bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Boosted molecular mobility during common chemical reactions
Authors: Wang Huan , Park Myeonggon , Dong Ruoyu , Kim Junyoung , Cho Yoon-Kyoung , Tlusty Tsvi , Granick Steve
Published: July 2020

Reactions give solvents a kick

During a chemical reaction, the reorganization of solvent molecules not directly in contact with reactants and products is normally viewed as a simple diffusion response. Wang
et al.
studied molecular diffusion in six common reactions—including the copper-catalyzed click reaction and the Diels-Alder reaction—with pulsed-field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance. They observed a boost in mobility relative to Brownian diffusion that was stronger for the catalyzed reactions that were studied. The mobilities for the click reaction were verified with a microfluidic gradient method. They argue that energy release produces transient translational motion of reacting centers that mechanically perturbs solvent molecules.

Science
, this issue p.
537
ANGEL2 is a member of the CCR4 family of deadenylases with 2′,3′-cyclic phosphatase activity
Authors: Pinto Paola H. , Kroupova Alena , Schleiffer Alexander , Mechtler Karl , Jinek Martin , Weitzer Stefan , Martinez Javier
Published: July 2020

Dephosphorylating RNA molecules

Transfer RNA (tRNA) and messenger RNA molecules often acquire a terminal 2′,3′-cyclic phosphate group when processed in the cell. These cyclic phosphates provide attachment points for tRNA ligases and must be removed to recycle tRNAs from stalled ribosomes. Pinto
et al.
identified an enzyme from human tissue culture cells that can do the job. Biochemical characterization and analysis of a crystal structure reveal ANGEL2 as a 2′,3′-cyclic phosphatase with functions for RNA processing and modification.

Science
, this issue p.
524
Mapping the clean air haves and have-nots
Authors: Ma Lala
Published: July 2020

The distribution of air pollution has changed little, perpetuating disparities in exposure
William C. Dement (1928–2020)
Authors: Pelayo Rafael , Mourrain Philippe
Published: July 2020

Father of sleep medicine
An Optimal Diagnostic Strategy for Tuberculosis in Hospitalized HIV-Infected Patients Using GeneXpert MTB/RIF and Alere Determine TB LAM Ag
Authors: Esmail Aliasgar , Pooran Anil , Sabur Natasha F. , Fadul Mohammed , Brar Mantaj S. , Oelofse Suzette , Tomasicchio Michele , Dheda Keertan
Published: July 2020

The diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in HIV-infected patients is challenging. Both a urinary lipoarabinomannan (LAM) test (Alere TB LAM) and GeneXpert-MTB/RIF (Xpert) are useful for the diagnosis of TB. However, how to optimally integrate Xpert and LAM tests into clinical practice algorithms remain unclear. We performed a
post hoc
analysis of 561 HIV-infected sputum-expectorating patients (median CD4 count of 130 cells/ml) from a previously published randomized controlled trial evaluating the LAM test in hospitalized HIV-infected patients with suspected TB.
Performance Characteristics of a High-Throughput Automated Transcription-Mediated Amplification Test for SARS-CoV-2 Detection
Authors: Pham Jimmykim , Meyer Sarah , Nguyen Catherine , Williams Analee , Hunsicker Melissa , McHardy Ian , Gendlina Inessa , Goldstein D. Yitzchak , Fox Amy S. , Hudson Angela , Darby Paul , Hovey Paul , Morales Jose , Mitchell James , Harrington Karen , Majlessi Mehrdad , Moberly Joshua , Shah Ankur , Worlock Andrew , Walcher Marion , Eaton Barbara , Getman Damon , Clark Craig
Published: July 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has imposed severe challenges on laboratories in their effort to achieve sufficient diagnostic testing capability for identifying infected individuals. In this study, we report the analytical and clinical performance characteristics of a new, high-throughput, fully automated nucleic acid amplification test system for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. The assay utilizes target capture, transcription-mediated amplification, and acridinium ester-labeled probe chemistry on the automated Panther system to directly amplify and detect two separate target sequences in the open reading frame 1ab (ORF1ab) region of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome.
School-age outcomes following intraventricular haemorrhage in infants born extremely preterm
Authors: Hollebrandse Nicky Laura , Spittle Alicia J , Burnett Alice C , Anderson Peter J , Roberts Gehan , Doyle Lex W , Cheong Jeanie Ling Yoong
Published: July 2020

Objective

To determine the associations of different grades of intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH), particularly grades 1 and 2, with neurodevelopmental outcomes at 8 years of age in children born extremely preterm.

Design

Population-based cohort study.

Setting

State of Victoria, Australia.

Patients

Survivors born at <28 weeks’ gestational age (n=546) and matched term-born controls (n=679) from three distinct eras, namely, those born in 1991–1992, 1997 and 2005.

Exposure

Worst grade of IVH detected on serial neonatal cranial ultrasound.

Outcome measures

Intellectual ability, executive function, academic skills, cerebral palsy and motor function at 8 years.

Results

There was a trend for increased motor dysfunction with increasing severity of all grades of IVH, from 24% with no IVH, rising to 92% with grade 4 IVH. Children with grade 1 or 2 IVH were at higher risk of developing cerebral palsy than those without IVH (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.21 to 4.16). Increased rates of impairment in intellectual ability and academic skills were observed with higher grades of IVH, but not for grade 1 and 2 IVH. Parent-rated executive functioning was not related to IVH.

Conclusion

While low-grade IVH is generally considered benign, it was associated with higher rates of cerebral palsy in school-aged children born EP, but not with intellectual ability, executive function, academic skills or overall motor function. Higher grades of IVH were associated with higher rates and risks of impairment in motor function, intellectual ability and some academic skills, but not parental ratings of executive function.
Impact of COVID-19 on diagnosis and management of paediatric inflammatory bowel disease during lockdown: a UK nationwide study
Authors: Ashton James John , Kammermeier Jochen , Spray Christine , Russell Richard K , Hansen Richard , Howarth Lucy J , Torrente Franco , Deb Protima , Renji Elizabeth , Muhammed Rafeeq , Paul Thankam , Kiparissi Fevronia , Epstein Jenny , Lawson Maureen , Hope Ben , Zamvar Veena , Narula Priya , Kadir Ahmed , Devadason David , Bhavsar Hemant , Beattie Robert Mark
Published: July 2020

Background

COVID-19 has impacted on healthcare provision. Anecdotally, investigations for children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have been restricted, resulting in diagnosis with no histological confirmation and potential secondary morbidity. In this study, we detail practice across the UK to assess impact on services and document the impact of the pandemic.

Methods

For the month of April 2020, 20 tertiary paediatric IBD centres were invited to contribute data detailing: (1) diagnosis/management of suspected new patients with IBD; (2) facilities available; (3) ongoing management of IBD; and (4) direct impact of COVID-19 on patients with IBD.

Results

All centres contributed. Two centres retained routine endoscopy, with three unable to perform even urgent IBD endoscopy. 122 patients were diagnosed with IBD, and 53.3% (n=65) were presumed diagnoses and had not undergone endoscopy with histological confirmation. The most common induction was exclusive enteral nutrition (44.6%). No patients with a presumed rather than confirmed diagnosis were started on anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy.

Most IBD follow-up appointments were able to occur using phone/webcam or face to face. No biologics/immunomodulators were stopped. All centres were able to continue IBD surgery if required, with 14 procedures occurring across seven centres.

Conclusions

Diagnostic IBD practice has been hugely impacted by COVID-19, with >50% of new diagnoses not having endoscopy. To date, therapy and review of known paediatric patients with IBD has continued. Planning and resourcing for recovery is crucial to minimise continued secondary morbidity.
Fifteen-year incidence rate and risk factors of pterygium in the Southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh
Authors: Khanna Rohit C , Marmamula Srinivas , Cicinelli Maria Vittoria , Mettla Asha Latha , Giridhar Pyda , Banerjee Seema , Shekhar Konegari , Chakrabarti Subhabrata , Murthy Gudlavalleti V S , Gilbert Clare E , Rao Gullapalli Nageswara
Published: July 2020

Purpose

To report 15-year incidence rate and associated risk factors of pterygium among people aged 30 years and above at baseline in the rural clusters of longitudinal Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study (APEDS III).

Methods

The baseline APEDS I included 7771 participants of which 6447 (83%) were traced and 5395 (83.7%) were re-examined in APEDS III. To estimate the incidence of pterygium, we selected participants who were 30 years and above at baseline (4188), of which 2976 were traced and 2627 (88.3%) were examined, and based on inclusion criteria, 2290 participants were included in the study. The incidence rate of pterygium was defined as the proportion of people free of pterygium at baseline who had developed the condition at 15-year follow-up (range 13–17 years). Univariate and multivariable analyses for risk factors were undertaken.

Results

The sex-adjusted incidence rate of pterygium was 25.2 per 100 person-years (95% CI 24.8 to 25.7) which was significantly higher for men than women (26.3 per 100 person-years (95% CI 25.6 to 27.0) and 24.7 (95% CI 24.1 to 25.3) respectively). At the multivariable analysis, male gender (RR: 1.35, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.83), no formal education (RR: 2.46, 95% CI 1.22 to 4.93), outdoor occupation (RR: 1.47, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.9) and lower body mass index (BMI) (<18.5) (RR: 1.25, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.55) were associated with increased risk of pterygium.

Conclusions

The overall incidence rate of pterygium was high in this rural population, especially in men and those engaged in outdoor activities, lack of formal education and with lower BMI. It is likely that greater exposure to ultraviolet light is a major contributing factor, thus warranting preventive strategies.
Intraocular pressure and circumpapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness in the Northern Ireland Cohort for the Longitudinal Study of Ageing (NICOLA): distributions and associations
Authors: McCann Paul , Hogg Ruth , Wright David M , Chakravarthy Usha , Peto Tunde , Cruise Sharon , McGuinness Bernardette , Young Ian S , Kee Frank , Azuara-Blanco Augusto
Published: July 2020

Aims

To describe the distributions of and associations with intraocular pressure (IOP) and circumpapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (cRNFL) thickness in a population-based study.

Methods

Northern Ireland Cohort for the Longitudinal Study of Ageing participants underwent a computer-assisted personal interview, a self-completion questionnaire and a health assessment (HA). At the HA, participants underwent IOP measurement using Ocular Response Analyser and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography with Heidelberg Spectralis. Participants also underwent a range of anthropometric, ophthalmic, cardiovascular, cognition and blood tests. Participants who attended the HA and had a vertical cup-to-disc ratio (VCDR) measurement in at least one eye were eligible for the study. Participants without any IOP or cRNFL measurements were excluded from the respective analyses.

Results

There were 3221 participants eligible for this study (5753 eyes included in the IOP analysis and 5461 eyes included in the cRNFL analysis). The mean (SD) Goldmann correlated IOP (IOPg) was 15.39 mm Hg (3.55 mm Hg). The mean (SD) average global cRNFL thickness was 94.39 µm (11.18 µm). Increased IOPg was associated with increased age, male sex, hypertension, refractive error (myopic decrease in spherical equivalent) and increased corneal resistance factor, while beta-blocker drug use was associated with lower IOPg in the fully adjusted multivariate analysis. Thinner average global cRNFL was associated with Alzheimer’s disease in the age-adjusted and sex-adjusted model. In the fully adjusted multivariate analysis, increased age, male sex, left eyes, hypertension, increased VCDR, refractive error (myopic decrease in spherical equivalent) and increased IOPg were associated with thinner average global cRNFL, while Parkinson’s disease and current (vs never) smoking status were associated with thicker average global cRNFL.

Conclusions

Increased IOP and reduced cRNFL were associated with increased age, myopic refractive error, male sex and hypertension. Alzheimer’s disease was associated with thinner average global cRNFL, while Parkinson’s disease was associated with thicker average global cRNFL.
Quality of life measured by EQ-5D at different treatment time points for coronary artery disease: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Lum Elaine , McCreanor Victoria , Luo Nan , Graves Nicholas
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Cardiovascular disease is estimated to affect 423 million people globally. It caused 18 million deaths in 2017 and is projected to cost US$1 trillion by 2030 worldwide. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of cardiovascular disease; CAD treatments can affect patients’ quality of life. Valuations of quality of life or health utilities are important for economic evaluations to ascertain relative health benefit when comparing treatments, and can be expected to change for individuals over time. The purpose of this systematic review is to estimate the quality of life of patients with CAD reported through the EuroQol 5 Dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire, from short to longer term time points following different treatments.

Methods and analysis

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the EuroQol website will be systematically searched from January 2003–March 2020. Published, peer-reviewed, English language studies assessing quality of life of patients with CAD using the EQ-5D will be included. One researcher will conduct the search; two researchers will independently screen titles and abstracts for potential inclusion. Full texts of potentially eligible studies will be retrieved for a second round of independent screening against inclusion and exclusion criteria by two researchers. The final list of included studies will be assessed for risk of bias using the RoB 2 and Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies - of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tools for randomised and non-randomised studies, respectively. Data extraction will be done by one researcher, with data extraction for a random 10% of included studies checked by a second researcher. Mean utility weights for individual studies will be combined using random effects model meta-analyses. A model will be run separately for each time point and treatment. Treatment time points of interest include baseline, 30 days, 6 months, 12–24 months and more than 24 months. Subgroup analysis of patients with diabetes who received interventional treatments—coronary artery bypass graft or percutaneous coronary intervention with or without stents, will be conducted for the same selected time points.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval is not required for systematic reviews. Results of the review will be disseminated via publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Prescription medication use as a risk factor for motor vehicle collisions: a responsibility study
Authors: Asbridge Mark , Macnabb Kathleen , Chan Herbert , Erdelyi Shannon , Wilson Maria , Brubacher Jeffrey R
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Previous studies on the effect of prescription medications on MVCs are sparse, not readily applicable to real-world driving and/or subject to strong selection bias. This study examines whether the presence of prescription medication in drivers’ blood is associated with being responsible for MVC.

Methods

This modified case–control study with responsibility analysis compares MVC responsibility rates among drivers with detectable levels of six classes of prescription medications (anticonvulsants, antidepressants, antihistamines, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, opioids) versus those without. Data were collected between January 2010 and July 2016 from emergency departments in British Columbia, Canada. Collision responsibility was assessed using a validated and automated scoring of police collision reports. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine OR of responsibility (analysed in 2018–2019).

Results

Unadjusted regression models show a significant association between anticonvulsants (OR 1.92; 95% CI 1.20 to 3.09; p=0.007), antipsychotics (OR 5.00; 95% CI 1.16 to 21.63; p=0.03) and benzodiazepines (OR 2.99; 95% CI 1.56 to 5.75; p=0.001) with collision responsibility. Fully adjusted models show a significant association between benzodiazepines with collision responsibility (aOR 2.29; 95% CI 1.16 to 4.53; p=0.02) after controlling for driver characteristics, blood alcohol and Δ−9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentrations, and the presence of other prescription medications. Antidepressants, antihistamines and opioids exhibited no significant associations.

Conclusion

There is a moderate increase in the risk of a responsible collision among drivers with detectable levels of benzodiazepines in blood. Physicians and pharmacists should consider collision risk when prescribing or dispensing benzodiazepines. Public education about benzodiazepine use and driving and change to traffic policy and enforcement measures are warranted.
SARS-CoV-2 infection in immunocompromised patients: humoral versus cell-mediated immunity
Authors: Wei Jia , Zhao Jianping , Han Meifang , Meng Fankai , Zhou Jianfeng
Published: July 2020

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic placed unprecedented pressure on various healthcare systems, including departments that use immunotherapies such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy and immunosuppression therapy in organ transplantation units. The true impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on immunocompromised CAR T-cell therapy recipients and kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) has not yet been established.

Case presentation

In this report, we compare two patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia in either the humoral or cell-mediated immunodeficient states. The first patient was a man in his early 30s who was diagnosed with refractory multiple myeloma. He received fully humanized, anti-B-cell maturation antigen, CAR T-cell therapy before 4 months and achieved strict complete remission. He was infected with SARS-CoV-2 starting on January 26, 2019 and gradually progressed to severe pneumonia. Throughout the clinical progression of the disease, SARS-CoV-2 could not be cleared due to his humoral immunodeficient state. During this period of his severe COVID-19 pneumonia, elevated cytotoxic T-cells were observed in this patient’s peripheral blood while elevated plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-2R, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor α, and ferritin were observed in his cytokine profiles. This patient eventually progressed into acute respiratory distress syndrome and recieved non-invasive ventilatory support. He failed to generate specific SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and died of respiratory failure on day 33 (d33). The second patient was a 52-year-old kidney transplant recipient (KTR) who took ciclosporin after renal transplantation for more than 7 years. He confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection on January 20, 2019 and gradually progressed into severe pneumonia on d16 with a slightly elevated B-cell percentage and normal T-lymphocyte subsets. Viral clearance occurred together with the generation of specific anti-immunoglobulin G-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after 2 weeks of treatment. He was symptom-free and discharged from the hospital on d42.

Conclusion

We report a CAR T-cell therapy recipient diagnosed with COVID-19 for the first time. His virus clearance failure and life-threating cytokine storm during SARS-CoV-2 infection suggested that any decision to proceed CAR T-cell therapy during COVID-19 pandemics will require extensive discussion of potential risks and benefits. Immunosuppressant treatment based on ciclosporin could be relatively safe for KTRs diagnosed with COVID-19.

Trial registration number

ChiCTR-OPN-1800018137.
Identifying the preferable rheumatoid arthritis subgroups for intervention with the anti-RANKL antibody denosumab to reduce progression of joint destruction
Authors: Tanaka Yoshiya , Soen Satoshi , Ishiguro Naoki , Yamanaka Hisashi , Yoneda Toshiyuki , Tanaka Sakae , Ohira Takeshi , Nitta Takaya , Okubo Naoki , Genant Harry , van der Heijde Desirée , Takeuchi Tsutomu
Published: July 2020

Objectives

To clarify which rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients benefit most from the anti-receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand antibody denosumab to reduce the progression of joint destruction.

Methods

We pooled patient data from the 12-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled DRIVE (phase II) and DESIRABLE (phase III) studies. In DRIVE, concomitant treatment was limited to methotrexate, salazosulfapyridine and bucillamine. In DESIRABLE, patients could receive any disease-modifying antirheumatic drug. RA patients were randomised to denosumab 60 mg every 6 months (Q6M), every 3 months (Q3M) or placebo. Efficacy was assessed by van der Heijde-modified total Sharp score (mTSS), bone erosion score (ES) and joint space narrowing score (JSNS). Change in mTSS was assessed in subgroups stratified by risk factors for radiographic damage if the interaction factor was significant.

Results

The pooled analysis included 909 patients. Denosumab reduced worsening of mTSS (mean (SD)) at 12 months in the Q6M (0.88 (3.30), p=0.0024) and Q3M (0.66 (2.16), p=0.0002) groups versus placebo (1.50 (3.73)). This reduction in mTSS progression was due to the change in ES (Q6M, 0.44 (1.89), p=0.0006; Q3M, 0.20 (0.86), p<0.0001) versus placebo (0.98 (2.54)); no effect was observed on JSNS. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies, glucocorticoid use and baseline ES showed a significant interaction. Denosumab was particularly effective in patients who were anti-CCP antibody positive (p<0.05). Changes in mTSS versus placebo were observed in all denosumab dose groups, regardless of glucocorticoid use and baseline ES.

Conclusions

Denosumab broadly reduced the progression of joint destruction in RA patients with risk factors for radiographic damage such as especially anti-CCP antibody positivity.
Mechanism of lung development in the aetiology of adult congenital pulmonary airway malformations
Authors: Taylor Bethany , Rice Alexandra , Nicholson Andrew G , Hind Matthew , Dean Charlotte H
Published: July 2020

Congenital pulmonary airway malformations (CPAMs) are rare lung abnormalities that result in cyst formation and are associated with respiratory distress in infants and malignant potential in adults. The pathogenesis of CPAMs remains unknown but data suggest disruption of the normal proximo-distal programme of airway branching and differentiation. Here, we demonstrate that adult human CPAM are lined with epithelium that retains SOX-2 and thyroid transcription factor-1 immunohistochemical markers, characteristic of the developing lung. However, RALDH-1, another key marker, is absent. This suggests a more complex aetiology for CPAM than complete focal arrest of lung development and may provide insight to the associated risk of malignancy.
Forage type and transportation stress effects on gut microbial counts and meat quality in goats
Authors: Mechineni A. , Kommuru D.S. , Terrill T.H. , Kouakou B. , Lee J.H. , Gujja S. , Burke J.M. , Kannan G.
Published: July 2020

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of feeding highly condensed tannin legume (sericea lespedeza, SL; Lespedeza cuneata) forage on gastrointestinal tract microbial counts and meat quality in goats. Intact male Spanish kids were kept in 0.40 ha paddocks of SL, bermudagrass (BG; Cynodon dactylon; control), or a combination of SL + BG (n = 10 goats per treatment group) for 8 wk. All goats were supplemented with a commercial feed pellet at 0.45 kg·head−1·d−1 for the first 4 wk and 0.23 kg·head−1·d−1 for the final 4 wk of the trial. At the end of the experiment, half the goats from each paddock were subjected to 3 h transportation stress, then all animals were humanely slaughtered. Diet or stress did not have a significant effect on skin Escherichia coli, coliform, or aerobic plate counts, and carcass, rumen, and fecal bacterial counts. Muscle pH at 24 h postmortem tended (P = 0.06) to be higher in transported compared with non-transported goats. The results indicate that SL consumption by goats for 8 wk did not significantly affect gastrointestinal tract, skin, and carcass microbial counts or meat quality, although preslaughter stress could influence meat quality due to changes in the course of postmortem pH decline.
Aluminum induces oxidative damage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Chen Ranran , Zhu Qian , Fang Zhijia , Huang Zhiwei , Sun Jing , Peng Min , Shi Ping
Published: July 2020

The mechanism of aluminum toxicity was studied in the model cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Cell growth of yeast was inhibited by aluminum. The spot assay showed that the mechanism of aluminum detoxification in yeast cells was different from that of heavy metal cadmium. After treatment with aluminum, intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species, protein carbonyl, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were dramatically increased. Meanwhile, the percentage of aluminum-treated cells permeable to propidium iodide was augmented significantly. These data demonstrated that aluminum toxicity was attributed to oxidative stress in yeast, and it induced oxidative damage by causing lipid peroxidation, injuring cell membrane integrity. Moreover, aluminum triggered the antioxidant defense system in the cells. Glutathione levels were found to be decreased, while activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase were increased after treatment with aluminum. Additionally, an oxidative-stress-related mutation sensitivity assay showed that aluminum-induced yeast oxidative stress was closely related to glutathione. These data demonstrated that the oxidative damage caused by aluminum was different from that of hydrogen peroxide, in yeast. Aluminum could cause DNA damage, and aluminum toxicity was associated with sulfhydryl groups, such as glutathione, while it was independent of YAP1.
Persistence of pelvic spine polymorphism in a panmictic population of brook stickleback (Culaeainconstans) in Alberta, Canada
Authors: Lowey J. , Cheng Q. , Rogers S.M. , Mee J.A.
Published: July 2020

In the stickleback family (Gasterosteidae), divergence in pelvic morphology is typically associated with reproductive isolation and ecological niche specialization. In this study, we assessed whether reproductive isolation may be involved in the persistence of within-lake polymorphism in brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans (Kirtland, 1840)). We studied populations of brook stickleback in central Alberta, Canada, that are polymorphic for pelvic reduction (i.e., presence–absence of pelvic spines). We investigated the persistence of the pelvic polymorphisms over 40 generations in five lakes. We found that, of the five populations examined, the frequencies of pelvic phenotypes have remained unchanged in three populations, the polymorphism has persisted with significantly changed frequencies of pelvic phenotypes in one population, and the polymorphism has been lost in one population. Using 10 microsatellite loci, we observed low genetic divergence between individuals with and without pelvic spines in one lake, suggesting a lack of assortative mating among individuals with divergent pelvic phenotypes. This observation suggests that the pelvic polymorphism in brook stickleback persists due to balancing selection in the absence of reproductive isolation, although the selective forces were not evaluated. The significant changes in phenotypic frequencies in two populations are likely associated with environmental disturbances such as species introductions.
The Collins asymmetry in electroproduction of Kaon at the electron ion colliders within TMD factorization
Authors: Xue Shi-Chen , Wang Xiaoyu , Li De-Min , Lu Zhun
Published: July 2020

We apply the transverse momentum dependent factorization formalism to investigate the transverse single spin dependent Collins asymmetry with a $$\sin (\phi _h+\phi _s)$$sin(ϕh+ϕs) modulation in the semi-inclusive production of Kaon meson in deep inelastic scattering process. The asymmetry is contributed by the convolutions of the transversity distribution function $$h_1(x)$$h1(x) of the target proton and the Collins function of the Kaon in the final state. We adopt the available parametrization of $$h_1(x)$$h1(x) as well as the recent extracted result for the Kaon Collins function. To perform the transverse momentum dependent evolution, the parametrization of the nonperturbative Sudakov form factor of the proton and final state Kaon are utilized. We numerically predict the Collins asymmetry for charged Kaon production at the electron ion colliders within the accuracy of next-to-leading-logarithmic order. It is found that the asymmetry is sizable and could be measured. We emphasize the importance of planned electron ion colliders in the aspect of constraining sea quark distribution functions as well as accessing the information of the nucleon spin structure and the hadronization mechanism.
ANALYZING THE IMPACT OF BREXIT ON GLOBAL UNCERTAINTY USING FUNCTIONAL LINEAR REGRESSION WITH POINT OF IMPACT: THE ROLE OF CURRENCY AND EQUITY MARKETS
Authors: MANGISA SIPHUMLILE , DAS SONALI , GUPTA RANGAN
Published: July 2020

This paper studies the relationship between monthly economic uncertainty of 20 advanced and emerging markets, and two daily covariates, i.e., exchange rate and stock index, with particular emphasis on the relationship between the variables in response to the Brexit vote. We use a functional data approach supplemented with a point of impact structure to conduct a mixed-frequency analysis. We find that incorporating the point of impact, in this case the Brexit shock, is marginally important relative to models that ignore it. We also find that the exchange rate played a more important role than the equity market in transmitting the Brexit shock to cause heightened uncertainty in the 20 countries considered. Our results have important policy implications.
A new path planning method of mobile robot based on adaptive dynamic firefly algorithm
Authors: Xu Guanghui , Zhang Ting-Wei , Lai Qiang , Pan Jian , Fu Bo , Zhao Xilin
Published: July 2020

Path planning has always been a hot topic in the field of mobile robot research. At present, the mainstream issues of the mobile robot path planning are combined with the swarm intelligence algorithms. Among them, the firefly algorithm is more typical. The firefly algorithm has the advantages of simple concepts and easy implementation, but it also has the disadvantages of being easily trapped into a local optimal solution, with slow convergence speed and low accuracy. To better combine the path planning of mobile robot with firefly algorithm, this paper studies the optimization firefly algorithm for the path planning of mobile robot. By using the strategies of optimizing the adaptive parameters in the firefly algorithm, an adaptive firefly algorithm is designed to solve the problem that the firefly algorithm is easy to get into the local optimal solution and improves the performance of firefly algorithm. The optimized algorithm with high performance can improve the computing ability and reaction speed of the mobile robot in the path planning. Finally, the theoretical and experimental results have verified the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed algorithm, which can meet the requirements of the mobile robot path planning.
The fractal nature as new frontier in microstructural characterization and relativization of scale sizes within space
Authors: Mitic Vojislav V. , Lazovic Goran , Mirjanic Dragoljub , Fecht Hans , Vlahovic Branislav , Arnold Walter
Published: July 2020

Today in the age of advanced ceramic civilization, there are a variety of applications for modern ceramics materials with specific properties. Our up-to date research recognizes that ceramics have a fractal configuration nature on the basis of different phenomena. The key property of fractals is their scale-independence. The practical value is that the fractal objects’ interaction and energy is possible at any reasonable scale of magnitude, including the nanoscale and may be even below. This is a consequence of fractal scale independence. This brings us to the conclusion that properties of fractals are valid on any scale (macro, micro, or nano). We also analyzed these questions with experimental results obtained from a comet, here 67P, and also from ceramic grain and pore morphologies on the microstructure level. Fractality, as a scale-independent morphology, provides significant variety of opportunities, for example for energy storage. From the viewpoint of scaling, the relation between large and small in fractal analysis is very important. An ideal fractal can be magnified endlessly but natural morphologies cannot, what is the new light in materials sciences and space.
Integrated Formal Tools for Software Architecture Smell Detection
Authors: Chondamrongkul Nacha , Sun Jing , Warren Ian , Lee Scott Uk-Jin
Published: July 2020

The architecture smells are the poor design practices applied to the software architecture design. The smells in software architecture design can be cascaded to cause the issues in the system implementation and significantly affect the maintainability and reliability attribute of the software system. The prevention of architecture smells at the design phase can therefore improve the overall quality of the software system. This paper presents a framework that supports the detection of architecture smells based on the formalization of architecture design. Our modeling specification supports representing both structural and behavioral aspect of software architecture design; it allows the smells to be analyzed and detected with the provided tools. Our framework has been applied to seven architecture smells that violate different design principles. The evaluation has been conducted and the result shows that our detection approach gives accurate results and performs well on different size of models. With the proposed framework, other architecture smells can be defined and detected using the process and tools presented in this paper.
Semantics-Driven Programming of Self-Adaptive Reactive Systems
Authors: Giallonardo Ester , Poggi Francesco , Rossi Davide , Zimeo Eugenio
Published: July 2020

In recent years, new classes of highly dynamic, complex systems are gaining momentum. These classes include, but are not limited to IoT, smart cities, cyber-physical systems and sensor networks. These systems are characterized by the need to express behaviors driven by external and/or internal changes, i.e. they are reactive and context-aware. A desirable design feature of these systems is the ability of adapting their behavior to environment changes. In this paper, we propose an approach to support adaptive, reactive systems based on semantic runtime representations of their context, enabling the selection of equivalent behaviors, i.e. behaviors that have the same effect on the environment. The context representation and the related knowledge are managed by an engine designed according to a reference architecture and programmable through a declarative definition of sensors and actuators. The knowledge base of sensors and actuators (hosted by an RDF triplestore) is bound to the real world by grounding semantic elements to physical devices via REST APIs. The proposed architecture along with the defined ontology tries to address the main problems of dynamically re-configurable systems by exploiting a declarative, queryable approach to enable runtime reconfiguration with the help of (a) semantics to support discovery in heterogeneous environment, (b) composition logic to define alternative behaviors for variation points, (c) bi-causal connection life-cycle to avoid dangling links with the external environment. The proposal is validated in a case study aimed at designing an edge node for smart buildings dedicated to cultural heritage preservation.
Semantic Restful Service Composition Using Task Specification
Authors: Ma Shang-Pin , Lin Hsuan-Ju , Hsu Ming-Jen
Published: July 2020

Existing Web API search engines allow only category-based browsing and keyword- or tag-based searches for RESTful services. In other words, they do not enable the discovery or composition of real-world RESTful services by application developers. This paper outlines a novel scheme, called Transformation–Annotation–Discovery (TAD), which transforms OpenAPI (Swagger) documents related to RESTful services into a graph structure and then automatically annotates the semantic concepts on graph nodes using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and WordNet. TAD can then be used for service composition based on the user requirements specified in two modules: a service discovery chain and logical-operation-based composition. The service discovery chain uses the Hungarian algorithm to assess service interface compatibility in order to facilitate the retrieval of services capable of bridging the gap between specified user requirements and the discovered services. The logical-operation-based composition module identifies services that semantically fit the user requirements, based on the structure of the service flow. Those candidate services are then sent to service discovery chains to enable the simultaneous search for potential composition solutions. System prototype and experiment results demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of the proposed scheme.
Software Agent-Centric Semantic Social Network for Cyber-Physical Interaction and Collaboration
Authors: Hussain Nazmul , Wang Hai H. , Buckingham Christopher D. , Zhang Xiaoyuan
Published: July 2020

Considerable research has recently focused on integrating cyber-physical systems in a social context. However, several challenges remain concerning appropriate methodologies, frameworks and techniques for supporting socio-cyber-physical collaboration. Existing systems do not recognize how cyber-physical resources can be socially connected so that they interact in collaborative decision-making like humans. Furthermore, the lack of semantic representations for heterogeneous cyber-social-collaborative networks limits integration, interoperability and knowledge discovery from their underlying data sources. Semantic Web ontology models can help to overcome this limitation by semantically describing and interconnecting cyber-physical objects and human participants in a social space. This research addresses the establishment of both cyber-physical and human relationships and their interactions within a social-collaborative network. We discuss how nonhuman resources can be represented as socially connected nodes and utilized by software agents. A software agent-centric Semantic Social-Collaborative Network (SSCN) is then presented that provides functionality to represent and manage cyber-physical resources in a social network. It is supported by an extended ontology model for semantically describing human and nonhuman resources and their social interactions. A software agent has been implemented to perform some actions on behalf of the nonhuman resources to achieve cyber-physical collaboration. It is demonstrated within a real-world decision support system, GRiST (www.egrist.org), used by mental-health services in the UK.
Element-splitting-invariant local-length-scale calculation in B-Spline meshes for complex geometries
Authors: Ueda Yuki , Otoguro Yuto , Takizawa Kenji , Tezduyar Tayfun E.
Published: July 2020

Variational multiscale methods and their precursors, stabilized methods, which are sometimes supplemented with discontinuity-capturing (DC) methods, have been playing their core-method role in flow computations increasingly with isogeometric discretization. The stabilization and DC parameters embedded in most of these methods play a significant role. The parameters almost always involve some local-length-scale expressions, most of the time in specific directions, such as the direction of the flow or solution gradient. Until recently, local-length-scale expressions originally intended for finite element discretization were being used also for isogeometric discretization. The direction-dependent expressions introduced in [Y. Otoguro, K. Takizawa and T. E. Tezduyar, Element length calculation in B-spline meshes for complex geometries, Comput. Mech. 65 (2020) 1085–1103, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00466-019-01809-w ] target B-spline meshes for complex geometries. The key stages of deriving these expressions are mapping the direction vector from the physical element to the parent element in the parametric space, accounting for the discretization spacing along each of the parametric coordinates, and mapping what has been obtained back to the physical element. The expressions are based on a preferred parametric space and a transformation tensor that represents the relationship between the integration and preferred parametric spaces. Element splitting may be a part of the computational method in a variety of cases, including computations with T-spline discretization and immersed boundary and extended finite element methods and their isogeometric versions. We do not want the element splitting to influence the actual discretization, which is represented by the control or nodal points. Therefore, the local length scale should be invariant with respect to element splitting. In element definition, invariance of the local length scale is a crucial requirement, because, unlike the element definition choices based on implementation convenience or computational efficiency, it influences the solution. We provide a proof, in the context of B-spline meshes, for the element-splitting invariance of the local-length-scale expressions introduced in the above reference.
Identification of Structural Stiffness and Mass using Bayesian Model Updating Approach with Known Added Mass: Numerical Investigation
Authors: Zeng Jice , Kim Young Hoon
Published: July 2020

The Bayesian model updating approach (BMUA) has been widely used to update structural parameters using modal measurements because of its powerful ability to handle uncertainties and incomplete data. However, a conventional BMUA is mainly used to update stiffness with the assumption that structural mass is known. Because simultaneously updating stiffness and mass leads to unidentifiable case or coupling effect of stiffness and mass, this assumption in conventional BMUA is questionable to update stiffness when the mass has significantly changed. This study proposes a new updating framework based on two structural systems: original and modified systems. A modified system is created by adding known mass to the original system. Different from the conventional Bayesian approach, two sets of measured vibration data in the proposed Bayesian approach are obtainable to address the coupling effect existing in the conventional Bayesian approach. To this end, a new approach reformulates the prior probability distribution function and the objective function. Two numerical simulations are considered to demonstrate the performance of the proposed approach, including (1) parameter identification, (2) posterior uncertainties, (3) probabilistic damage detections. The proposed BMUA outperforms a conventional BMUA in identifying both stiffness and mass.
WHY AND HOW TO INVOLVE PURCHASING IN NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT?
Authors: SCHIELE HOLGER , HOFMAN ERWIN , ZUNK BERND MARKUS , EGGERS JUSTUS
Published: July 2020

In new product development (NPD) firms increasingly have to rely on external expertise from suppliers. However, results of early supplier integration have been found to be ambiguous. This research empirically tests the hypothesis that the participation of professional purchasing agents early on in the supplier integration process plays a decisive role to distinguish successful projects. Our sample gave evidence that early supply management integration positively moderated supplier involvement’s effect on firm success. Hence, firms may benefit from avoiding supplier integration without professional purchasing management. Still, in many firms the procurement department is not yet integrated in NPD processes early on. Our research identifies four measures those firms applied, in which purchasing got fully embedded in the innovation process: top-management support, structural differentiation, explicit processes, and a collaborative corporate culture. This finding can serve as blue print for implementing purchasing integration and therewith improve the success of supplier integration in NPD.
On a new class of Moufang–Klingenberg planes
Authors: Doğan İsa , Akpinar Ati̇lla
Published: July 2020

In this paper, we deal with a new class of Moufang–Klingenberg planes and study with the concepts of 4-transitivity and 6-figures on the class of planes. So, we reach some algebraic and geometric results related on the concepts. For instance, we show that the group of collineations of these planes acts transitively on 4-gons. Finally, we obtain some properties of 6-figures.
Comparison of elastic properties of different shaped particle reinforced composites using micromechanics and finite element method
Authors: Prasanthi P. Phani , Babu K. Sivaji , Niranjan Kumar M. S. R. , Kumar A. Eswar
Published: July 2020

In this work, differently shaped carbon nano-sized allotropes reinforced composite properties are estimated and interfacial stresses are calculated and compared to get the best carbon reinforcement. Carbon nanopowder, carbon nanotubes, nanographene and Buckminster fullerenes are selected as these materials have different shapes and reinforcement of these materials in the aluminium matrix will give different properties. The comparative studies are performed by using the Micromechanics and Finite element method. The longitudinal, transverse modulus, Poisson’s ratio are estimated along with the interface stresses between the constituents of carbon power/Al matrix composite, fullerene/Al matrix composite, CNT/Al matrix composite and graphene/Al matrix composite. From this work, it is found that the longitudinal modulus of the composite will be higher by using CNT or Graphene reinforcement and carbon particle or Buckminster fullerene reinforcement will give high transverse modulus than CNT and graphene reinforcement. The interfacial stresses generated between the reinforcement and the Aluminum matrix will be less by using carbon nanopowder than the other allotropes consider for the studies. This work will give an idea of the selection of nanoreinforcement of composite material in the perspective of elastic properties and interfacial stresses.