bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Family members' perceptions of older person discharge from emergency departments
Authors: Fry Margaret , Elliott Rosalind , Curtis Kate , Mei Joy , Fitzpatrick Lesley , Groth Rachel , Murphy Sandra , Jones Keryn , Hofman Catherine
Published: February 2021

Background

People aged over 64 years account for approximately 20% of adult emergency presentations, with up to 60% of people discharged home from emergency departments (EDs). Many older people discharged home are supported by family.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to explore the family members’ perspectives of older people’s discharge from ED to inform new alternative or innovative models of care.

Methods

The design was a descriptive exploratory study. A convenience sample of family members was recruited from three EDs across Sydney, New South Wales. Telephone interviews were conducted over a six‐month period and data were analysed using statistics or thematic analysis.

Results

Interviews were conducted with 133 family members of whom the majority were female (n = 80, 60%) with a median age of 70 years (IQR 91–35). Over 87% of family members were satisfied with ED care and discharge processes that were provided to the older person. The majority (n = 129, 97%) of family members reported that they understood the treatment and perceived that the older person’s condition was well managed (n = 119, 86%). The majority (n = 114, 86%) of family members reported being informed of the medical diagnosis and were confident (87%, n = 115) to continue care of the older person at home. Three themes emerged from qualitative data: (a) a sense of time—moving through ED; (b) giving voice to the impact of clinician communication; and (c) the delivery of comfort and basic care.

Discussion

Family members reported that they were engaged in and satisfied with the older person’s ED treatment and discharge. However, family members suggested that there was opportunity to improve communication consistency for ED discharge and managing the wait.

Conclusion

Clinicians need to engage with family members to optimise quality and safety. Clinicians need to understand that family members considered comfort and fundamentals of care to be an important dimension of the older person’s ED management plan.
Two‐Stage Revision Hip Arthroplasty with or without the Use of an Interim Spacer for Managing Late Prosthetic Infection: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Khanna Angshuman , Carter Bernie , Gill Inder
Published: February 2021

The aim of the present paper was to identify, appraise, and synthesize the available evidence on two‐stage revision hip arthroplasty with or without the use of an interim spacer for managing late prosthetic infection. The review methodology was designed by referencing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analyses (PRISMA) checklist and flow diagram, and a Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes and Study (PICOS) design framework was used to search for studies to incorporate within the review. Two independent investigators were involved in searching for relevant articles that fulfilled the inclusion criteria for the study. Critical appraisal of the selected articles was carried out using the relevant Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklists. From an initial pool of 125 articles, four studies satisfied the inclusion criteria and quality assessment and were included for final review. Two patient groups were identified from within the selected studies: spacer and non‐spacer. Both groups were assessed in terms of functional outcome, infection cure rates, and technical difficulties encountered during treatment. Better functional outcome was reported in the spacer group, both in the interim period between the two stages and after completion of treatment. The use of spacers reduced operative difficulty during the second stage and accelerated patient discharge. Reinfection and infection persistence rates were higher in the non‐spacer group. Within the spacer group, articulated spacers performed better in all parameters. The results of this review reinforce the available evidence supporting the use of interim hip spacers in revision hip arthroplasty for managing prosthetic infection and also indicate that articulated hip spacers could be an attractive option going forward.
An approach to define newborns´ sniffing position using an angle based on reproducible facial landmarks
Authors: Haase Bianca , Badinska Ana‐Maria , Poets Christian F. , Koos Bernd , Springer Laila
Published: February 2021

Background

The neutral or sniffing position is advised for mask ventilation in neonates to avoid airway obstruction. As definitions are manifold and often unspecific, we wanted to investigate the reliability and reproducibility of angle measurements based on facial landmarks that may be used in future clinical trials to determine a hypothetical head position with minimal airway obstruction during mask ventilation.

Methods

In a prospective single‐center observational study, 2D sagittal photographs of 24 near‐term and term infants were taken, with five raters marking facial landmarks to assess interobserver agreement of those landmarks and angle δ, defined as the angle between the line parallel to the lying surface and the line crossing Subnasale (Sn) and Porion’ (P’). Angle δ was assessed in sniffing (δsniff) and physiologic (δphys) head position, the former based on a published, yet poorly defined head position where the tip of the nose aligns to the ceiling with the head in a supine, relaxed mid‐position.

Results

Infants had a mean (SD) gestational age of 37.3 (2.3) weeks. Angle δ could be determined in all 48 images taken in either the sniffing or the physiological head position. Interobserver correlation coefficient was 98.6 for all measurements independent of head position. Angle δsniff was 90.5° (5.7) in the sniffing position.

Conclusions

This study provides a new measuring technique using an angle that is reproducible and reliable and may be used in future studies to correlate head position with airway obstruction.
A transposon in the vacuolar sorting receptor gene TaVSR1‐B promoter region is associated with wheat root depth at booting stage
Authors: Wang Jingyi , Li Long , Li Chaonan , Yang Xi , Xue Yinghong , Zhu Zhi , Mao Xinguo , Jing Ruilian
Published: February 2021

Root depth, as an important component of root architecture, plays a significant role in growth, grain yield determination and abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants, but its genetic basis remains poorly elucidated. In this study, a panel composed of 323 wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) accessions was assessed for variation in root depth and genotyped with the Wheat 660K SNP Array. GWAS (genome‐wide association study) detected significant association between a 125 bp miniature inverted‐repeat transposable element (MITE) in the promoter of the TaVSR1‐B gene with root depth at the booting stage. We showed that the MITE repressed TaVSR1‐B expression by DNA methylation and H3K27 tri‐methylation. The roles of TaVSR1‐B in root growth were verified by altered expression of the gene in transgenic wheat, rice and a tavsr1 TILLING mutant. Increased TaVSR1‐B expression made the root elongation zone shorter and the differentiation zone longer, leading to deeper root. This work provides novel insight into the genetic basis of variation in root depth and a promising target for genetic improvement of root architecture in wheat.
Thinking through Heidegger’s “Untergang”☆
Authors: Ma Lin
Published: February 2021

This article reveals and elucidates the multilayered significance of Heidegger’s notion of going‐under (Untergang) that remain concealed in his three‐volume Ponderings written from 1931 to 1941 as well as in his other nonpublic manuscripts concerning the history of Beyng written around the same period of time. For Heidegger, our era is one of gigantic going‐under, and Europe is the actualization of the decline (Untergang) of the West. However, the going‐under is constitutive of the transition (Übergang) into the other inception. By labeling the going‐under as the necessary courage of the human being, Heidegger accentuates the primordial role which going‐under could play in the grounding of the truth of Beyng. In On the Inception of 1941, Heidegger considers that such notions as event, inception, abyss, going‐under, and tragedy all share meaningful resonances in the free‐playing space of the clearing as the abyss, and need be all pondered upon from out of the inceptual essence of the abyss. Echoing his reversal of the relation between the Nothing and Beyng, which is derived from his self‐criticisms of the Contributions to Philosophy of 1936–1938, Heidegger even speaks of the overcoming of Beyng while stressing the primordiality of the going‐under.
Can light intensity modulate the physiological, anatomical, and reproductive responses of soybean plants to water deficit?
Authors: Almeida Gabriel Martins , Costa Alan Carlos , Batista Priscila Ferreira , Junqueira Verônica Barbosa , Rodrigues Arthur Almeida , Santos Emily Carolina Duarte , Vieira Dheynne Alves , de Oliveira Mariela Melo , Silva Adinan Alves
Published: February 2021

Little is known about the role of light intensity in modulating plant responses to stress due to water deficit (WD). Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the WD and contrasting irradiance effects on the physiology, anatomy, and grain yield of soybean plants. The experimental design was a randomized block in a growth chamber and a 2 × 2 factorial treatment arrangement: 90% (well‐watered, WW) and 40% (WD) of soil field capacities (FC); and 750 (medium irradiance, MI) and 1500 (higher irradiance, HI) μmol (photons) m−2 s−1irradiance. The WD caused a lower photosynthetic rate — as well as observed in the light curve and in the relative parameters, such as apparent quantum efficiency —, less investment in shoot biomass and pollen grain germination, resulting in lower grain yield. However, there was an increase in non‐photochemical energy dissipation, a higher concentration of total soluble sugars, proline, and malondialdehyde. The WD + MI‐soybean plants developed thicker spongy parenchyma (related to higher mesophilic conductance of CO2). In the WW + HI condition the palisade parenchyma was thicker, conferring maintenance of photosynthetic efficiency. In addition, there was an increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase antioxidant enzymes in leaves due to HI, regardless of FC. This induced higher energy expenditure, reflected in the reduction of the number of leaf and branches, leaf area, dry mass of leaves and stem in the WW + HI. Interestingly, these strategies of osmotic adjustment, photoprotection, and antioxidant defenses act together in the WD + HI.
Innovation in times of pandemic: The moderating effect of knowledge sharing on the relationship between COVID‐19‐induced job stress and employee innovation
Authors: Montani Francesco , Staglianò Raffaele
Published: February 2021

The goal of this study is to examine knowledge sharing as a boundary condition under which employee innovation can be enhanced in response to the job stress induced by the COVID‐19 pandemic. We argue that when stressed employees share knowledge, they can expand their knowledge base and thereby enhance their innovative potential. Consistent with our hypothesis, multiple regression analysis results based on a sample of 61 R&D employees of UK and US technology‐based firms show that knowledge sharing moderated the relationship between COVID‐19‐induced job stress and employee innovation, such that the relationship was negative when knowledge sharing was lower but became positive when knowledge sharing was higher. These findings highlight the importance of investing in knowledge‐based resources to promote innovation behavior at work during a pandemic.
Tag use to monitor fish behaviour in aquaculture: a review of benefits, problems and solutions
Authors: Macaulay Georgia , Warren‐Myers Fletcher , Barrett Luke T. , Oppedal Frode , Føre Martin , Dempster Tim
Published: February 2021

A variety of tagging techniques are now available to monitor fish behaviour, physiology and their environmental experience. Tagging is frequently used in aquaculture research to monitor free‐swimming individuals within farmed populations. However, for information gathered from tagged fish to be representative of farmed populations, tagging must not fundamentally affect fish behaviour, physiology or survival. Here, we systematically review studies that used tags to monitor farmed fish behaviour and test factors that affect tag retrieval and tag‐related mortality. Most studies using tags assessed movement and swimming behaviour in salmonids, predominantly in Europe and North America. Mortality of tagged fish was 10 times higher in sea‐cages (mean = 25%, range = 0–61.5%,n = 22 studies) than in tanks (mean = 2.5%, range = 0–17%,n = 23 studies), while mortality of tagged fish in sea‐cages was markedly higher in longer trials (from 4% in single day trials to 36% after 100 days). Higher‐than‐usual mortality rates among tagged fish, together with largely unknown sublethal effects on behaviour, should caution against using tagging studies to make decisions related to farm management. Moreover, key metrics such as mortality rates of tagged and untagged fish or evidence of sublethal effects are often unreported. We make several recommendations to improve future tagging studies and increase transparency in reporting. A greater insight into the causes of tagged fish mortality in sea‐cages is required to secure animal welfare and data validity in studies that use tags to assess fish behaviour in aquaculture.
A magmatic‐hydrothermal origin of the Xinfang gold deposit, Liaodong Peninsula, China, revealed by in‐situ S–Pb isotopes and trace element analyses of pyrite
Authors: Yu Bing , Zeng Qingdong , Frimmel Hartwig E. , Zhou Lingli , Mcclenaghan Sean H. , Drakou Foteini , Wang Yongbin , Chen Peiwen , Yu Chuang
Published: February 2021

The Xinfang deposit is a large gold deposit (>20 t of Au) on the southern edge of the Liaodong Peninsula, China. A total of 37 gold‐bearing orebodies are identified along NS‐ and NW‐striking faults and are mainly hosted by the Archean and Neoproterozoic metamorphic rocks. Three stages of hydrothermal mineralization are distinguished, including Stage I of dominant quartz ± pyrite (Py1), Stage II of quartz‐polymetallic sulfide (Py2), and Stage III of quartz‐calcite ± pyrite (Py3). Gold primarily occurs at the Stage II in association with intensive silicification, pyritization, and sericitization. Here, we report on high‐precision in‐situ LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS analyses of S and Pb isotopic compositions of the sulfide minerals and LA‐ICP‐MS analyses of trace element signature of the pyrite from the Xinfang gold deposit. The δ34S values of the sulfides range from 1.3 to 5.3‰, which is consistent with a magmatic origin of S. The sulfides yield 208Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 206Pb/204Pb ratios of 37.497–37.773, 15.323–15.410, and 17.004–17.229, respectively, which deviate from the values of the wall rocks, suggesting an external Pb source. The in‐situ LA‐ICP‐MS spot analyses of the pyrite reveals that gold occurs in two generations of pyrite (Py2 and Py3) but at low concentrations (≤0.06 ppm for Py2, ≤0.24 ppm for Py3). Visible gold, however, only occurs in the Stage II assemblage as inclusions in pyrite and quartz, and is distributed along the margins or within the fractures of the sulfides. The Py2 shows high Co, Ni, and As concentrations and is depleted in other trace elements typical of a magmatic‐hydrothermal derivation. In contrast, Py3 exhibits low concentrations in most trace elements. Trace element mapping of Py2 revealed correlations between Fe and Co, as well as Ni and As, indicating their couped substitution in the pyrite structure. The available geological, petrographic and geochemical data consistently suggest that the Xinfang gold deposit formed during the Early Cretaceous by hydrothermal fluids of magmatic contribution.
Plant Science and Intellectual Property Protections in Taiwan*
Authors: Welsh Rick , Chien Yuju , Traub Adrianne , Glenna Leland
Published: February 2021

Beginning in 1980, and due to a number of significant court decisions, legislative initiatives and international economic agreements, there has been an increase in the importance and use of intellectual property mechanisms, such as patents, in protecting biological materials, including seeds and engineered crop traits. The trend originated in the U.S. but has since diffused to OECD and non‐OECD nations. A parallel but related set of policies designed to promote the patenting of university and federally funded research discoveries has also become evident in the U.S. and globally. In this paper, we discuss the trend toward more restrictive IP protections in agriculture through national‐level policies and international economic agreements especially for new plant varieties. We then present the case of plant science research in Taiwan, including interviews with 15 plant scientists, to illustrate how transnational trends can impact and interact with national level policies and practices. And, how research scientists can play critical roles in furthering or retarding the progression of the proprietary research model in plant science.
Sticking to Their Guns: Examining Firearm‐Related Protective Actions among Intimate Partner Violence Victims
Authors: Lynch Kellie R. , Jackson Dylan B. , Chanmugam Amy
Published: February 2021

An abusive partner’s access to a firearm is one of the strongest predictors of intimate partner homicide, and there is evidence that laws limiting abusers’ access to firearms are associated with fewer fatalities. Yet, there is a movement to increase access to firearms as a strategy for self‐protection among intimate partner violence (IPV) victims. The present study describes both firearm‐related and non‐firearm‐related protective actions among victims of IPV, and further examines which factors (e.g., pro‐gun attitudes) are associated with engaging in firearm‐related protective actions. Questionnaires were administered to women recruited from six domestic violence shelters in Texas from December 2017 to September 2018. Nearly 13 percent of victims in the analytic sample (N = 197) engaged in one or more forms of firearm‐related protective actions in the past year. Multivariate analyses revealed that participants were more likely to have engaged in firearm‐related protective actions if they experienced higher firearm‐related IPV and if they held stronger pro‐gun attitudes. The results highlight the importance of basing firearm policy on empirical evidence as firearms can have deadly consequences.
Cell wall‐derived mixed‐linked β‐1,3/1,4‐glucans trigger immune responses and disease resistance in plants
Authors: Rebaque Diego , del Hierro Irene , López Gemma , Bacete Laura , Vilaplana Francisco , Dallabernardina Pietro , Pfrengle Fabian , Jordá Lucía , Sánchez‐Vallet Andrea , Pérez Rosa , Brunner Frédéric , Molina Antonio , Mélida Hugo
Published: February 2021

Pattern‐triggered immunity (PTI) is activated in plants upon recognition by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) of damage‐ and microbe‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs and MAMPs) derived from plants or microorganisms, respectively. To understand better the plant mechanisms involved in the perception of carbohydrate‐based structures recognized as DAMPs/MAMPs, we have studied the ability of mixed‐linked β‐1,3/1,4‐glucans (MLGs), present in some plant and microbial cell walls, to trigger immune responses and disease resistance in plants. A range of MLG structures were tested for their capacity to induce PTI hallmarks, such as cytoplasmic Ca2+ elevations, reactive oxygen species production, phosphorylation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases and gene transcriptional reprogramming. These analyses revealed that MLG oligosaccharides are perceived by Arabidopsis thaliana and identified a trisaccharide, β‐d‐cellobiosyl‐(1,3)‐β‐d‐glucose (MLG43), as the smallest MLG structure triggering strong PTI responses. These MLG43‐mediated PTI responses are partially dependent on LysM PRRs CERK1, LYK4 and LYK5, as they were weaker in cerk1 and lyk4 lyk5 mutants than in wild‐type plants. Cross‐elicitation experiments between MLG43 and the carbohydrate MAMP chitohexaose [β‐1,4‐d‐(GlcNAc)6], which is also perceived by these LysM PRRs, indicated that the mechanism of MLG43 recognition could differ from that of chitohexaose, which is fully impaired in cerk1 and lyk4 lyk5 plants. MLG43 treatment confers enhanced disease resistance in A. thaliana to the oomycete Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis and in tomato and pepper to different bacterial and fungal pathogens. Our data support the classification of MLGs as a group of carbohydrate‐based molecular patterns that are perceived by plants and trigger immune responses and disease resistance.
Hematologic and biochemical reference intervals for 1‐month‐old specific‐pathogen‐free Landrace pigs
Authors: Li Changwen , Wang Feng , Li Rui , Ishfaq Muhammad , Chen Hongyan , Liu Fangping , Liu Yun
Published: February 2021

Background

Hematologic and biochemical reference intervals (RIs) provide valuable data for the nutritional status and clinical diagnosis of animals. However, the specific hematologic and biochemical RIs for specific‐pathogen‐free (SPF) Landrace pigs has not been determined.

Objective

The present study was designed to establish the hematologic and biochemical RIs for SPF 1‐month‐old Landrace pigs.

Methods

Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of 105 SPF 1‐month‐old Landrace pigs (50 males and 55 females), and complete blood counts and biochemical examinations were performed. The mean, RI, and 90% confidence interval were calculated for each variable, and gender differences were analyzed.

Results

Reference intervals for SPF 1‐month‐old Landrace pigs were generated. The results revealed that there was generally no significant difference between male and female hematologic and serum biochemical variables (P > .05). However, a significant difference was noted in serum triglyceride concentrations between male and female pigs (P < .05).

Conclusions

This study provides hematologic and biochemical RIs for SPF 1‐month‐old Landrace pigs and provides basic data for the research and application of SPF Landrace pigs as a laboratory animal.
The Correlation between the Value of Mortgage-Backed Securities & the Value of FTSE 100 Shares Price Index: September 2013 Prices
Authors: Gomaa A. Mohamed Ghada
Published: February 2021

Using the latest information and prices for mortgage-backed securities in September 2013 this analytical piece tests the correlation between the value of these instruments and the value of the FTSE 100 share price index.The correlation between the value of mortgage-backed securities and the value of FTSE 100 shares price index.
Natural Resources and the Economic Growth of West Africa Economies
Authors: Asiedu Michael , Yeboah Ebenezer Nana , Boakye David Owusu
Published: February 2021

In this study, we employed the pooled mean group (PMG) regression to examine the effect of natural resources economic rent (coal rent, gas rent, oil rent, forest rent, minerals rent) and foreign direct investment (FDI) on economic growth in West Africa for the period 1996 to 2017. We found strong evidence of a positive relationship between FDI, total natural resources (TNR), total natural gas (TNG), and economic growth in the long-run. However, the study recorded a negative relationship between mineral resources rent, oil rent and gas rent, and economic growth in the long run. The rent from coal also exhibited neutrality on economic growth. While all the short-run coefficients are not statistically significant, the error correction term (ECT) is significant and a negative value of -0.889, signifying cointegration at a 1% significance level. This also implies that the short-run estimates converge towards the long-run estimates to achieve equilibrium at the speed of 89% per annum. Our findings highlight the significance of FDI and total rent from natural resources in stimulating West African economies' growth in the industrialization drive and general welfare. In contrast, this study also highlights the need for policy direction to redesign and realign ownership in the oil and gas sector from multinational co-operations (MNCs) to the locals and the domestic economy to benefit directly from the prevailing environment.
Reviewer Acknowledgements
Authors: Smith Robert
Published: February 2021

Journal of Education and Training Studies (JETS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether JETS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 9, Number 2 Fathia Lahwal, Elmergib University, LibyaHerman Fukada, University of HKBP Nommensen, IndonesiaHossein Chaharbashloo, Kharazmi University, IranIntakhab Khan, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi ArabiaJohn Cowan, Edinburgh Napier University, UKKeyla Ferrari Lopes, UNICAMP, BrazilMan-fung Lo, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong KongMaria Rachel Queiroz, Universidade do Estado da Bahia, BrazilMeral Seker, Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, TurkeyMinh Duc Duong, Thai Nguyen University, VietnamRachel Geesa, Ball State University, USARima Meilita Sari, STKIP Al-Washliyah, IndonesiaSamah El-Sakka, Suez University, EgyptThada Jantakoon, Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University, ThailandTilanka Chandrasekera, Oklahoma State University, USA  Robert SmithEditorial AssistantOn behalf of,The Editorial Board of Journal of Education and Training StudiesRedfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97008, USAE-mail 1: jets@redfame.comE-mail 2: jets@redfame.orgURL: http://jets.redfame.com
A Numerical Simulation of Gas Jet Diffusion Flames Enveloped by a Cascade of Venturis
Authors: Qubbaj Ala R. , Gollahalli S. R.
Published: February 2021

“Venturi-cascading” technique has been developed in the Combustion Laboratory at the University of Oklahoma. The goal was to control the pollutant emissions of diffusion flames by modifying the air infusion rate into the flame. The modification was achieved by installing a cascade of venturis around the burning gas jet. The basic idea behind this technique is controlling the stoichiometry of the flame through changing the flow dynamics and rates of mixing in the combustion zone with a set of venturis surrounding the flame. A propane jet diffusion flame at burner-exit Reynolds number of 5100 was examined with a set of venturis of specific sizes and spacing arrangement.

The thermal and composition fields of the baseline and venturi-cascaded flames were numerically simulated using CFD-ACE+, an advanced computational environment software package. The instantaneous chemistry model was used as the reaction model. The concentration of NO was determined through CFD-POST, a post processing utility program for CFD-ACE+. The numerical results showed that, in the near-burner, mid-flame and far-burner regions, the venturi-cascaded flame had lower temperature by an average of 13%, 19% and 17%, respectively, and lower CO2 concentration by 35%, 37%. and 32%, respectively, than the baseline flame. An opposite trend was noticed for O2 concentration; the cascaded flame has higher O2 concentration by 7%, 26% and 44%, in average values, in the near-burner, mid-flame and far-burner regions, respectively, than in the baseline case. The results also showed that, in the near-burner, mid-flame, and far-burner regions, the venturi-cascaded flame has lower NO concentrations by 89%, 70% and 70%, in average values, respectively, compared to the baseline case.

The simulated results were compared with the experimental data. Good agreement was found in the near-burner region. However, the agreement was poor in the downstream regions. The numerical results substantiate the conclusion, which was drawn in the experimental part of this study, that venturi-cascading is a feasible method for controlling the pollutant emissions of a burning gas jet. In addition, the numerical results were useful to interpret the experimental measurements and understand the thermo-chemical processes involved. The results showed that the prompt-NO mechanism plays an important role besides the conventional thermal-NO mechanism.
Sensible Agents in Supply Chain Management: An Example Highlighting Procurement and Production Decisions
Authors: Barber K. S. , McKay R. M. , Martin C. E. , Liu T. H. , Kim J. , Han D. , Goel A.
Published: February 2021

Agent-based technologies can be applied to many aspects of supply chain management. The need for responsive, flexible agents is pervasive in this environment due to its complex, dynamic nature. Two critical aspects of agent capabilities are the ability to (1) classify agent behaviors according to autonomy level and (2) adapt problem-solving roles to various problem-solving situations during system operation. Sensible Agents, capable of Dynamic Adaptive Autonomy, have been developed to address these issues. A Sensible Agent’s “autonomy level” constitutes a description of the agent’s problem-solving role with respect to a particular goal. Problem-solving roles are defined along a spectrum of autonomy ranging from command-driven, to consensus, to locally autonomous/master. Dynamic Adaptive Autonomy is a capability that allows Sensible Agents to change autonomy levels during system operation to meet the needs of a particular problem-solving situation. This paper provides an overview of the Sensible Agent Testbed and introduces an example supply chain management domain with a scenario showing how this testbed could be used to simulate agent-based problem solving.
Enhancing Collaboration Using an Internet Integrated Workbench
Authors: Allen R. H. , Nidamarthi S. , Regalla S. P. , Sriram R. D.
Published: February 2021

We report on our experience using an Internet-based collaborative environment to enhance the design and manufacturing process of a custom-designed artifact transport system (ATS). Specifically, we focus on overcoming the hurdles associated with exchanging heterogeneous information that includes text, graphics, and computer-aided design (CAD) data among 15 to 20 geographically-separated project participants, each with his own unique workstation and operating system. To share this heterogeneous information among the team’s members, which included designers, physicists, manufacturers and managers, we implemented a collaborative workbench (CW) that was designed specifically for platform-independent design and manufacturing collaboration. The workbench consists of two principal parts: an Internet-accessible portion and a platform-specific collaboration notebook. The Internet-accessible portion runs on a local server and consists of a Project Area that contains project-specific information such as drawings, specifications, and schedules, and a Document Vault, which stores files of any type that can be uploaded via client World Wide Web browsers. Based on specifications from the physicists, designers created and represented ATS components and assemblies on their respective CAD systems. The designers published their designs on the CW and informed project team members of the newly available CAD drawings via automatic email. Team members then commented directly on the CW representations of the CAD drawings, and those comments were republished with the drawings. This process continued until team members reached a consensus, or until face-to-face meetings helped resolve conflicting issues. Similar processes occurred with documents such as reports and schedules and with digitized photographs of manufactured components. We conclude that environments like the CW can be effective in helping teams overcome the problems associated with diverse computing environments and heterogeneous data formats, and can be effective in facilitating consensus-based decision making necessary for collaborative design.
Morphological Segmentation of Objects for Thick-Layered Manufacturing
Authors: Horváth Imre , Broek Johan J. , Rusák Zoltán , Kuczogi György , Vergeest Joris S. M.
Published: February 2021

Physical concept modeling (PCM) is a rapidly maturing subfield of rapid prototyping. It aims at producing physically editable materialized models to support functional and shape synthesis during conceptual design. PCM raises unprecedented design methodological and technological issues. Numerous technological problems stem from (i) the free-form shape and large size of the fabricated objects, (ii) the required surface finish and decoration, (iii) the need for on-line manufacturing with short production time and minimal costs, and (iv) the requested trade-off in terms of the efforts and the improvement of the product. The FF-TLOM technology has been earlier proposed by the research team of the authors to solve these problems. It permits to convert early CAD. models into a materialized model even for large-sized objects that cannot be fabricated by conventional layer depositioning or high-speed milling. This paper presents algorithms for preliminary morphological segmentation of the CAD model to improve the performance characteristics of the FF-TLOM process. The authors deal with only free-form objects without zero- and first-order shape singularities. The segmentation algorithms are based on normal vector analysis and feature point recognition. Pre-defined segmentation features are used to guide the process. The actual extent of the segments is found by dimensional and geometric analyses that are supported by a segmentation feature graph. The developed algorithms are able to define the segments in such a way that at least one planar surface is provided for the further orthogonal slicing. The segments are sliced into layers of standard thickness based on a higher order approximation of the free-form shapes.
An Analysis of Existing Ontological Systems for Applications in Manufacturing
Authors: Schlenoff Craig , Denno Peter , Ivester Rob , Szykman Simon , Libes Don
Published: February 2021

In all types of communication, the ability to share information is often hindered because the meaning of information can be drastically affected by the context in which it is viewed and interpreted. This is especially true in manufacturing because of the growing complexity of manufacturing information and the increasing need to exchange this information among various software applications. Different manufacturing functions may use different terms to mean the exact same concept or use the exact same term to mean very different concepts. Often, the loosely defined natural language definitions associated with the terms contain so much ambiguity that they do not make the differences evident and/or do not provide enough information to resolve the differences.

A solution to this problem is the development of a taxonomy, or ontology, of manufacturing concepts and terms along with their respective formal and unambiguous definitions. This paper focuses on an effort at the National Institute of Standards and Technology to identify, formally define, and structure the semantic concepts intrinsic to the capture and exchange of manufacturing information.

Specifically, this paper documents the results of the first phase of this project — that of analyzing existing ontological systems to determine which is most appropriate for the manufacturing domain. In particular, this phase involved the exploration of efforts that are studying both the uses of ontologies in the general sense and those that are using ontologies for domain-specific purposes.
Modeling and Detection of Localized Tooth Defects in Geared Systems
Authors: El Badaoui M. , Cahouet V. , Guillet F. , Daniere J. , Velex P.
Published: February 2021

The early detection of failures in geared systems is an important industrial problem which has still to be addressed from both an experimental and theoretical viewpoint. The proposed paper combines some extensive numerical simulations of a single stage geared unit with localized tooth faults and the use of several detection techniques whose performances are compared and critically assessed.

A model aimed at simulating the contributions of local tooth defects such as spalling to the gear dynamic behavior is set up. The pinion and the gear of a pair are modeled as to two rigid cylinders with all six degrees of freedom connected by a series of springs which represent gear body and gear tooth compliances on the base plane. Classical shaft finite elements including torsional, flexural and axial displacements can be superimposed on the gear element together with some lumped stiffnesses, masses, inertias, ... which account for the load machines, bearings and couplings. Tooth defects are modeled by a distribution of normal deviations over a zone which can be located anywhere on the active tooth flanks. Among the numerous available signal processing techniques used in vibration monitoring, cepstrum analysis is sensitive, reliable and it can be adapted to a complex geared system with several meshes. From an analytical analysis of the equations of motion, two complementary detection techniques based upon the acceleration power cesptrum are proposed. The equations of motion and the contact problem between mating flanks are simultaneously solved by coupling an implicit time-step integration scheme and a unilateral normal contact algorithm. The results of the numerical simulations are used as a data base for the proposed detection techniques. The combined influence of the defect location, depth and extent is analyzed for two examples of spur and helical gears with various profile modifications and the effectiveness of the two complementary detection methods is discussed before some conclusions are drawn.
Case History of a Failure of a Gas Turbine With a Floating Sleeve Bearing
Authors: Petchenev Alex , Bently Donald E. , Muszynska Agnes , Goldman Paul , Grissom Robert L.
Published: February 2021

The paper presents a case history of failure of a gas turbine, which was manifested in high vibrations, loud noise, and, eventually, damaged parts, such as impellers, bearings, and probes were discovered. The turbine features a bearing with floating sleeve design, originally intended to reduce lubricant relative speeds within the bearing (that is, decreasing journal to bearing speed gradient throughout the lubricant circumferential flow, breaking the flow in two sections, at both surfaces of the floating sleeve).

In this turbine, the floating sleeve bearing was the major cause of the failure. It contributed to restraining the oil supply from the journal/thrust bearing assembly, which resulted in high amplitude lateral subsynchronous 1/3X vibrations. The event was accompanied by oil charring in the bearing and, due to overheating, melting of the brass thrust washer, which was in addition to mechanical deterioration.

In the paper, several disadvantages of a floating sleeve bearing are discussed, such as:

• Floating ring lateral instability.

• Floating ring axial instability, unusual for other types of journal bearings.

As a consequence, inevitable metal-to-metal surface friction occurs within the bearing in axial and lateral directions, thus increasing tendency to oil charring.

The major objective for using the floating sleeve, the reduction of relative speeds within the bearing, is not achieved: The sleeve does not prevent lubricant from high speed rotation and creates further potentially severe malfunctions of the turbine.
Simulated auditory fiber myelination heterogeneity desynchronizes population responses to electrical stimulation limiting inter-aural timing difference representation
Authors: Resnick Jesse M. , Rubinstein Jay T.
Published: February 2021

Auditory nerve responses to electrical stimulation exhibit aberrantly synchronous response latencies to low-rate pulse trains, nevertheless, cochlear implant users generally have elevated inter-aural timing difference detection thresholds. These findings present an apparent paradox in which single units are unusually precise but downstream within the auditory pathway access to this precision is lost. Auditory nerves innervating a region of cochlea exhibit natural heterogeneity in their diameter, myelination, and other structural properties; a key question is whether this diversity may contribute to the loss of temporal fidelity. In this work, responses of simulated auditory neuron populations with realistic intrinsic diameter and myelination heterogeneity to low-rate pulse trains were produced. By performing a receiver operating characteristic analysis on response latency distributions, ideal-observer interaural timing difference (ITD) detection limits were produced for each population. Fiber heterogeneity produced dispersion of inter-fiber latencies that produced ITD thresholds like that observed in the best performing cochlear implant users. Incorporation of myelin loss into these populations further increased inter-fiber latency variance and elevated ITD detection limits. These findings suggest that the interaction of applied currents with fibers' specific intrinsic properties may introduce fundamental limits on presentation of fine temporal structure in electrical stimulation.
Preferred dimension ratios of small rectangular rooms
Authors: Rindel Jens Holger
Published: February 2021

Rooms for music rehearsal, sound studios, control rooms, etc., need a smooth frequency response. For that reason, the frequencies of the room modes should be spread as well as possible, and this is controlled by the aspect ratios of the dimensions. The relative variance of the frequency spreading of the lowest 25 room modes is applied as a quality criterion. The results have revealed that the length-width ratio is much more important than the width-height ratio. The length-width ratio should be within 1.15–1.45. The height can be chosen more freely without compromising the acoustical quality.
IL-17 controls central nervous system autoimmunity through the intestinal microbiome
Authors: Regen Tommy , Isaac Sandrine , Amorim Ana , Núñez Nicolás Gonzalo , Hauptmann Judith , Shanmugavadivu Arthi , Klein Matthias , Sankowski Roman , Mufazalov Ilgiz A. , Yogev Nir , Huppert Jula , Wanke Florian , Witting Michael , Grill Alexandra , Gálvez Eric J. C. , Nikolaev Alexei , Blanfeld Michaela , Prinz Immo , Schmitt-Kopplin Philippe , Strowig Till , Reinhardt Christoph , Prinz Marco , Bopp Tobias , Becher Burkhard , Ubeda Carles , Waisman Ari
Published: February 2021

IL-17 is a key safeguard of intestinal homeostasis, indirectly modulating the autoimmune response against CNS antigens.
A Leucyl-tRNA Synthetase Inhibitor with Broad-Spectrum Antimycobacterial Activity
Authors: Ganapathy Uday S. , González del Rio Rubén , Cacho-Izquierdo Mónica , Ortega Fátima , Lelièvre Joël , Barros-Aguirre David , Lindman Marissa , Dartois Véronique , Gengenbacher Martin , Dick Thomas
Published: February 2021

Global infections by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are steadily rising. New drugs are needed to treat NTM infections, but the NTM drug pipeline remains poorly populated and focused on repurposing or reformulating approved antibiotics.
Nrf2 Regulates Granuloma Formation and Macrophage Activation during Mycobacterium avium Infection via Mediating Nramp1 and HO-1 Expressions
Authors: Nakajima Masayuki , Matsuyama Masashi , Kawaguchi Mio , Kiwamoto Takumi , Matsuno Yosuke , Morishima Yuko , Yoshida Kazufumi , Sherpa Mingma , Yazaki Kai , Osawa Hajime , Muratani Masafumi , Ishii Yukio , Hizawa Nobuyuki
Published: February 2021

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in pulmonary infections. Among them,
Mycobacterium avium
complex (MAC) is the most common cause of pulmonary NTM disease worldwide.
ApmA Is a Unique Aminoglycoside Antibiotic Acetyltransferase That Inactivates Apramycin
Authors: Bordeleau Emily , Stogios Peter J. , Evdokimova Elena , Koteva Kalinka , Savchenko Alexei , Wright Gerard D.
Published: February 2021

Apramycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that has been traditionally used in veterinary medicine. Recently, it has become an attractive candidate to repurpose in the fight against multidrug-resistant pathogens prioritized by the World Health Organization.
Transcriptomic, Protein-DNA Interaction, and Metabolomic Studies of VosA, VelB, and WetA in Aspergillus nidulans Asexual Spores
Authors: Wu Ming-Yueh , Mead Matthew E. , Lee Mi-Kyung , Neuhaus George F. , Adpressa Donovon A. , Martien Julia I. , Son Ye-Eun , Moon Heungyun , Amador-Noguez Daniel , Han Kap-Hoon , Rokas Antonis , Loesgen Sandra , Yu Jae-Hyuk , Park Hee-Soo
Published: February 2021

Filamentous fungi produce a vast number of asexual spores that act as efficient propagules. Due to their infectious and/or allergenic nature, fungal spores affect our daily life.
Aspergillus
species produce asexual spores called conidia; their formation involves morphological development and metabolic changes, and the associated regulatory systems are coordinated by multiple transcription factors (TFs).
Plasticity of the Influenza Virus H5 HA Protein
Authors: Kong Huihui , Burke David F. , da Silva Lopes Tiago Jose , Takada Kosuke , Imai Masaki , Zhong Gongxun , Hatta Masato , Fan Shufang , Chiba Shiho , Smith Derek , Neumann Gabriele , Kawaoka Yoshihiro
Published: February 2021

The HA protein of influenza A viruses is the major viral antigen. In this study, we simultaneously introduced mutations at 17 amino acid positions of an H5 HA expected to affect antigenicity. Viruses with ≥13 amino acid changes in HA were viable, and some had altered antigenic properties. H5 HA can therefore accommodate many mutations in regions that affect antigenicity. The substantial plasticity of H5 HA may facilitate the emergence of novel antigenic variants.
Complex Response of the Chlorarachniophyte Bigelowiella natans to Iron Availability
Authors: Kotabova Eva , Malych Ronald , Pierella Karlusich Juan José , Kazamia Elena , Eichner Meri , Mach Jan , Lesuisse Emmanuel , Bowler Chris , Prášil Ondřej , Sutak Robert
Published: February 2021

Despite low iron availability in the ocean, marine phytoplankton require considerable amounts of iron for their growth and proliferation. While there is a constantly growing knowledge of iron uptake and its role in the cellular processes of the most abundant marine photosynthetic groups, there are still largely overlooked branches of the eukaryotic tree of life, such as the chlorarachniophytes.
Deciphering a Marine Bone-Degrading Microbiome Reveals a Complex Community Effort
Authors: Borchert Erik , García-Moyano Antonio , Sanchez-Carrillo Sergio , Dahlgren Thomas G. , Slaby Beate M. , Bjerga Gro Elin Kjæreng , Ferrer Manuel , Franzenburg Sören , Hentschel Ute
Published: February 2021

Bones are an underexploited, yet potentially profitable feedstock for biotechnological advances and value chains, due to the sheer amounts of residues produced by the modern meat and poultry processing industry. In this metagenomic study, we decipher the microbial pathways and enzymes that we postulate to be involved in bone degradation in the marine environment.