bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Awareness and use of the Society for Ecological Restoration's International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration in Canada
Authors: Voicescu Sonia A. , Lane John‐Francis , Cooke Steven J. , Higgs Eric , Fisher Alina C. , Rochefort Line , Shackelford Nancy , Murphy Stephen
Published: September 2022

The Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) published the second edition of its International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration in 2019. We conducted a pan‐Canadian study using semi‐structured interviews with restoration professionals to explore the extent to which restoration practitioners are aware of the document and use it. Overall, we found that direct uptake of the document by practitioners was lower than expected, with approximately 37.7% of all participants that were both aware of and consulting the publication for guidance in their practice of ecological restoration. This is due in part to low awareness of the document itself, with only a small majority (56.5%) of interviewees being aware of it. Other reasons listed by practitioners such as the structure of the publication, its added value, and its suitability for on‐the‐ground work revealed why some individuals aware of the existence of the document still failed to consult it. Here, we present a more nuanced assessment of these observations and share our findings with the ecological restoration community to address this disconnection. With intensifying pressures to achieve restoration success internationally, SER's guidance is critical. We analyze why it seems guidance from SER is not being taken up as fully as it might, and ways in which future versions may be improved.
Commitment and discretion in contracts: theory and evidence from retirement plans*
Authors: Kim Jin‐Hyuk , Vikander Nick
Published: September 2022

We consider a firm's problem of incentivizing its workforce through relational contracts, when workers effectively face a shorter time horizon due to possible separation shocks. Commitment issues then generate a trade‐off between efficiency and distribution, which affects both performance and profits. Profits under relational contracting can exceed those under formal contracting, despite lower performance, when discounting is moderate, firm bargaining power is weak, and shocks are likely. Using a matched employer–retirement plan dataset, and interpreting discretionary profit‐sharing plans and employee stock ownership plans as relational and formal contracting, respectively, we find some support for our predictions.
The novel HLA‐DRB1*14:246 allele, identified by Sanger dideoxy nucleotide sequencing in a Chinese individual
Authors: Shi Xiao‐dong , Zheng Zhong‐zheng , Du Ke‐ming , An Lin , Wang Ning‐juan
Published: September 2022

HLA‐DRB1*14:246 differs from HLA‐DRB1*14:18 by one nucleotide in exon 2.
Method for continuous multiscale representation of terrain contours using T‐spline technique
Authors: Qian Haoyue , Yang Lin , Zuo Zejun , Wang Yu , Yang Ni , Zhou Shunping , Yang En
Published: September 2022

Contours are the main graphical element for characterizing three‐dimensional terrain on a topographic map. Continuous multiscale representation of contours is crucial to meet users' needs for detailed information between fixed‐scale contours. Wherein shape of the contour should ideally progressively change as the scale continuously changes. However, the lack of a bridge between scale and shape deformation degrees is an obstacle in obtaining continuous multiscale contours. A novel method for continuous multiscale representation of contour based on T‐spline (CMRTS) is proposed. Multiscale contours are generated through interpolation of the T‐spline and constraint of the relationship between scale and shape similarity. First, a T‐spline surface is established using two fixed‐scale contours. Second, the T‐spline surface intersects a set of horizontal planes with gradual heights to generate intersecting lines. Finally, the quantitative relationship between the scale and shape similarity is determined to align each intersecting line with the corresponding scale and achieve continuous multiscale contours. A case study in Chongqing, China implements and evaluates the proposed method. Results indicate that shape changes of contours generated by CMRTS are more natural and progressive than those by two typical methods. Our method shows high potential and practicability for mapping continuous multiscale contours for real‐world terrain applications.
In vitro efficacy of 0.2% and 0.4% sodium oxychlorosene against meticillin‐resistantStaphylococcus pseudintermedius
Authors: Lake Katlyn M. , Rankin Shelley C. , Rosenkrantz Wayne S. , Sastry Lakshmi , Jacob Megan , Campos Dubra Diaz , Maddock Kelli , Cole Stephen D.
Published: September 2022

Background

There is a need for alternative topical therapies as a consequence of the increased prevalence of meticillin‐resistantStaphylococcus pseudintermedius(MRSP) skin infections in dogs. Sodium oxychlorosene has been used as a topical antibacterial agent in human medicine since 1955.

Objectives

To determine whether 0.2% and 0.4% sodium oxychlorosene solutions have a bactericidal effect (>3‐log reduction) on MRSP strains isolated from canine skin infections.

Methods and materials

A genetically heterogeneous collection of MRSP isolates from dogs was assembled from laboratories across the United States. Time–kill assays were performed with 0.2% and 0.4% sodium oxychlorosene on a 0.5 McFarland standard [approximately 108colony‐forming units (cfu/ml)] suspension of each strain. The average bacterial counts (cfu/ml) of each MRSP strain then were determined at 5, 10, 20 and 60 s after exposure to sodium oxychlorosene; cfu/ml data were converted to log10scale to calculate microbial reduction.

Results

The average bacterial counts following exposure to the 0.2% solution at 5, 10, 20 and 60 s were 6.94 × 104, 5.63 × 103, 2.96 × 102and 1.48 × 102 cfu/ml, respectively. For the 0.4% solution, the average bacterial count at 5 s was 2.12 × 103 cfu/ml. No bacterial growth was observed for any MRSP strain by 10 s. The greatest reduction in cfu/ml occurred within 5 s following exposure to each solution 3.4‐log and 4.9‐log reduction for 0.2% and 0.4%, respectively.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

0.2% and 0.4% sodium oxychlorosene solutions have a bactericidal effect (>99.9% reduction) againstMRSPin vitro. Further in vivo studies are necessary to determine whether it is an appropriate alternative therapy for canine pyoderma
Left pancreaticoduodenostomy after removal of the right lobe and the head of the pancreas in a cat
Authors: Cruciani Benoît , Touzet Chloé , Robin Elisabeth , Bismuth Camille
Published: September 2022

Objective

To report a surgical technique for pancreaticoduodenostomy and its outcomes in a cat.

Animals

A 14‐year‐old domestic cat.

Study design

Case report.

Methods

A cat was referred to our hospital with a large abdominal mass. On ultrasonographic examination, this mass was identified as a large fluid‐filled cavity in place of the right pancreatic duct and involved the pancreatic and accessory pancreatic ducts. A small echoic cavity was observed in the left pancreatic lobe. Serous fluid was collected from the large cavity. On cytology, the small cavity was consistent with an abscess. A partial left pancreatectomy was performed to remove the abscess. The large cavity was excised with the remnant of the right pancreatic lobe and body. After ligation of the pancreatic ducts, the left pancreatic duct was isolated and an end‐to‐side pancreaticoduodenostomy was performed.

Results

The cat recovered without complications. Histological examination was consistent with chronic pancreatitis and peripheral inflammation. No evidence of postoperative pancreatic insufficiency was detected on clinical examination or laboratory findings. A focal ampulla‐like dilation of the pancreatic duct was noted on ultrasonography, with no other complications at the anastomosis. The cat presented 225 days postoperatively with respiratory distress. Multiple nodules were identified throughout the lung parenchyma on radiographs. Abnormalities on ultrasonographic examination included an enlarged liver infiltrated with nodules. Due to poor prognosis, the cat was euthanized. Final histopathological diagnosis was diffuse carcinoma.

Conclusion

Pancreaticoduodenostomy restored pancreaticointestinal continuity after extensive pancreatectomy involving the pancreatic ducts and resulted in long‐term survival in the cat reported here.
SYMBOLIC AI AND GÖDEL'S ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT
Authors: Benzmüller Christoph
Published: September 2022

Over the past decade, variants of Gödel's ontological arguments have been critically examined using modern symbolic AI technology. Computers have unearthed new insights about them and even contributed to the exploration of new, simplified variants of the argument, which now need to be further investigated by theologians and philosophers. In this article, I provide a brief, informal overview of these contributions and engage in a discussion of the possible future role of AI technology for the rigorous assessment of arguments in theology and philosophy.
El instinto en la conducta humana según Max Scheler
Authors: Dionísio Jefferson
Published: September 2022

En El puesto del hombre en el cosmos, Scheler presenta el instinto como una conducta predominante en el actuar de los animales y, de igual modo, observa que el hombre, en cuanto ser psicofísico, también lo posee y realiza acciones instintivas. La diferencia entre el hombre y el animal es el espíritu, ausente en el segundo y presente en el primero, por lo cual puede actuar racionalmente. Este artículo investiga la presencia del instinto en la constitución del hombre en cuanto ser vivo, analizando cómo este se verfica en la conducta humana inteligente.
El jardín de Zeus. La Pítica 9 de Píndaro y el Discurso de Diotima en el Banquete de Platón. Univers
Authors: Flórez Alfonso
Published: September 2022

La investigación se inscribe dentro de un movimiento que busca poner de relieve la pertinencia de textos poéticos para la comprensión de los diálogos de Platón. En este caso, se parte de la comunidad de la expresión “el jardín de Zeus” en la Pítica 9 de Píndaro y en el Discurso de Diotima en el Banquete. Primero, se presenta un esquema temático de los dos textos. Luego, se ofrece un recorrido en tres etapas: el paso del deseo a la mediación, el estudio de la figura del mediador, y la apertura de la mediación al ámbito metapoético y lo que se sigue de ello. En la primera etapa se muestra cómo Eros dirige a la inmortalidad por medio de la generación, que se guía por la virtud en su condición más noble, al instituirse la ciudad, a la vez que, en el diálogo entre Apolo, enamorado de Cirene, y Quirón, se identifican los mismos pasos de una pulsión erótica que conduce a lo cívico. En la segunda etapa se destaca la tarea mediadora de Quirón ante Apolo, semejante a la relación de Diotima con Sócrates; esta mediación de Quirón produce un nuevo ámbito, que lleva su impronta, por lo que se entiende que la mediación de Diotima haya generado al filósofo erótico Sócrates, también ahora mediador. En la tercera etapa se muestra cómo franquea el sabio la diferencia entre los tiempos divino y humano mediante la creación metapoética, cuya consumación poética y filosofica es la constitución de la ciudad bella.
Haptocentrismo y uso del cuerpo: una deconstrucción del cuerpo propio desde la oikeiosis estoica hasta la fenomenología de la carne
Authors: Grassi Martín
Published: September 2022

Este trabajo muestra cómo una deconstrucción del cuerpo propio, desde la centralidad del tacto como autoafección (haptocentrismo), debe ser completada por una deconstrucción del aptocentrismo, es decir, de la comprensión del cuerpo propio como cuerpo del cual hago uso. Tanto el haptocentrismo como el aptocentrismo postulan al cuerpo propio como aquello que puede ser eminentemente apropiado por el viviente, una apropiación conceptualizada por el estoicismo como oikeiosis. En un recorrido que va desde el estoicismo hasta Michel Henry, pasando por Condillac, Maine de Biran, Rosmini, Husserl, Bergson, Marcel y Merleau-Ponty, podrá advertirse cómo estas argumentaciones están motivadas por dicha necesidad de apropiación del cuerpo y, por tanto, cómo la autoafección debe comprenderse dentro del esquema de la autoapropiación del viviente. Este paradigma de la autoapropiación encuentra, sin embargo, su lugar aporético en el cuerpo propio, el cual no puede ser nunca apropiado del todo y se presenta como el lugar de la resistencia y de la expropiación.
La orientación ante la imagen, en busca de la legitimidad de la esencia del arte
Authors: Primiciero Matamoros Andrés
Published: September 2022

El presente trabajo desea abordar el problema de los límites de la interpretación de la imagen. La pregunta que está de fondo es si es posible o no orientarnos ante ella y, de ser así, de qué manera podemos hacerlo. Por un lado, el análisis de esta pregunta tiene como tema central la concepción de la historia del arte como un saber concreto sobre las imágenes, y, por otro lado, la idea de que la historia del arte debe ser repensada, pues las imágenes artísticas no pueden ser abarcadas en su totalidad mediante un presunto saber, pues en ellas habitan también la irracionalidad, e incluso, lagunas temporales que permiten concluir que es pretensioso generar un tono histórico que afirme una epistemología exacta del arte. Así pues, este problema estético será abordado a través de la iconología de Panofsky, la ontología de Heidegger, y la arqueología discursiva de la imagen de Didi-Huberman.
Evolution of Force Chains Explains the Onset of Strain Stiffening in Fiber Networks
Authors: Sarkar Mainak , Notbohm Jacob
Published: September 2022

Fiber networks are the primary structural components of many biological structures, including the cell cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix. These materials exhibit global nonlinearities, such as stiffening in extension and shear, during which the fibers bend and align with the direction of applied loading. Precise details of deformations at the scale of the fibers during strain stiffening are still lacking, however, as prior work has studied fiber alignment primarily from a qualitative perspective, which leaves incomplete the understanding of how the local microstructural evolution leads to the global mechanical behavior. To fill this gap, we studied how axial forces are transmitted inside the fiber network along paths called force chains, which continuously evolve during the course of deformation. We performed numerical simulations on two-dimensional networks of random fibers under uniaxial extension and shear, modeling the fibers using beam elements in finite element software. To quantify the force chains, we identified all chains of connected fibers for which the axial force was larger than a preset threshold and computed the total length of all such chains. To study the evolution of force chains during loading, we computed the derivative of the total length of all force chains with respect to the applied engineering strain. Results showed that the highest rate of evolution of force chains coincided with the global critical strain for strain stiffening of the fiber network. Therefore, force chains are an important factor connecting understanding of the local kinematics and force transmission to the macroscale stiffness of the fiber network.
Identification of Multivariable Hammerstein CARMA System Using Special Test Signals
Authors: Lyu Bensheng , Jia Li , Li Feng , Zhou Chengyu
Published: September 2022

The multivariable Hammerstein controlled autoregressive moving average (CARMA) system contains the sum of bilinear parameter vectors in the identification model, which is difficult to be transformed into a regression form for direct identification. A two-stage identification technique is developed in this article. By using multiple sets of special test signals, this chapter achieves separable identification for the linear subsystem and the nonlinear subsystem. Then, using the property of binary signal input to nonlinear part, parameters of noise model and the linear subsystem can be calculated by recursive extended least squares (RELS) method. To implement the off-line identification, the RELS is used to identify the nonlinear subsystem parameters. Finally, simulation examples illustrate the validity of proposed approach in identifying multivariable Hammerstein CARMA system.
Nonlinear Oscillations of Dielectric Elastomer Actuators With Stretch-Dependent Permittivity
Authors: Xing Xinyu , Chen Lingling , Zhao Chuo , Yang Shengyou
Published: September 2022

Nonlinear oscillations of dielectric elastomers are widely used in the application of dielectric devices. However, the effects of the dielectric permittivity on the oscillations have been overlooked previously. In this article, an analytical model is proposed to study the nonlinear oscillations of dielectric elastomer actuators. The motion equation is obtained by using Hamilton’s principle. Numerical results of the model show that the stretch-dependent dielectric permittivity can change the thickness of the deformed film by about 65% near the resonance frequency. It is anticipated that this work can provide a new way to adjust the nonlinear oscillations and design more robust DE actuators.
Dynamic Modeling Framework for Evaluating Electromagnetic-Electro-Thermal Behavior of Power Conversion System During Load Operation
Authors: Cheng Hsien-Chie , Liu Yan-Cheng
Published: September 2022

This study introduces a modified dynamic multiphysics modeling framework to characterize the electromagnetic-electrothermal (EET) coupled behavior of a power conversion system during a long load operation. The modeling framework extends the prior model with more comprehensive analysis and enhanced computational efficiency and modeling simplicity. This framework incorporates a fully integrated electromagnetic circuit (FIEC) model for extracting parasitics, including self and mutual inductances and also exploring their effect on the switching characteristics and power losses, and a dynamic power loss-temperature thermal (PTT) model for describing the temperature-dependent instantaneous electrical behavior and power loss. Moreover, a simple resistance-capacitance (RC) snubber circuit design is applied to prevent overvoltage and diminish voltage oscillations and spike value during the operation, and their power losses are also assessed and considered in the dynamic EET coupled modeling. Furthermore, the proposed PTT model employs an equivalent thermal RC network to calculate the chip junction temperature with a given power. Additionally, a simple power-temperature relationship derived from the FIEC cosimulation is applied for modeling simplicity and computational efficiency. This framework is tested on a three-phase inverter operating with a 180-deg conduction mode. The proposed FIEC cosimulation and computational fluid dynamics thermal models are validated by double pulse (DPT) and infrared thermography experiments, respectively. Moreover, the PTT model is validated compared with the conventional dynamic coupled electrothermal model. Finally, a design guideline for enhanced thermal performance of the tested power conversion system is sought through parametric analysis.
Research on the Main Controlling Factors for Injection and Production Allocation of Polymer Flooding
Authors: An Zhibin , Zhou Kang , Hou Jian , Wu Dejun , Pan Yuping , Liu Shuai
Published: September 2022

A clear understanding of the main controlling factors for injection and production allocation of polymer flooding is the key to successful differential adjustment for well management in high water cut reservoirs. Generally, sensitivity analysis or design of experiment is used to study the main controlling factors, but the number of adjustment parameters is limited and the optimal results are hard to obtain. Therefore, the paper regards the problem as an inverse problem and studies the controlling factors by combining intelligent optimization and correlation analysis. In general, the correlation between the optimal results of injection and production allocation and each controlling factor is analyzed, and the main controlling factors with the strongest correlation are selected. Results show that injection rate allocation is mainly controlled by pore volume, polymer concentration allocation is mainly controlled by pore volume and formation coefficient, and production rate allocation is mainly controlled by remaining reserves and oil saturation. The case study indicates injection and production adjustment based on the main controlling factors obtains satisfactory development performance while using much less computation cost than that of the intelligent optimization method. The research results provide a good reference for well redistribution adjustment of polymer flooding in large-scale oilfields.
Dots-on-Plots: A Web Application to Analyze Stress–Strain Curves From Tensile Tests of Soft Tissue
Authors: Nesbitt Derek Q. , Nelson Miranda L. , Shannon Kyle S. , Lujan Trevor J.
Published: September 2022

The calculation of tensile mechanical properties from stress–strain curves is a fundamental step in characterizing material behavior, yet no standardized method exists to perform these calculations for soft tissue. To address this deficiency, we developed a free web application called Dots-on-Plots2 that fully automates the calculation of tensile mechanical properties from stress–strain curves. The analyzed mechanical properties include the strength, strain, and energy at four points of interest (transition, yield, ultimate, and rupture), and the linear modulus. Users of Dots-on-Plots can upload multiple files, view and download results, and adjust threshold settings. This study determined a threshold setting that minimized error when calculating the transition point, where the stress–strain curve “transitions” from a nonlinear “toe” region to a linear region. Using the optimal threshold (2% stress deviation from a linear region fit), Dots-on-Plots calculated the transition strains from twenty tensile experiments of human meniscus to be 0.049 ± 0.007, which nearly matched the known transition strain values of 0.050 ± 0.006 (determined using finite element parameter optimization). The sensitivity of the calculated transition strain to the shape of various stress–strain curves was analyzed using sets of model-generated synthetic data. This free web application offers a convenient and reliable tool to systematically enhance the speed, transparency, and consistency of mechanical analysis across biomedical research groups.
Stability of a Cross-Flow Heat-Exchanger Tube With Asymmetric Supports
Authors: Balaji Adireddi , Thani Aswanth , Biswas Saurabh , Vyasarayani C. P.
Published: September 2022

Heat-exchanger tubes subjected to cross-flow experience a fluid elastic instability (FEI) at a critical flow velocity. Baffle plates are often used to provide additional stiffness to long tubes. A cladding is provided between the baffle plates and the tubes to allow for thermal expansion, and the cladding acts like a soft spring. In this paper, we study the contact between the cladding and the tube when the stiffness of the cladding is asymmetric. The tube is modeled as a cantilever Euler–Bernoulli beam, and the fluid forces are represented using an added mass, added damping and a time-delayed displacement term. This results in a partial delay differential equation model for the tube vibration. Using the Galerkin approximation and considering only a single mode, a delay differential equation (DDE) model is developed. However, due to the presence of the delay, the single mode model is also infinite-dimensional. This model contains sign function nonlinearity due to the asymmetry in the contact stiffness of the cladding. The DDE model is essentially nonlinear—that is, no linear approximation exists. However, its solutions are scalable: if q(t) is a solution, then α q(t) is also a solution for any α>0. By exploiting this scalability property of solutions, we use Lyapunov-like exponents to probe the stability of the nonlinear DDE. Further, by numerical continuation, we numerically demonstrate the existence of periodic solutions on the stability boundary. Our stability charts will be beneficial to the designers of heat-exchangers.
Experimental Study of Flow Hydrodynamics Around Circular Cylinder Arrangements Using Particle Image Velocimetry
Authors: Sahu Chitrangini , Eldho T. I. , Mazumder B. S.
Published: September 2022

This study investigates the turbulent flow properties experimentally in the vicinity of two side-by-side circular cylinders, along with the influence of the third cylinder of the same dimension placed in the upstream and successively in the downstream forming an equilateral triangle. Three-dimensional stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (PIV) was employed to collect the instantaneous velocity data around the arrangements. The study highlights the prime parameters of turbulence such as the mean velocities, Reynolds stresses, turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), quadrant analysis, and Q-criteria for vortices, which are responsible for the development of various problems such as scour-hole around the cylindrical pier arrangements, disturbance around industrial and marine structures. The spectral analysis was performed to examine the energy distributions, vortex-shedding frequencies with corresponding Strouhal numbers. Dominant vorticity locations were identified from the contours of Q-criteria. The magnitude of turbulence characteristics was reduced by 15–20% (turbulence intensity reduced by 20% and TKE by 15%) when the third cylinder was placed the upstream of side-by-side cylinder group. Streamlines are also studied to visualize the flow patterns for a better understanding of physics in the presence of the third cylinder. The maximum energy of vortices obtained from the spectrum analysis showed that the vortices generated were less when the third cylinder is placed upstream.
Thermodynamic Suppression Effect of Cavitation Arising in a Hydrofoil in 140 °C Hot Water
Authors: Iga Yuka , Okajima Junnosuke , Yamagichi Yuki , Sasaki Hirotoshi , Ito Yu
Published: September 2022

The thermodynamic suppression effect of cavitation arising in a NACA0015 single hydrofoil is experimentally investigated in water at mainstream temperatures of T∞ = 20 °C to 140 °C in the present study. The cavity length at T∞ = 140 °C is shorter than that at T∞ = 20 °C at a constant cavitation number for all cavity patterns from inception to supercavitation. On the other hand, the cavity length at T∞ = 80 °C is slightly shorter than that at 20 °C in a certain region in which unsteady sheet-cloud cavitation occurs. This indicates that the thermodynamic suppression effect appears easily in unsteady cavitation. In addition, the temperature reduction inside cavities in water is accurately measured using thermistors, which are inserted from the sidewall directly into the cavity. The temperature measurement is performed at a mainstream temperature of less than 80 °C due to limitation of calibration for the sensor. The temperature reduction at 140 °C is then predicted from the measured cavity length. It is shown that the temperature reduction inside the cavity is approximately ΔT = 0.3 °C at T∞ = 80 °C and ΔT = 0.05 °C at T∞ = 20 °C under supercavitation conditions. The predicted temperature reduction inside the cavity is ΔT = 1.1 K at T∞ = 140 °C under supercavitation conditions. Finally, Fruman's prediction equation for ΔT is examined by fitting to the measured and predicted ΔT values with assuming a volume coefficient of evaporation CQ as a fitting parameter.
Predicting transmission loss in underwater acoustics using convolutional recurrent autoencoder network
Authors: Mallik Wrik , Jaiman Rajeev K. , Jelovica Jasmin
Published: September 2022

Underwater noise transmission in the ocean environment is a complex physical phenomenon involving not only widely varying physical parameters and dynamical scales but also uncertainties in the ocean parameters. It is challenging to construct generalized physical models that can predict transmission loss in a broad range of situations. In this regard, we propose a convolutional recurrent autoencoder network (CRAN) architecture, which is a data-driven deep learning model for learning far-field acoustic propagation. Being data-driven, the CRAN model relies only on the quality of the data and is agnostic to how the data are obtained. The CRAN model can learn a reduced-dimensional representation of physical data and can predict the far-field acoustic signal transmission loss distribution in the ocean environment. We demonstrate the ability of the CRAN model to learn far-field transmission loss distribution in a two-dimensional ocean domain with depth-dependent sources. Results show that the CRAN can learn the essential physical elements of acoustic signal transmission loss generated due to geometric spreading, refraction, and reflection from the ocean surface and bottom. Such ability of the CRAN to learn complex ocean acoustics transmission has the potential for real-time far-field underwater noise prediction for marine vessel decision-making and online control.
Loss of the Rhodobacter capsulatus Serine Acetyl Transferase Gene,
cysE1
, Impairs Gene Transfer by Gene Transfer Agents and Biofilm Phenotypes
Authors: Sherlock David , Fogg Paul C. M.
Published: September 2022

Direct exchange of genes between bacteria leads to rapid evolution and is the major factor underlying the spread of antibiotic resistance. Gene transfer agents (GTAs) are an unusual but understudied mechanism for genetic exchange that are capable of transferring any gene from one bacterium to another, and therefore, GTAs are likely to be important factors in genome plasticity in the environment.
Long-Term Protective Effect of Serial Infections with H5N8 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus in Wild Ducks
Authors: Caliendo Valentina , Leijten Lonneke , van de Bildt Marco W. G. , Poen Marjolein J. , Kok Adinda , Bestebroer Theo , Richard Mathilde , Fouchier Ron A. M. , Kuiken Thijs
Published: September 2022

This study showed that ducks infected with a less-virulent HPAIV developed immunity that was protective against a subsequent infection with a more-virulent HPAIV 9 months later. Following 2014 H5N8 infection, the proportion of birds with detectable influenza nucleoprotein antibody declined from 100% (8/8) in tufted ducks and 78% (7/9) in mallards after 1 month to 33% (2/6) in tufted ducks and 29% (2/7) in mallards after 9 months.
Soil Bacterial Community May Offer Solutions for Ginger Cultivation
Authors: Wang Chih-Wei , Michelle Wong Jing-Wen , Yeh Shu-Shuo , Eric Hsieh Yunli , Tseng Ching-Hung , Yang Shan-Hua , Tang Sen-Lin
Published: September 2022

Pythium myriotylum
and
Ralstonia solanacearum
cause soft rot disease and bacterial wilt, respectively. In this study, we used the bacterial 16S V3–V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA region to investigate microbe compositions in healthy and diseased ginger soil and find out the influence of the well-known biocontrol agent B. velezensis and the fungicide Etridiazole on soil microbes and ginger productivity.
X-Ray Absorption Co L Spectra for the Determination of the Charge and Spin States of Cobalt Ions in LnBaCo2O5 + δ Cobaltites (Ln = Eu, Gd, Tb)
Authors: Galakhov V. R. , Udintseva M. S. , Naumov S. V. , Shamin S. N. , Gizhevskii B. A.
Published: September 2022

Co L X-ray absorption spectra were used to determine the charge and spin states of ions in LnBaCo2O5 + δ cobaltites (Ln = Tb, Eu and Gd, $$0.08 \leqslant \delta \leqslant 0.55$$). It is shown that with a decrease in the oxygen content in cobaltites (with a decrease in the average charge state of cobalt ions), the Co $${{L}_{3}}$$ maximum shifts linearly towards low photon energies. It was found using Co $${{L}_{3}}$$ X-ray spectra that the mechanical action on GdBaCo2O5.5 (uniaxial compression and torsion under pressure) leads to the appearance of divalent cobalt ions, i.e., the CoO phase. The CoO phase appears in the sample under pressure even in the absence of shear deformations. Based on the measurements of X-ray absorption spectra at different temperatures, it was found that at 440 K, which is above the metal–insulator transition point, some of the low-spin Co3+ ions in EuBaCo2O5.52 cobaltite octahedra pass into the high-spin state. No change of the spin state of Co ions in EuBaCo2O5.24 with temperature was found.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder resources for health professionals: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Okurame Josephine Chidinma , Cannon Lisa , Carter Emily , Thomas Sue , Elliott Elizabeth J , Rice Lauren J
Published: September 2022

Introduction

People with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) encounter a range of health and allied health providers and require specialised support to ensure health services are provided safely and effectively. Not all health professionals possess the knowledge or expertise required for the identification, assessment, referral and management of FASD. Accessible resources for understanding and managing FASD can help create awareness in health professionals and ensure patients receive the correct diagnosis and timely access to the necessary supports and services. The aim of this scoping review is to identify and analyse FASD resources for health professionals.

Methods and analysis

A comprehensive search of eight databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, PsycINFO, CINAHL, PubMED, EMBASE, Web of Science and Trip Medical Database) and nine grey literature databases (FASD Hub, NOFASD Australia, National Organisation for FASD, FASD United, HealthInfoNet, Proof Alliance, Child Family Community Australia, Foundation for Alcohol Research & Education and the Australian Department of Health websites) will be conducted using three search engines including PubMed, Ovid and Google advanced search (search dates: October 2021 to May 2022). Consultations will also be carried out with international and national experts in the diagnosis/management of FASD to obtain any additional relevant published or unpublished resources. Inclusion criteria were developed to guide the selection of resources that are publicly available, primarily focused on FASD and curated for health professionals for the identification, management or referral of FASD. Critical appraisal process will be executed using the Appraisal of Guidelines for REsearch & Evaluation II (AGREE II) tool to assess the quality of selected resources.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not required for the scoping review. Scoping review results will be presented at relevant national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. Search results will be made available to ensure reproducibility and transparency.
Post-hoc power analysis: a conceptually valid approach for power based on observed study data
Authors: Quach Natalie E , Yang Kun , Chen Ruohui , Tu Justin , Xu Manfei , Tu Xin M , Zhang Xinlian
Published: September 2022

Power analysis is a key component of planning prospective studies such as clinical trials. However, some journals in biomedical and psychosocial sciences request power analysis for data already collected and analysed before accepting manuscripts for publication. Many have raised concerns about the conceptual basis for such post-hoc power analyses. More recently, Zhanget alshowed by using simulation studies that such power analyses do not indicate true power for detecting statistical significance since post-hoc power estimates vary in the range of practical interests and can be very different from the true power. On the other hand, journals’ request for information about the reliability of statistical findings in a manuscript due to small sample sizes is justified since the sample size plays an important role in the reproducibility of statistical findings. The problem is the wording of the journals' request, as the current power analysis paradigm is not designed to address journals’ concerns about the reliability of the statistical findings. In this paper, we propose an alternate formulation of power analysis to provide a conceptually valid approach to the journals’ wrongly worded but practically significant concern.
Elicitation of stem-like CD8+T cell responses via lymph node-targeted chemoimmunotherapy evokes systemic tumor control
Authors: Manspeaker Margaret P , O'Melia Meghan J , Thomas Susan N
Published: September 2022

Background

Tumor-draining lymph nodes (TdLNs) are critical in the regulation of local and systemic antitumor T cell immunity and are implicated in coordinating responses to immunomodulatory therapies.

Methods

Biomaterial nanoparticles that deliver chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel to TdLNs were leveraged to explore its effects in combination and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) antibody immunotherapy to determine the benefit of TdLN-directed chemoimmunotherapy on tumor control.

Results

Accumulation of immunotherapeutic drugs in combination within TdLNs synergistically enhanced systemic T cell responses that led to improved control of local and disseminated disease and enhanced survival in multiple murine breast tumor models.

Conclusions

These findings suggest a previously underappreciated role of secondary lymphoid tissues in mediating effects of chemoimmunotherapy and demonstrate the potential for nanotechnology to unleashing drug synergies via lymph node targeted delivery to elicit improved response of breast and other cancers.
Phase I/II clinical trial of a helper peptide vaccine plus PD-1 blockade in PD-1 antibody-naïve and PD-1 antibody-experienced patients with melanoma (MEL64)
Authors: Vavolizza Rick D , Petroni Gina R , Mauldin Ileana S , Chianese-Bullock Kimberly A , Olson Walter C , Smith Kelly T , Dengel Lynn T , Haden Kathleen , Grosh William W , Kaur Varinder , Varhegyi Nikole , Gaughan Elizabeth M , Slingluff Craig L
Published: September 2022

Background

A vaccine containing 6 melanoma-associated peptides to stimulate helper T cells (6MHP) is safe, immunogenic, and clinically active. A phase I/II trial was designed to evaluate safety and immunogenicity of 6MHP vaccines plus programmed death 1 (PD-1) blockade.

Participants and methods

Participants with advanced melanoma received 6MHP vaccines in an incomplete Freund’s adjuvant (6 vaccines over 12 weeks). Pembrolizumab was administered intravenously every 3 weeks. Tumor biopsies at baseline and day 22 were analyzed by multiplex immunohistochemistry. Primary end points were safety (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events V.4.03) and immunogenicity (ex vivo interferon-γ ELISpot assay). Additional end points included changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and clinical outcomes.

Results

Twenty-two eligible participants were treated: 6 naïve to PD-1 antibody (Ab) and 16 PD-1 Ab-experienced. Median follow-up was 24.4 months. Most common treatment-related adverse events (any grade) included injection site reactions, fatigue, anemia, lymphopenia, fever, elevated aspartate aminotransferase, pruritus, and rash. Treatment-related dose-limiting toxicities were observed in 3 (14%) participants, which did not cross the study safety bound. A high durable T cell response (Rsp) to 6MHP was detected in only one participant, but twofold T cell Rsps to 6MHP were detected in 7/22 (32%; 90% CI (16% to 52%)) by week 13. Objective clinical responses were observed in 23% (1 complete response, 4 partial responses), including 4/6 PD-1 Ab-naïve (67%) and 1/16 PD-1 Ab-experienced (6%). Overall survival (OS) was longer for PD-1 Ab-naïve than Ab-experienced participants (HR 6.3 (90% CI (2.1 to 28.7)). In landmark analyses at 13 weeks, OS was also longer for those with T cell Rsps (HR 6.5 (90% CI (2.1 to 29.2)) and for those with objective clinical responses. TME evaluation revealed increased densities of CD8+T cells, CD20+B cells, and Tbet+cells by day 22.

Conclusions

Treatment with the 6MHP vaccine plus pembrolizumab was safe, increased intratumoral lymphocytes, and induced T cell Rsps associated with prolonged OS. The low T cell Rsp rate in PD-1 Ab-experienced participants corroborates prior murine studies that caution against delaying cancer vaccines until after PD-1 blockade. The promising objective response rate and OS in PD-1 Ab-naïve participants support consideration of a larger study in that setting.
Factors associated with severe COVID-19 in people with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy: results from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance physician-reported registry
Authors: Yeoh Su-Ann , Gianfrancesco Milena , Lawson-Tovey Saskia , Hyrich Kimme L , Strangfeld Anja , Gossec Laure , Carmona Loreto , Mateus Elsa F , Schäfer Martin , Richez Christophe , Hachulla Eric , Holmqvist Marie , Scirè Carlo Alberto , Lorenz Hanns-Martin , Voll Reinhard E , Hasseli Rebecca , Jayatilleke Arundathi , Hsu Tiffany Y-T , D’Silva Kristin M , Pimentel-Quiroz Victor R , Vasquez del Mercado Monica , Shinjo Samuel Katsuyuki , Neto Edgard Torres dos Reis , Junior Laurindo Ferreira da Rocha , de Oliveira e Silva Montandon Ana Carolina , Pons-Estel Guillermo J , Ornella Sofía , D'Angelo Exeni Maria Eugenia , Velozo Edson , Jordan Paula , Sirotich Emily , Hausmann Jonathan S , Liew Jean W , Jacobsohn Lindsay , Gore-Massy Monique , Sufka Paul , Grainger Rebecca , Bhana Suleman , Wallace Zachary , Robinson Philip C , Yazdany Jinoos , Machado Pedro M
Published: September 2022

Objectives

To investigate factors associated with severe COVID-19 in people with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM).

Methods

Demographic data, clinical characteristics and COVID-19 outcome severity of adults with IIM were obtained from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance physician-reported registry. A 3-point ordinal COVID-19 severity scale was defined: (1) no hospitalisation, (2) hospitalisation (and no death) and (3) death. ORs were estimated using multivariable ordinal logistic regression. Sensitivity analyses were performed using a 4-point ordinal scale: (1) no hospitalisation, (2) hospitalisation with no oxygen (and no death), (3) hospitalisation with oxygen/ventilation (and no death) and 4) death.

Results

Of 348 patients, 48% were not hospitalised, 39% were hospitalised (and did not die) and 13% died. Older age (OR=1.59/decade, 95% CI 1.31 to 1.91), high disease activity (OR=3.50, 95% CI 1.25 to 9.83; vs remission), ≥2 comorbidities (OR=2.63, 95% CI 1.39 to 4.98; vs none), prednisolone-equivalent dose >7.5 mg/day (OR=2.40, 95% CI 1.09 to 5.28; vs no intake) and exposure to rituximab (OR=2.71, 95% CI 1.28 to 5.72; vs conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs only) were independently associated with severe COVID-19. In addition to these variables, in the sensitivity analyses, male sex (OR range: 1.65–1.83; vs female) was also significantly associated with severe outcomes, while COVID-19 diagnosis after 1 October 2020 (OR range: 0.51–0.59; vs on/before 15 June 2020) was significantly associated with less severe outcomes, but these associations were not significant in the main model (OR=1.57, 95% CI 0.95 to 2.59; and OR=0.61, 95% CI 0.37 to 1.00; respectively).

Conclusions

This is the first large registry data on outcomes of COVID-19 in people with IIM. Older age, male sex, higher comorbidity burden, high disease activity, prednisolone-equivalent dose >7.5 mg/day and rituximab exposure were associated with severe COVID-19. These findings will enable risk stratification and inform management decisions for patients with IIM.
Developing and validating a scoring system for measuring frailty in patients with hip fracture: a novel model for predicting short-term postoperative mortality
Authors: Forssten Maximilian Peter , Cao Yang , Trivedi Dhanisha Jayesh , Ekestubbe Lovisa , Borg Tomas , Bass Gary Alan , Mohammad Ismail Ahmad , Mohseni Shahin
Published: September 2022

Objectives

Frailty is common among patients with hip fracture and may, in part, contribute to the increased risk of mortality and morbidity after hip fracture surgery. This study aimed to develop a novel frailty score for patients with traumatic hip fracture that could be used to predict postoperative mortality as well as facilitate further research into the role of frailty in patients with hip fracture.

Methods

The Orthopedic Hip Frailty Score (OFS) was developed using a national dataset, retrieved from the Swedish National Quality Registry for Hip Fractures, that contained all adult patients who underwent surgery for a traumatic hip fracture in Sweden between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2017. Candidate variables were selected from the Nottingham Hip Fracture Score, Sernbo Score, Charlson Comorbidity Index, 5-factor modified Frailty Index, as well as the Revised Cardiac Risk Index and ranked based on their permutation importance, with the top 5 variables being selected for the score. The OFS was then validated on a local dataset that only included patients from Orebro County, Sweden.

Results

The national dataset consisted of 126,065 patients. 2365 patients were present in the local dataset. The most important variables for predicting 30-day mortality were congestive heart failure, institutionalization, non-independent functional status, an age ≥85, and a history of malignancy. In the local dataset, the OFS achieved an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (95% CI) of 0.77 (0.74 to 0.80) and 0.76 (0.74 to 0.78) when predicting 30-day and 90-day postoperative mortality, respectively.

Conclusions

The OFS is a significant predictor of short-term postoperative mortality in patients with hip fracture that outperforms, or performs on par with, all other investigated indices.

Level of evidence

Level III, Prognostic and Epidemiological.
Magnetohydrodynamic squeezing Casson nanofluid flow between parallel convectively heated disks
Authors: Umavathi J. C. , Prakasha D. G. , Alanazi Yousef M. , Lashin Maha M. A. , Al-Mubaddel Fahad S. , Kumar Raman , Gowda R. J. Punith
Published: September 2022

Squeezing flow of Casson liquid between two disks is a practical application in compression, polymer processing and injection molding. In this paper, the Casson liquid flow between two convectively heated disks is analyzed using Buongiorno model. Further, the heat and mass transport analysis is done by considering the impact of heat source/sink and activation energy. The continuity and momentum equations governing the unsteady two-dimensional flow are derived using conservative laws. The equations are reformulated using the similarity transformations and the reformulated equations are solved numerically with MATLAB routine bvp4c. The effect of embedding different physical parameters on the flow is analyzed through the graphs for both suction and blowing cases along with comprehensive solutions and equal Biot numbers. Results are validated with the existing literature. For both suction and blowing cases, squeezing number decreases the velocity near the lower disk but increases the velocity near the upper disk. Increasing magnetic field strength slightly increases velocity near the lower disk for equal Biot numbers.