy, the fraternal horde, and the limits of power in Armenia
Authors: Shirinian Tamar
Published: May 2020

Since the mid-1990s, Armenia has been dominated politically and economically by an oligarchy. While the figures who form this oligarchy are known as corrupt and brutal in their use of force in governing, their power also depends on intimate, kin-based, clientelist connections to the body politic. I argue that these forms of intimacy—the sharing of cultural values of proper Armenian governance—are established not only on patriarchy in the form of paternalism (political Fatherhood), but fraternal solidarities (political brotherhood) as well. Political patriarchy, thus, is a hierarchical yet horizontal formation of a multiplicity of men. While breaking with what is understood as a proper Armenian morality limits the sovereignty of figures who are seen as no longer legitimate to rule, sovereign power also depends on the brutal force necessary to vie for power among a fraternal horde.
Estimation of the momentum coefficient of synthetic jet in flow separation control over an airfoil
Authors: Liu Zhiyong , Luo Zhenbing , Zhou Yan , Li Shiqing , Cheng Pan
Published: May 2020

A simple estimation method of momentum coefficient of synthetic jet actuator has been proposed. Flow separation over an airfoil can be suppressed sufficiently with the estimated momentum coefficient. At a certain angle of attack (AOA), momentum deficit of boundary layer at front of separation point can be quantified based on Bernoulli's theorem. The function of synthetic jet actuator is deemed to be momentum addition and two stages of the addition corresponding to blowing and suction phases are considered respectively. The required momentum coefficient as well as the associated injection angle is determined preliminarily with the assumption of synthetic jet actuator at front of separation point. Since synthetic jet actuator is usually installed near the leading edge, a modification is introduced to consider the influence of excitation location. Using this method, flow separation over a NACA0015 airfoil is suppressed nearly completely with AOA = 15° and synthetic jet actuator at x/ c = 10%. Different angle of attacks corresponding to pre-stall angle, post-stall angle, and deep stall angle have been examined, respectively. Results indicate that the method is effective at pre-stall angle and post-stall angle. However, momentum coefficient will be underestimated when the separation point is upstream to the location of the airfoil's maximum thickness. At deep stall angle, the method is invalid. The estimation method is useful for practices of flow separation control with synthetic jet actuator.
A novel dynamic fixation system with biodegradable components on lumbar fusion between articular processes in a canine model
Authors: Yu Tailong , Zheng Leyu , Chen Guanghua , Wang Xiaoyan , Chi Hui , Song Chengchao , Xi Chunyang , Yan Jinglong
Published: May 2020

The objective of this study was to design a novel dynamic fixation system with biodegradable components, apply it for lumbar fusion between articular processes and compare the fusion results and biomechanical changes to those of conventional rigid fixation. The novel dynamic fixation system was designed using a finite element model, stress distributions were compared and 24 mongrel dogs were randomly assigned to two groups and subjected to either posterior lumbar fusion surgery with a novel dynamic fixation system or titanium rods at the L5-L6 segments. Lumbar spines were assessed in both groups to detect radiographic, manual palpation and biomechanical changes. Histological examination was performed on organs and surrounding tissues. In the novel dynamic fixation system, stress was mainly distributed on the meshing teeth of the magnesium alloy spacer. The magnesium alloy components maintained their initial shape 8 weeks after the operation, but the meshing teeth were almost completely degraded at 16 weeks. The novel dynamic fixation system revealed an increased lateral bending range of motion at 8 weeks; however, both groups showed similar radiographic grades, fusion stiffness, manual palpation and histological results. The novel dynamic fixation system design is suitable, and its degradation in vivo is safe. The novel dynamic fixation system can be applied for posterior lumbar fusion between articular processes and complete the fusion like titanium rods.
Dynamic prediction of competing risk events using landmark sub-distribution hazard model with multiple longitudinal biomarkers
Authors: Wu Cai , Li Liang , Li Ruosha
Published: May 2020

The cause-specific cumulative incidence function quantifies the subject-specific disease risk with competing risk outcome. With longitudinally collected biomarker data, it is of interest to dynamically update the predicted cumulative incidence function by incorporating the most recent biomarker as well as the cumulating longitudinal history. Motivated by a longitudinal cohort study of chronic kidney disease, we propose a framework for dynamic prediction of end stage renal disease using multivariate longitudinal biomarkers, accounting for the competing risk of death. The proposed framework extends the local estimation-based landmark survival modeling to competing risks data, and implies that a distinct sub-distribution hazard regression model is defined at each biomarker measurement time. The model parameters, prediction horizon, longitudinal history and at-risk population are allowed to vary over the landmark time. When the measurement times of biomarkers are irregularly spaced, the predictor variable may not be observed at the time of prediction. Local polynomial is used to estimate the model parameters without explicitly imputing the predictor or modeling its longitudinal trajectory. The proposed model leads to simple interpretation of the regression coefficients and closed-form calculation of the predicted cumulative incidence function. The estimation and prediction can be implemented through standard statistical software with tractable computation. We conducted simulations to evaluate the performance of the estimation procedure and predictive accuracy. The methodology is illustrated with data from the African American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension.