bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dengue in Santander State, Colombia: fluctuations in the prevalence of virus serotypes are linked to dengue incidence and genetic diversity of the circulating viruses
Authors: Carreño María Fernanda , Jiménez-Silva Cinthy Lorena , Rey‐Caro Luz Aida , Conde‐Ocazionez Sergio Andrés , Flechas-Alarcón María Camila , Velandia Sindi Alejandra , Ocazionez Raquel Elvira
Published: October 2019

Objective

To investigate the link between fluctuations in the prevalence of dengue virus (DENV) serotypes and the number of dengue cases in the metropolitan area of Bucaramanga, Santander State, Colombia, in the 2007–2010 and 2014–2017 periods.

Method

Viruses were isolated from febrile patient samples by direct application to C6/36‐HT cells and typed using monoclonal antibodies. We performed autocorrelation and cross‐correlation analyses to determine whether fluctuations in the prevalence of DENV serotypes and dengue cases were correlated. Full envelope (E) gene sequences were employed to examine the genetic diversity of serotypes circulating by using a phylogenetic approach.

Results

All four dengue virus serotypes were detected. DENV‐1 was the dominant serotype in both periods followed by DENV‐3 or DENV‐2 depending on the period; DENV‐4 was the least prevalent virus in both periods. Cross‐correlation analyses suggest a temporal relation between the fluctuations in the prevalence of DENV serotypes, which were almost simultaneous (lag = 0) or related to recent past fluctuations (lag > 1.0) in the number of dengue cases. Data suggest that a sustained predominance of DENV‐1, an increase of the DENV‐4 prevalence, and a switch from DENV‐3 to DENV‐2 could be linked to an outbreak. Circulating viruses were grouped into Genotype V, Asia/American III and II for DENV‐1, ‐2, ‐3 and ‐4, respectively; intragenotypic diversity was detected.

Conclusions

The present work highlights the need of comprehensive studies on dynamics of DENV in Colombia to understand transmission of dengue and evaluate the effectiveness of a vaccination programme.
Introducing new transfusion technology: the ethics of tiered transfusion safety
Authors: Klein Harvey G.
Published: October 2019

See article on page 3120–3127, in this issue
Optimization of Stack Emission Parameters Using Gaussian Plume Model
Authors: Ali Zairi , D. Ubaidullah , Zahid M. N. , Osman Kahar
Published: October 2019

Numerical simulation is an economical way to control air pollution because of its consistency and ease of use compared to traditional data sampling method. The objective of this research is to develop a practical numerical algorithm to predict the dispersion of pollutant particles around a specific source of emission. The algorithm is tested with a rubber wood manufacturing plant. Gaussian-plume model were used as air dispersion model due to its simplicity and generic application. Results of this study show the concentrations of the pollutant particles on ground level reached approximately 90μg/m3, compared with other software. This value surpasses the limit of 50μg/m3 stipulated by the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and Recommended Malaysian Guidelines (RMG) set by Environment Department of Malaysia. The manufacturing plant is advised to make a few changes with its emission parameters and adequate values are suggested. In general, the developed algorithm is proven to be able to predict particles distribution around emitted source with acceptable accuracy.
SPATIAL TRANSACTIONS AND VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF A NUPE COMMUNITY IN CENTRAL NIGERIA
Authors: Muhammad Isa Bala , Said Ismail
Published: October 2019

Vernacular architecture has been a subject of interest by scholars in different fields, views and perspectives. Some of such studies are on material, climate, morphology cultural behaviour and spatial needs of the people.  The inclination of this research is on cultural behaviour and the use of space. This is because people’s cultural behaviour forms the foundation of vernacular architecture.  However, most scholarly interests are focused on major ethnic groups with little interest on the minority ethnic group such as the Nupe ethnic group in Nigeria. Culture differs and so do the behaviour and the spatial needs of people. For a sustainable development to be attained, architecture needs to be tailored towards the cultural needs of the people.  This study, therefore, embarked upon an ethnographic study to determine the basic domestic architectural spatial needs of the Nupe people, which entailed and eight months stay with the local people. The process of data elicitation included behavioural mapping and the conduct of interviews. A conclusion is drawn showing three spaces to be the most valued in the daily transactions of the Nupe community. They are zhempa, (courtyard) katamba (entrance hall) and kata (bedroom). The finding also showed that the values of spaces are not solely tied to tangible spatial utilization but also to intangible non spatial cultural values.
SUSTAINING PRIVATISATION OF ELECTRICITY SERVICE DELIVERY IN NIGERIA: A RESOLUTION BETWEEN ASPATIAL AND SPATIAL PLANNING APPROACH
Authors: Victor Olamide Eniola , Abd. Aziz Norsiah Binti , Jaffar Abdul Razak Bin
Published: October 2019

The symbiotic relationship of the concept of Aspatial and spatial planning approach to power reform cannot be underestimated, as it is critical to the sustainable service delivery of electricity to the target population, especially in Nigeria and other developing countries. As problem statement, the planning of service delivery of electricity supply, most often, had always been approached from the aspatial level of planning that is, “mere policy statement”, just as issue of privatization of electricity service delivery in Nigeria, without much relevance to spatial dimensional aspect. This lopsided planning approach to service delivery of public utilities generally and in particular electricity supply has consequently been the raison d’etre for; poor implementation of its laudable privatisation policy, inability to achieve the goals of its well-articulated and full packaged Strategies. The skewed distribution of electrical facilities, ineffective and malfunctioning conditions, overstretching and overloading of available facilities, incessant power failure, general poor electricity service delivery, inter alia, in Nigeria are attributable to non-adherence to spatial planning approach. The study, methodologically drawn from relevant literatures and tertiary sources of data, objectively aimed at stressing the symbiotic importance of spatial planning approach to the sustainability of aspatial planning strategies. Comprehensive planning, adequate available spatial data, involvement of relevant stakeholders, among others were the suggested recommendations, with main focus on privatization approach to service delivery of electricity in Nigeria.
INVESTIGATING USE OF DAYLIGHT IN A TYPICAL ALGERIAN PUBLIC CLASSROOM TYPOLOGY
Authors: Abdelhakeem Mesloub , Aminu Dodo Yakubu , Kandar Mohd Zin
Published: October 2019

The presence of daylight affects human beings both physiologically and psychologically. Admitting daylight into an indoor enclosure improves mood, enhances morale, lowers fatigue, and reduces eyestrain. To adequately capture the characteristics of current daylight design practice in typical Algerian classroom A field observations was carried out in the study area which comprises the school buildings and including performing a series of measurements for daylighting inside the classrooms. This was further confirmed by the use of simulation using IES  software. As investigated the standard sky condition in Algeria is overcast and based on this; the conceptual models of Algerian public schools are divided into two types of school buildings. Schools inherited from the colonial period and those built during the period of French occupation which are characterized by variation on the arrangements of classrooms even for a single school and are streamlined into; linear assembly with simple distribution (traditional classroom) which is common and the second type which has a linear assembly with double distribution. Based on the existing guideline from the Ministry of National Education which was adopted from the colonial masters. The simulation result confirm that class room typologies in Algeria had less consideration for climatic and comfort conditions and the window openings allowed excessive daylight.
BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING (BIM): A POTENTIAL FOR EFFECTIVE BUILDING INDUSTRY PRACTICE IN MALAYSIA
Authors: Yusuf Badiru Yunusa , Nita Ali Kherun , Embi Muhammad Rashid
Published: October 2019

It is an open fact that building information modelling (BIM) have been and is still expanding its usefulness across professional specialization in the building industry. Building Information Modelling (BIM) as a new way of doing things in the building industry and it is a system that is rapidly revolutionizing entire process therein. It is also apparent that most professionals in the building industry are aware and willing to embed the BIM culture but with absolute little to no knowledge about it workability. This is the major challenges, which is as a result of lack of BIM integration to education. This paper therefore seeks prominent works of researchers in BIM and the apparent benefits so far gained and still to be gained with BIM integration to higher education in Malaysia. Thus attempting to proffer an integration strategic that will facilitate an adequate smooth BIM adoption in the building industry, this will boost building project delivery and mitigate against shortcomings of the traditional delivery processes.
OVERVIEW OF REMOTE SENSING APPLICATION FOR SEARCH OF MH370
Authors: Okoli Emeka Jude , Enegbuma Wallace Imoudu
Published: October 2019

This paper summarizes some remote sensing technologies in use by different search and rescue operators for the search of the missing Malaysia Airline (MH370). Studies are on-going using detected products and complex imagery. Some of the detected imagery currently does not provide reliable information, though the techniques themselves are promising. The introduction of microwave remote sensing systems will provide the much needed assistance when both visual searches and optical imaging systems do not help. However, under normal atmospheric conditions, airborne or space borne imaging systems are developed to obtain further information. The paper looked into the airplanes, flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, as well as the possible path.
UWB CHANNEL CHARACTERIZATION IN 28 GHZ MILLIMETER WAVEBAND FOR 5G CELLULAR NETWORKS
Authors: M. Al-Samman Ahmed , A. Rahman Tharek , Ngah Razali
Published: October 2019

The demands of high data rate transmission for future wireless communication technologies are increasing rapidly. The current bands for cellular network will not be able to satisfy these requirements. The millimeter wave (mm-wave) bands are the candidate bands for the future cellular networks. The 28 GHz band is the strongest candidate for 5G cellular networks. The large bandwidth at this band is one of the main parameters that make the mm-wave bands promising candidate for the future cellular networks. To know the wideband channel behavior in mm-wave bands, the wideband channel characterizations are required. In this paper, the 3D WINNER model is used to model the wideband channel at 28 GHz band. Based on this model, the time dispersion parameters at 28 GHz mm-wave band are investigated. The root mean square delay spread and the mean excess delay are the main parameters that can be used to characterize the wideband channel. Morever, the cumulative distribution function (CDF) is used to model the RMS delay spreads. The results show that the RMS delay spread varies between 4.1 ns and 443.7 ns.
TOTAL PARTICULATE MATTER, PM10, PM2.5 EMISSIONS FROM PALM OIL MILL BOILER
Authors: Syahirah M. M. , Rashid M. , Nor Ruwaida J.
Published: October 2019

Utilization of fiber and shell as boiler fuel in palm oil mill industry generates particulate emission that need to be controlled before emitting to the environment. This study investigates the particulate mass size distribution of particulate matter sampled from palm oil mills having different boiler capacities. The particulate emission was performed at the stack following US EPA Method 17 and while the particulate size distribution was determined using particle size analyzer. Results showed that the total particulate mass concentration varied between 0.42 and 3.77 g/Nm3 (corrected at 7% O2). The emitted particulate was mainly found in the coarse particles, with 50% cumulative size distribution ranged from 21 to 38 µm. The particulate mass concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 of the total particulate emission was varied from 0.03 to 0.30 g/Nm3 and 0.37 to 0.73 g/Nm3, respectively. This contributes 0.8 to 71% and 13 to 95% of the total particulate mass concentration, respectively.
TREMORX: AN ASSISTIVE DEVICE TO IMPROVE TREMOR PATIENT WRITING CAPABILITY
Authors: Yusop Z. M. , Md. Zain M. Z. , Hussein M. , Musa A. R.
Published: October 2019

Patients with hand tremor often face difficulties in performing daily tasks using their hands, especially writing. Hence, this paper presents an inventive assistive device named as TREMORX that can assist patients in overcoming this situation by improving their handwriting legibility. TREMORX is designed to suit the patient’s handgrip and focuses more on the patient's comfort. The aim is to analyze the performance of the device based on acceleration data by implementing the power spectral density (PSD), which is focused on reduction of coherence amplitude, and displaying the signal in the time and frequency domains. The measured acceleration data are further analyzed with Matlab simulation and show a significant response. The TREMORX is designed in three different lengths of diameter and the stiffness of each one is measured. The effectiveness of the device is identified using the force sensitive resistor (FSR) to measure the force and flex sensor, as to determine the deflection. The results indicate that the patients experienced improvements in handwriting quality when using TREMORX.
MODELING OF THE MINIMIZED TWO-PHASE FLOW FRICTIONAL PRESSURE DROP IN A SMALL TUBE WITH DIFFERENT CORRELATIONS
Authors: Abid Yousif Qais , Mohd-Ghazali Normah , Zolpakar Nor Atiqah , Novianto Sentot , Pamitran Agus Sujiantro , Ahmad Robiah
Published: October 2019

The major parameters of interest in heat transfer research are the refrigerant charge, pressure drop, and heat transfer capacity. Smaller channels reduce the refrigerant charge with higher heat transfer capability due to the increased in surface area to volume ratio but at the expense of a higher pressure drop. Differences between the predicted and experimental frictional pressure drop of two-phase flow in small tubes have frequently been discussed. Factors that could have contributed to that effect have been attributed to the correlations used to model the flow, some being modified from the originals developed for a macro system. Experimental test-rigs have varied in channel geometry, refrigerant type, and flow conditions. Thousands of data have been collected to find a common point among the differences. This paper reports an investigation of four different two-phase friction factor correlations used in the modeling of the frictional two-phase flow pressure drop of refrigerant R-22. One had been specifically developed for laminar flow in a smooth channel, another was modified from a laminar flow in a smooth pipe to be used for a rough channel, and two correlations are specific for turbulent flow that consider internal pipe surface roughness. Genetic algorithm, an optimization scheme, is used to search for the minimum friction factor and minimum frictional pressure drop under optimized conditions of the mass flux and vapor quality. The results show that a larger pressure drop does come with a smaller channel. A large discrepancy exists between the correlations investigated; between the ones that does not consider surface roughness and that which does, as well as between flow under laminar and turbulent flow conditions.
IRIS RECOGNITION BASED ON THE MODIFIED CHAN-VESE ACTIVE CONTOUR
Authors: Jamaludin Shahrizan , Zainal Nasharuddin , W Zaki W Mimi Diyana
Published: October 2019

Over recent years, iris recognition has been an explosive growth of interest in human identification due to its high accuracy. Iris recognition is a biometric system that uses iris to verify and identify human identity. Iris has pattern that is rich with textures and can be compared among humans. There are many methods can be used in iris recognition. The methods based on the integro-differential operator and Hough transform are the most widely used in iris recognition. Unfortunately, both methods require more time to execute and has less accurate recognition accuracy due to the eyelid occlusion. In order to solve these problems, the Chan-Vese active contour is modified to reduce the execution time and to increase the recognition accuracy of iris recognition. Then, this method is compared with the integro-differential operator method. The iris images from CASIA-v4 database are used for the experiments. According to the results, the proposed method recorded 0.91 s for execution time which was 61.28 % faster than the integro-differential operator method. The proposed method also achieved 0.9831 for area under curve (AUC) which was 2.66 % higher recognition accuracy than the integro-differential operator method. To conclude, the modified Chan-Vese active contour was able to improve the performance of iris recognition compared to the integro-differential operator method.
Influence of methazolamide on the human control of breathing: A comparison to acetazolamide
Authors: Teppema Luc J. , Boulet Lindsey M. , Hackett Heather K. , Dominelli Paolo B. , Cheyne William S. , Dominelli Giulio S. , Swenson Erik R. , Foster Glen E.
Published: October 2019

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Acetazolamide and methazolamide both reduce hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction equally, but methazolamide does not impair skeletal muscle function. The effect of methazolamide on respiratory control in humans is not yet known.

What is the main finding and its importance?

Similar to acetazolamide after chronic oral administration, methazolamide causes a metabolic acidosis and shifts the ventilatory CO2 response curve leftwards without reducing O2 sensitivity. The change in ventilation over the change in log provides a more accurate measure of hypoxic sensitivity than the change in ventilation over the change in arterial oxyhaemoglobin saturation.

Acetazolamide is used to prevent/treat acute mountain sickness and both central and obstructive sleep apnoea. Methazolamide, like acetazolamide, reduces hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, but has fewer side‐effects, including less impairment of skeletal muscle function. Given that the effects of methazolamide on respiratory control in humans are unknown, we compared the effects of oral methazolamide and acetazolamide on ventilatory control and determined the ventilation–log  relationship in humans. In a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, randomized cross‐over design, we studied the effects of acetazolamide (250 mg three times daily), methazolamide (100 mg twice daily) and placebo in 14 young male subjects who were exposed to 7 min of normoxic hypercapnia and to three levels of eucapnia and hypercapnic hypoxia. With placebo, methazolamide and acetazolamide, the CO2 sensitivities were 2.39 ± 1.29, 3.27 ± 1.82 and 2.62 ± 1.79 l min−1 mmHg−1 (n.s.) and estimated apnoeic thresholds 32 ± 3, 28 ± 3 and 26 ± 3 mmHg, respectively (P < 0.001, placebo versus methazolamide and acetazolamide). The relationship between ventilation () and log  (using arterialized venous in hypoxia) was linear, and neither agent influenced the relationship between hypoxic sensitivity () and arterial [H+]. Using rather than Δ/Δ arterial oxyhaemoglobin saturation enables a more accurate estimation of oxygenation and ventilatory control in metabolic acidosis/alkalosis when right‐ or leftward shifts of the oxyhaemoglobin saturation curve occur. Given that acetazolamide and methazolamide have similar effects on ventilatory control, methazolamide might be preferred for indications requiring the use of a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, avoiding some of the negative side‐effects of acetazolamide.
Análisis académico jurisprudencial sede jurisdiccional de protección al consumidor
Authors: Casallas Bautista Sonia Esperanza , Muñoz Pedraza Laura Viviana , López González Juan Carlos , Salamanca Torres María Teresa
Published: October 2019

La investigación adelantada por el grupo de alumnos de la Especialización de Seguros y Seguridad Social de la Universidad de la Sabana corresponde a una revisión y análisis bajo línea jurisprudencial de las Sentencias dictadas por la Delegatura de Protección al Consumidor Financiero de la Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia, en virtud del atributo legal que le fuera conferido mediante la Ley 1480 de 2011, con la creación de la Acción de Protección al Consumidor, contemplada en los artículos 57 y 58 (Estatuto del Consumidor) y luego incorporada en el artículo 24 del Código General del Proceso.

El análisis incluye un marco conceptual, destacando en este el entorno de la labor que realiza la Delegatura de Protección al Consumidor, los antecedentes de la función jurisdiccional y el marco jurídico de los temas atendidos; así como los fundamentos de las decisiones confrontados con la posición de otras corporaciones.

La metodología que se empleó para llevar a cabo dicho análisis jurisprudencial fue la lectura del contenido de las providencias de manera individual; así como la reproducción de audios de las actuaciones adelantadas en los procesos para lograr identificar los aspectos generales que usualmente la Delegatura utiliza para afrontar y resolver la controversia y luego descender al caso en concreto. Dichas decisiones corresponden a actuaciones realizadas entre el año 2012, hasta algunas del año 2017.

Los resultados del análisis permitirán evidenciar las diferentes posiciones jurisprudenciales que ha adoptado la Delegatura de Protección al Consumidor a lo largo del desarrollo de su facultad jurisdiccional.
Análisis y gestión del riesgo operacional en las entidades financieras y aseguradoras. una comparativa
Authors: Pérez Fructuoso María José , Gragera Cubero Jessica
Published: October 2019

Este artículo establece, a partir de los documentos regulatorios Basilea II y Basilea III en sector el bancario y Solvencia II en el sector de seguros, qué es el riesgo operacional, cuáles son las características específicas en ambos mercados, cómo se gestiona dicho riesgo en uno y en otro y cuáles son los métodos de cálculo del mismo. A partir de esta información se realiza un análisis de las diferencias que se producen en los dos casos y se determinan los motivos que llevan a dichas diferencias.
Sentencia Corte Suprema de Justicia – Sala Civil SC20950 – 2017 Diciembre 12 de 2017 Radicación: 05001-31-03-005-2008-00497-01 Magistrado Ponente: Ariel Salazar Ramírez
Authors: Isaza Posse Maria Cristina
Published: October 2019

EL CASO:

Los hechos:

Un automotor colisionó con una motocicleta conducida por un hombre de 32 años, casado y padre de una niña de 2 años, quien administraba un bar y restaurante de su propiedad, recibiendo unos ingresos mensuales.

Como consecuencia del accidente el conductor de la motocicleta sufrió graves lesiones y falleció al día siguiente.

La Secretaría de Tránsito y Transporte de la zona sancionó como responsable de contravención al conductor del vehículo, exonerando de culpa al conductor de la motocicleta.

El automotor estaba asegurado mediante una póliza de seguro.

La esposa y la hija formularon la reclamación de los perjuicios sufridos a la aseguradora, quien objetó el pago y se rehusó a expedir copia del contrato de seguro.
La resolución alternativa de conflictos de seguros con consumidores en el derecho español
Authors: Peñas Moyano María Jesús
Published: October 2019

La Ley 7/2017, de 2 de noviembre, por la que se incorpora al ordenamiento jurídico español la Directiva 2013/11/UE, del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo, de 21 de mayo de 2013, relativa a la resolución alternativa de litigios en materia de consumo, motiva a cuestionarse nuevamente sobre la aplicación estos mecanismos ADRs en el sector del seguro. La propia configuración del contrato de seguro y la elevada conflictividad que se manifiesta en la práctica en torno al mismo, además de haber sido considerado a lo largo del tiempo como un campo de pruebas para la utilización de instrumentos alternativos a la vía judicial, propician un estudio de los antecedentes y de la situación actual tras la entrada en vigor de la Ley. Especial consideración tiene lo previsto por su disposición adicional primera en la que se establece una futura entidad única de resolución de litigios de consumo en el ámbito financiero.
Manufacturability Oriented Model Correction and Build Direction Optimization for Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Ulu Erva , Gecer Ulu Nurcan , Hsiao Walter , Nelaturi Saigopal
Published: October 2019

We introduce a method to analyze and modify a shape to make it manufacturable for a given additive manufacturing (AM) process. Different AM technologies, process parameters, or materials introduce geometric constraints on what is manufacturable or not. Given an input 3D model and minimum printable feature size dictated by the manufacturing process characteristics and parameters, our algorithm generates a corrected geometry that is printable with the intended AM process. A key issue in model correction for manufacturability is the identification of critical features that are affected by the printing process. To address this challenge, we propose a topology aware approach to construct the allowable space for a print head to traverse during the 3D printing process. Combined with our build orientation optimization algorithm, the amount of modifications performed on the shape is kept at minimum while providing an accurate approximation of the as-manufactured part. We demonstrate our method on a variety of 3D models and validate it by 3D printing the results.
Relationship Between Cervical, Thoracic, and Lumbar Spinal Alignments in Automotive Seated Posture
Authors: Sato Fusako , Miyazaki Yusuke , Morikawa Shigehiro , Perez Antonio Ferreiro , Schick Sylvia , Yamazaki Kunio , Brolin Karin , Svensson Mats Y.
Published: October 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal alignments in one automotive occupant seated posture. An image dataset of the spinal column in the automotive seated posture, previously acquired by an upright open magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, was re-analyzed in this study. Spinal alignments were presented by the geometrical centers of the vertebral bodies extracted from the image data. Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal alignments were analyzed separately with multidimensional scaling (MDS). Based on distribution maps of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal alignments created by MDS, representative spinal alignment patterns of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spines and the relationship between cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal alignments were investigated. As a result, this study found a correlation between cervical and thoracic spinal alignments in an automotive occupant seated posture. According to representative spinal alignment patterns illustrated by the distribution map of spinal alignments, subjects who had kyphotic cervical spinal alignment tended to have less kyphotic thoracic spinal alignment, while subjects who had lordotic cervical spinal alignment tended to have more kyphotic thoracic spinal alignment. For lumbar spinal alignments, no prominent relationship was found between cervical and thoracic spinal alignment in the seated condition of this study.
Stroke Prevents Exercise-Induced Gains in Bone Microstructure But Not Composition in Mice
Authors: Hanne Nicholas J. , Steward Andrew J. , Sessions Marci R. , Thornburg Hannah L. , Sheng Huaxin , Cole Jacqueline H.
Published: October 2019

Ischemic stroke induces rapid loss in bone mineral density that is up to 13 times greater than during normal aging, leading to a markedly increased risk of fracture. Little is known about skeletal changes following stroke beyond density loss. In this study, we use a mild-moderate middle cerebral artery occlusion model to determine the effects of ischemic stroke without bedrest on bone microstructure, dynamic bone formation, and tissue composition. Twenty-seven 12-week-old male C57Bl/6J mice received either a stroke or sham surgery and then either received daily treadmill exercise or remained sedentary for 4 weeks. All mice were ambulatory immediately following stroke, and limb coordination during treadmill exercise was unaffected by stroke, indicating similar mechanical loading across limbs for both stroke and sham groups. Stroke did not directly detriment microstructure, but exercise only stimulated adaptation in the sham group, not the stroke group, with increased bone volume fraction and trabecular thickness in the sham distal femoral metaphysis. Stroke differentially decreased cortical area in the distal femoral metaphysis for the affected limb relative to the unaffected limb, as well as endosteal bone formation rate in the affected tibial diaphysis. Although exercise failed to improve bone microstructure following stroke, exercise increased mineral-to-matrix content in stroke but not sham. Together, these results show that stroke inhibits exercise-induced changes to femoral microstructure but not tibial composition, even without changes to gait. Similarly, affected-unaffected limb differences in cortical bone structure and bone formation rate in ambulatory mice show that stroke affects bone health even without bedrest.
Statistics for Testing Under Adverse Conditions
Authors: Pease Leonard F. , Anderson Kevin K. , Bamberger Judith Ann , Minette Michael J.
Published: October 2019

Here, we develop a statistical basis for limited adverse testing. This type of testing simultaneously evaluates system performance against minimum requirements and minimizes costs, particularly for large-scale engineering projects. Because testing is often expensive and narrow in scope, the data obtained are relatively limited—precisely the opposite of the recent big data movement but no less compelling. Although a remarkably common approach for industrial and large-scale government projects, a statistical basis for adverse testing remains poorly explored. Here, we prove mathematically, under specific conditions, that setting each independent variable to an adverse condition leads to a similar level of adversity in the dependent variable. For example, setting all normally distributed independent variables to at least their 95th percentile values leads to a result at the 95th percentile. The analysis considers sample size estimates to clarify the value of replicates in this type of testing, determines how many of the independent variables must be set to adverse condition values, and highlights the essential assumptions, so that engineers, statisticians, and subject matter experts know when this statistical framework may be applied successfully and design testing to satisfy statistical requisites.
Natural Frequency Analysis of Hydraulic Quadruped Robot and Structural Optimization of the Leg
Authors: Yang Qingjun , Zhu Rui , Niu Zhenguo , Chen Chen , Mao Qi , Zheng YuJie
Published: October 2019

Hydraulic quadruped robots can adapt to very complex ground conditions, as they have good maneuverability and high load capacity and, therefore, have received great attention in military research fields all over the world. However, there is no mature theory on how to ensure stable, efficient, and fast walking of robots. In this paper, from the point of view of the natural frequency of the hydraulic system, we first calculate the natural frequency of the robot's legs during the whole motion period of the robot and verify the accuracy of calculation through system identification. Then, through the analysis of the state equation and transfer function matrix of the multiple-input multiple-output system, it is found that the zero and pole of the system are very close, this is why the natural frequency is low but the system response is acceptable and then we prove that no parameter for the simultaneous zero-pole cancelation of two hydraulic cylinders exists. With the goal of increasing the natural frequency, we optimized the leg structure of the robot to find the best structural parameters. Finally, a single-leg test bench was built. The experimental results show that the optimization of the structure can actually increase the natural frequency of the system and significantly improve the response characteristics of the robot.
Phonetics of Polish “soft”-“hard” vowel allophony
Authors: Lulich Steven M. , Cavar Malgorzata E.
Published: October 2019

This paper reports on the results of a three-dimensional ultrasound study of Polish vowels in consonant-vowel sequences. It was found that allophonic variation in vowels in the context of “soft” consonants is consistently implemented phonetically by means of tongue root advancement, which effectively expands the pharyngeal cavity and reduces the volume of the oral cavity. The tongue root is also consistently advanced in the soft consonants that trigger vowel allophony and retracted (or neutral) in the “hard” sounds, which do not trigger allophony, suggesting that tongue root advancement is part of the phonological representation of the “softness” (or palatalization) contrast. In parallel to this allophony, the same tongue root mechanism was found to underlie the phonotactic distribution of the phonemic vowels /i/ and /ɨ/, yielding an entirely symmetric system with consonant-vowel sequences always obligatorily compatible in terms of the position of the tongue root.
Normalization of Early Isometric Force Production as a Percentage of Peak Force During Multijoint Isometric Assessment
Authors: Comfort Paul , Dos’Santos Thomas , Jones Paul A. , McMahon John J. , Suchomel Timothy J. , Bazyler Caleb , Stone Michael H.
Published: October 2019

Purpose: To determine the reliability of early force production (50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 ms) relative to peak force (PF) during an isometric mid-thigh pull and to assess the relationships between these variables. Methods: Male collegiate athletes (N = 29; age 21.1 [2.9] y, height 1.71 [0.07] m, body mass 71.3 [13.6] kg) performed isometric mid-thigh pulls during 2 separate testing sessions. Net PF and net force produced at each epoch were calculated. Within- and between-session reliabilities were determined using intraclass correlation coefficients and coefficient of variation percentages. In addition, Pearson correlation coefficients and coefficient of determination were calculated to examine the relationships between PF and time-specific force production. Results: Net PF and time-specific force demonstrated very high to almost perfect reliability both within and between sessions (intraclass correlation coefficients .82–.97; coefficient of variation percentages 0.35%–1.23%). Similarly, time-specific force expressed as a percentage of PF demonstrated very high to almost perfect reliability both within and between sessions (intraclass correlation coefficients .76–.86; coefficient of variation percentages 0.32%–2.51%). Strong to nearly perfect relationships (r = .615–.881) exist between net PF and time-specific net force, with relationships improving over longer epochs. Conclusion: Based on the smallest detectable difference, a change in force at 50 milliseconds expressed relative to PF > 10% and early force production (100, 150, 200, and 250 ms) expressed relative to PF of >2% should be considered meaningful. Expressing early force production as a percentage of PF is reliable and may provide greater insight into the adaptations to the previous training phase than PF alone.
Habenular and striatal activity during performance feedback are differentially linked with state-like and trait-like aspects of tobacco use disorder
Authors: Flannery Jessica S. , Riedel Michael C. , Poudel Ranjita , Laird Angela R. , Ross Thomas J. , Salmeron Betty Jo , Stein Elliot A. , Sutherland Matthew T.
Published: October 2019

We dissociate brain changes linked to nicotine withdrawal in the habenula from those linked to addiction severity in striatum.
Morphology and composition play distinct and complementary roles in the tolerance of plantar skin to mechanical load
Authors: Boyle Colin J. , Plotczyk Magdalena , Villalta Sergi Fayos , Patel Sharad , Hettiaratchy Shehan , Masouros Spyros D. , Masen Marc A. , Higgins Claire A.
Published: October 2019

Skin morphology and composition play complementary roles in protecting plantar skin from stress- and deformation-induced injury.
Ubiquitin-proteasomal regulation of chromatin remodeler INO80 in the nucleus accumbens mediates persistent cocaine craving
Authors: Werner C. T. , Mitra S. , Martin J. A. , Stewart A. F. , Lepack A. E. , Ramakrishnan A. , Gobira P. H. , Wang Z.-J. , Neve R. L. , Gancarz A. M. , Shen L. , Maze I. , Dietz D. M.
Published: October 2019

Proteasomal-regulated chromatin remodeler mediates cocaine relapse during abstinence.
Control of cytokinesis by β-adrenergic receptors indicates an approach for regulating cardiomyocyte endowment
Authors: Liu Honghai , Zhang Cheng-Hai , Ammanamanchi Niyatie , Suresh Sangita , Lewarchik Christopher , Rao Krithika , Uys Gerrida M. , Han Lu , Abrial Maryline , Yimlamai Dean , Ganapathy Balakrishnan , Guillermier Christelle , Chen Nathalie , Khaladkar Mugdha , Spaethling Jennifer , Eberwine James H. , Kim Junhyong , Walsh Stuart , Choudhury Sangita , Little Kathryn , Francis Kimberly , Sharma Mahesh , Viegas Melita , Bais Abha , Kostka Dennis , Ding Jun , Bar-Joseph Ziv , Wu Yijen , Yechoor Vijay , Moulik Mousumi , Johnson Jennifer , Weinberg Jacqueline , Reyes-Múgica Miguel , Steinhauser Matthew L. , Kühn Bernhard
Published: October 2019

Control of cytokinesis by β-adrenergic receptors indicates an approach for regulating the established number of cardiomyocytes.
RexAB Is Essential for the Mutagenic Repair of Staphylococcus aureus DNA Damage Caused by Co-trimoxazole
Authors: Clarke Rebecca S. , Bruderer Maya S. , Ha Kam Pou , Edwards Andrew M.
Published: October 2019

Co-trimoxazole (SXT) is a combination therapeutic that consists of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim that is increasingly used to treat skin and soft tissue infections caused by methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA). However, the use of SXT is limited to the treatment of low-burden, superficial
S. aureus
infections and its therapeutic value is compromised by the frequent emergence of resistance.
Phytovirome Analysis of Wild Plant Populations: Comparison of Double-Stranded RNA and Virion-Associated Nucleic Acid Metagenomic Approaches
Authors: Ma Yuxin , Marais Armelle , Lefebvre Marie , Theil Sébastien , Svanella-Dumas Laurence , Faure Chantal , Candresse Thierry
Published: October 2019

There are today significant knowledge gaps on phytovirus populations and on the drivers impacting them but also on the comparative performance-methodological approaches for their study. We used and compared two viral sequence enrichment approaches, double-stranded RNAs (dsRNA) and virion-associated nucleic acids (VANA), for phytovirome description in complex pools representative of the most prevalent plant species in unmanaged and cultivated ecosystems. Viral richness was assessed by determining operational taxonomic units (OTU) following the clustering of conserved viral domains. There is some limited evidence of an impact of cultivation on viral populations. These results provide data allowing us to reason the methodological choices in virome studies. For researchers primarily interested in RNA viruses, the dsRNA approach is recommended because it consistently provided a more comprehensive description of the analyzed phytoviromes, but it understandably underrepresented DNA viruses and bacteriophages.
Regulation of the Ebola Virus VP24 Protein by SUMO
Authors: Vidal Santiago , El Motiam Ahmed , Seoane Rocío , Preitakaite Viktorija , Bouzaher Yanis Hichem , Gómez-Medina Sergio , San Martín Carmen , Rodríguez Dolores , Rejas María Teresa , Baz-Martínez Maite , Barrio Rosa , Sutherland James D. , Rodríguez Manuel S. , Muñoz-Fontela César , Rivas Carmen
Published: October 2019

The Ebola virus VP24 protein plays a critical role in escape of the virus from the host innate immune response. Therefore, deciphering the molecular mechanisms modulating VP24 activity may be useful to identify potential targets amenable to therapeutics. Here, we identify the cellular proteins USP7, SUMO, and ubiquitin as novel interactors and regulators of VP24. These interactions may represent novel potential targets to design new antivirals with the ability to modulate Ebola virus replication.
Eleven High-Quality Reference Genome Sequences and 360 Draft Assemblies of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Isolates from Human, Food, Animal, and Environmental Sources in Canada
Authors: Tyson Shari , Peterson Christy-Lynn , Olson Adam , Tyler Shaun , Knox Natalie , Griffiths Emma , Dooley Damion , Hsiao William , Cabral Jennifer , Johnson Roger P. , Laing Chad , Gannon Victor , Lynch Tarah , Van Domselaar Gary , Brinkman Fiona , Graham Morag
Published: October 2019

We report high-quality closed reference genomes for 1 bovine strain and 10 human Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing
Escherichia coli
(STEC) strains from serogroups O26, O45, O91, O103, O104, O111, O113, O121, O145, and O157. We also report draft assemblies, with standardized metadata, for 360 STEC strains isolated from watersheds, animals, farms, food, and human infections.
Community social capital and the onset of functional disability among older adults in Japan: a multilevel longitudinal study using Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) data
Authors: Noguchi Taiji , Kondo Katsunori , Saito Masashige , Nakagawa-Senda Hiroko , Suzuki Sadao
Published: October 2019

Objective

The present study examined the association between community social capital and the onset of functional disability among older Japanese people by using validated indicators of social capital and a prospective multilevel design.

Design

Prospective cohort study

Setting

We used data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, established from August 2010 to January 2012 in 323 districts.

Participants

The target population was restricted to non-institutionalised people aged 65 years or older who were independent in activities of daily living. Participants included 73 021 people (34 051 men and 38 970 women) who were followed up over a 3-year period.

Primary outcome measure

The primary outcome measure was the onset of functional disability, defined as a new registration in public long-term care insurance system records with a care-needs level of two or above, analysed with multilevel Cox proportional hazards regression models by community social capital (civic participation, social cohesion and reciprocity).

Results

The mean age of participants was 73.3 years (SD=6.0) for men and 73.8 years (SD=6.2) for women. During the study period, the onset of functional disability occurred in 1465 (4.3%) men and 1519 (3.9%) women. Of three community social capital variables, social cohesion significantly reduced the risk of onset of functional disability (HR 0.910; 95% CI 0.830 to 0.998) among men, after adjusting for individual social and behavioural variables. There was no significant effect among women.

Conclusions

Living in a community with rich social cohesion is associated with a lower incidence of onset of functional disability among older Japanese men.
Facilitators and barriers to implement the family doctor contracting services in China: findings from a qualitative study
Authors: Yuan Shasha , Wang Fang , Li Xi , Jia Meng , Tian Miaomiao
Published: October 2019

Objective

To identify the facilitators and barriers to implement family doctor contracting services in China by using Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to shed new light on establishing family doctor systems in developing countries.

Design

A qualitative study conducted from June to August 2017 using semistructured interview guides for focus group discussions (FGDs) and individual interviews. CFIR was used to guide data coding, data analysis and reporting of findings.

Setting

19 primary health institutions in nine provinces purposively selected from the eastern, middle and western areas of China.

Participants

From the nine sampled provinces in China, 62 policy makers from health related departments at the province, city and county/district levels participated in 9 FGDs; 19 leaders of primary health institutions participated in individual interviews; and 48 family doctor team members participated in 15 FGDs.

Results

Based on CFIR constructs, notable facilitators included national reform involving both top-down and bottom-up policy making (Intervention); support from essential public health funds, fiscal subsidies and health insurance (Outer setting); extra performance-based payments for family doctor teams based on evaluation (Inner setting); and positive engagement of health administrators (Process). Notable barriers included a lack of essential matching mechanisms at national level (Intervention); distrust in the quality of primary care, a lack of government subsidies and health insurance reimbursement and performance ceiling policy (Outer setting); the low competency of family doctors and weak influence of evaluations on performance-based salary (Inner setting); and misunderstandings about family doctor contracting services (Process).

Conclusions

The national design with essential features including financing, incentive mechanisms and multidepartment cooperation, was vital for implementing family doctor contracting services in China. More attention should be paid to the quality of primary care and competency of family doctors. All stakeholders must be informed, be involved and participate before and during the process.
lα → 3lβ in minimal R-symmetric supersymmetric Standard Model
Authors: Sun Ke-Sheng , Chen Jian-Bin , Zhang Hai-Bin , Cui Sheng-Kai
Published: October 2019

Lepton flavor violation decays are channels which may lead to fundamental discoveries in the forthcoming years and this makes it an exciting research field for beyond the Standard Model (SM) searches. In this work, we present an analysis of the lepton flavor violation decays [Formula: see text] in Minimal R-symmetric Supersymmetric Standard Model. The prediction for [Formula: see text] depends on the off-diagonal entries of the slepton mass matrix. The contributions to Wilson coefficients can be classified into Higgs penguins, photon penguins, Z penguins and box diagrams. It shows the contribution from Z penguins dominates the predictions for [Formula: see text], and the contributions from Higgs penguins and box diagrams play different roles in different decay channels. The theoretical predictions for [Formula: see text] can reach the future experimental limits, and the channels are very promising to be observed in near future experiment.
A3B and ABAB aminophthalocyanines: Building blocks for dimeric and polymeric constructs
Authors: Ekren Safiye Bozkurt , Dumoulin Fabienne , Musluoğlu Emel , Ahsen Vefa , Güngör Ömer
Published: October 2019

Mono or diamino phthalocyanines with A3B or crosswise ABAB substitution patterns have been synthesized and used as building blocks for the preparation of dimeric and polymeric phthalocyanines. For this, 4,5-di(dodecylsulfanyl) phthalonitrile was converted into 1,3-diimino-6,7-di-([Formula: see text]-dodecylsulfanyl)-isoiminoindoline and then reacted with 6-nitro-1,3,3-trichloroisoindoline. The nitro functions on the resulting inseparable mixture of A3B and ABAB phthalocyanines were reduced into amines by Na2S and the phthalocyanines could be chromatographically separated. Dimeric phthalocyanine was synthesized by the reaction of the mono-amino AB3 with sebacoyldichloride, and a poorly soluble linear polymeric material was obtained by reaction of the ABAB di-amino phthalocyanine with sebacoyl dichloride.