bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sediment Trap in the Downstream of Check Dam: The Effect of Changes in Channel Depth on Sediment Deposition
Authors: Wulandari D A , Susilowati  , Ulfiana D , Parmantoro P N
Published: March 2020

Reservoir sedimentation is a major problem experienced by reservoirs in Indonesia. Reservoir sedimentation can be overcome by reducing the amount of sediment that enters the reservoir, among others, by building a Check dam. Check dam deposits more sediment loads with coarse grains, while sediment loads with fine grains will escape and enter the reservoir. So it is necessary to have construction to hold and settle fine sediment loads downstream of the Check dam. Construction is planned like a sediment trap in an irrigation system with variations in the cross-sectional area. In this study, the cross-section was expanded by changing its depth. The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of changes in the channel depth with discharge and grain size distribution variation on sediment deposition that occurs. The calculation is done using the HEC-RAS software. Simulation results show the deeper the sediment trap, the smaller the amount of sediment deposit. The large discharge, the smaller of deposit percentage. The greater of fine sediment percentage, the less the deposit.
Setting Time of the Geopolymer Binder with White Soil Substitution
Authors: Priastiwi Y A , Muhrozi  , Adi R Y , Daryanto D , Salamsyah Z
Published: March 2020

This study analyzes the effect of white soil as a substitution of fly ash on geopolymer binders. Fly ash from Tanjung Jati Jepara, white soil from Kupang, water and NaOH as alkaline activators are mixed into binders and tested for setting time with a Vicat tool. The water factor of the binder was used 0.5. The white soil substitution in fly ash using a percentage of 0 to 30 of the weight of fly ash. Fly ash and white soil used had the particle size smaller than 0.074 mm or passed the number 200 sieve and had a moisture content of 0%. The results show that the setting time of geopolymer binder with substitution white soil in the range of 52.5 to 105 minutes for the initial setting time and is between 180 to 225 minutes for the final setting time. This value approaches the same as the setting time of Portland cement in SNI 15-2049-2004. From the 7 variations tested, the binder with 15% of white soil has a faster setting time compared to other variations, i.e 52.5 minutes for initial and 180 minutes for final setting time. The temperature when testing affects the setting time of the geopolymer binder
Concrete Performance with Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag as Supplementary Cementitious Materials
Authors: Cahyani R A T , Rusdianto Y
Published: March 2020

Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) are materials that contribute to the hardened concrete properties through hydraulic or pozzolanic activities. The use of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) as SMCs or partial replacement of cementitious components in concrete provides benefits both in terms of economy and performance improvement. However, GGBFS is not widely known in Indonesia, hence the available research for this product is still limited. In this study, the performance of concrete with GGBFS as a partial replacement for cement was investigated, with the percentage of GGBFS varying by 0%, 30%, 50% and 70% of cement weight. The mechanical properties of concrete being observed are compressive strength and elastic modulus. Porosity testing is carried out to assess the durability aspect of concrete. Compressive tests are carried out when the concrete age reached 7, 28, 56 and 90 days to assess the strength development of GGBFS based concrete. From the study, it was found that GGBFS can replace cement up to a percentage of 50%, with its compressive strength comparable to conventional concrete. However, the addition of GGBFS in concrete mixes slowed the development of concrete compressive strength at early age. Concrete modulus of elasticity decreases with increasing GGBFS, but not significantly. The increasing percentage of GGBFS causes the pore volume to decrease, indicating the greater durability of GGBFS based concrete compared with the conventional one.
TEM observation of two-dimensional growth of lamellar gold electroplated on copper wires
Authors: Hu Chuanjin , Gao Yubo , Li Taotao , Wang Chongen
Published: March 2020

Electroplating is an essential process to produce Cu–Au complex bonding wires. Therefore, mastering the general growth behaviour of gold film plated on copper substrate has an instructive effect on the subsequent processes of pinching-out and annealing in the processing of Cu–Au complex bonding wires. In this paper, plated gold film consisted of an intermediate layer and a gold layer, which were characterised in terms of transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations, especially the techniques of selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and displaced-aperture dark field (DADF). A thin intermediate layer with polycrystalline gold is observed adjacent to the ribbon-like copper substrate, which is due to the competing mechanism between chemical and electrochemical reactions. The gold layer is detected in the outer regions of the intermediate layer, and the formation of the gold layer is dominated by the electrochemical mechanism. Lamellar gold orients randomly in the gold layer, whose outer surface is mainly enclosed by the planes of {111}. The lamellar gold grows in only two dimensions, as the vertical direction is blocked by sulphite near the cathode.
Green-synthesizing Ag nanoparticles by watermelon peel extract and their application in solar-driven interfacial evaporation for seawater desalination
Authors: Cao Hongxia , Cui Tianlei , Wang Wenyuan , Li Shilei , Tang Xueyun , Wang Hongyan , Zhu Guang
Published: March 2020

Ag nanoparticles displayed a more attractive application in solar-driven interfacial evaporation for seawater desalination, but their synthesis process was expensive and detrimental to the environment due to the consumption of chemicals. In this work, we green-synthesized Ag nanoparticles using watermelon peel extract as reducing agent, while the membrane with Ag nanoparticles was prepared for solar-driven interfacial evaporation. Moreover, the evaporation performance of the membranes with different Ag nanoparticles loadings was investigated, as well as the reusability and desalination application was also explored. The experimental results showed that the membrane with Ag nanoparticles loading of 0.05 g exhibited superior evaporation performance, corresponding to the evaporation rate of 1.37 kg m−2h−1 and the evaporation efficiency of 89.3%, respectively. In addition, the membrane with Ag nanoparticles possessed an excellent recyclability and concentration of ions in the desalinated seawater reached the potable water standard. Our research demonstrated that Ag nanoparticles green-synthesized by watermelon peel extract was an ideal candidate applied in solar-driven interfacial evaporation for seawater desalination.
Finite element investigation on the wave-particle interactions in ultrasonic inspection of SiCp/Al composites
Authors: Lu Shijin , Wang Xiaohui , Zhang Junjie , Zhou Zhenggan , Zhu Fengjin , Tong Zhen , Shao Haiyan , Miao Zhen
Published: March 2020

While particulate-reinforced metal matrix composites are composed of two phase materials with dramatically different physical and mechanical properties, sound wave-particle interactions play an important role in their ultrasonic inspection tests. In the present work, we investigate the sound wave-particle interactions in silicon carbide (SiC) particle-reinforced aluminum (Al) matrix composites under the pulse-echo mode ultrasonic inspection by means of finite element simulations. Be consistent with experimentally observed real microstructures, the simulated SiC particles have polygon shapes and are randomly dispersed in the Al matrix. In particular, the sound wave-particle interactions are revealed, and their correlations with the A-scan signals are investigated. Furthermore, the effects of extrinsic pulse frequency and intrinsic SiC particle size on the ultrasonic inspection of the composites are addressed. Simulation results indicate that the interference of sound waves with heterogeneous SiC particles leads to more pronounced deflection, scattering and conversion of sound waves than the pure Al matrix, which in turn result in higher attenuation of sound waves in SiCp/Al composites. It is also found that the sound wave-particle interactions have a strong dependence on both pulse frequency and particle size.
Machine learning the computational cost of quantum chemistry
Authors: Heinen Stefan , Schwilk Max , von Rudorff Guido Falk , von Lilienfeld O Anatole
Published: March 2020

Computational quantum mechanics based molecular and materials design campaigns consume increasingly more high-performance computer resources, making improved job scheduling efficiency desirable in order to reduce carbon footprint or wasteful spending. We introduce quantum machine learning (QML) models of the computational cost of common quantum chemistry tasks. For 2D nonlinear toy systems, single point, geometry optimization, and transition state calculations the out of sample prediction error of QML models of wall times decays systematically with training set size. We present numerical evidence for a toy system containing two functions and three commonly used optimizer and for thousands of organic molecular systems including closed and open shell equilibrium structures, as well as transition states. Levels of electronic structure theory considered include B3LYP/def2-TZVP, MP2/6-311G(d), local CCSD(T)/VTZ-F12, CASSCF/VDZ-F12, and MRCISD+Q-F12/VDZ-F12. In comparison to conventional indiscriminate job treatment, QML based wall time predictions significantly improve job scheduling efficiency for all tasks after training on just thousands of molecules. Resulting reductions in CPU time overhead range from 10% to 90%.
Cancer subtype classification and modeling by pathway attention and propagation
Authors: Lee Sangseon , Lim Sangsoo , Lee Taeheon , Sung Inyoung , Kim Sun
Published: March 2020

Motivation

Biological pathway is an important curated knowledge of biological processes. Thus, cancer subtype classification based on pathways will be very useful to understand differences in biological mechanisms among cancer subtypes. However, pathways include only a fraction of the entire gene set, only one-third of human genes in KEGG, and pathways are fragmented. For this reason, there are few computational methods to use pathways for cancer subtype classification.

Results

We present an explainable deep-learning model with attention mechanism and network propagation for cancer subtype classification. Each pathway is modeled by a graph convolutional network. Then, a multi-attention-based ensemble model combines several hundreds of pathways in an explainable manner. Lastly, network propagation on pathway–gene network explains why gene expression profiles in subtypes are different. In experiments with five TCGA cancer datasets, our method achieved very good classification accuracies and, additionally, identified subtype-specific pathways and biological functions.

Availability and implementation

The source code is available at http://biohealth.snu.ac.kr/software/GCN_MAE.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Lack of APP and APLP2 in GABAergic Forebrain Neurons Impairs Synaptic Plasticity and Cognition
Authors: Mehr Annika , Hick Meike , Ludewig Susann , Müller Michaela , Herrmann Ulrike , von Engelhardt Jakob , Wolfer David P , Korte Martin , Müller Ulrike C
Published: March 2020

Amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) is central to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, yet its physiological functions remain incompletely understood. Previous studies had indicated important synaptic functions of APP and the closely related homologue APLP2 in excitatory forebrain neurons for spine density, synaptic plasticity, and behavior. Here, we show that APP is also widely expressed in several interneuron subtypes, both in hippocampus and cortex. To address the functional role of APP in inhibitory neurons, we generated mice with a conditional APP/APLP2 double knockout (cDKO) in GABAergic forebrain neurons using DlxCre mice. These DlxCre cDKO mice exhibit cognitive deficits in hippocampus-dependent spatial learning and memory tasks, as well as impairments in species-typic nesting and burrowing behaviors. Deficits at the behavioral level were associated with altered neuronal morphology and synaptic plasticity Long-Term Potentiation (LTP). Impaired basal synaptic transmission at the Schafer collateral/CA1 pathway, which was associated with altered compound excitatory/inhibitory synaptic currents and reduced action potential firing of CA1 pyramidal cells, points to a disrupted excitation/inhibition balance in DlxCre cDKOs. Together, these impairments may lead to hippocampal dysfunction. Collectively, our data reveal a crucial role of APP family proteins in inhibitory interneurons to maintain functional network activity.
Optimization of dialysate bicarbonate in patients treated with online haemodiafiltration
Authors: Montagud-Marrahi Enrique , Broseta Jose , Rodriguez-Espinosa Diana , Lidia Rodas , Hermida-Lama Evelyn , Xipell Marc , Arias-Guillén Marta , Fontseré Nestor , Vera Manel , Bedini Josep Lluis , Rico Naira , Maduell Francisco
Published: March 2020

Background

Metabolic acidosis is a common problem in haemodialysis patients, but acidosis overcorrection has been associated with higher mortality. There is no clear definition of the optimal serum bicarbonate target or dialysate bicarbonate. This study analysed the impact of reducing dialysate bicarbonate from 35 to 32 mEq/L on plasma bicarbonate levels in a cohort of patients treated with online haemodiafiltration (OL-HDF).

Methods

We performed a prospective cohort study with patients in a stable chronic OL-HDF programme for at least 12 months in the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona. We analysed pre- and post-dialysis total carbon dioxide(TCO2) before and after dialysate bicarbonate reduction from 35 to 32 mEq/L, as well as the number of patients with a pre- and post-dialysis TCO2 within 19–25 and ≤29 mEq/L, respectively, after the bicarbonate modification. Changes in serum sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorous and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were also assessed.

Results

We included 84 patients with a 6-month follow-up. At 6 months, pre- and post-dialysis TCO2 significantly decreased (26.78 ± 1.26 at baseline to 23.69 ± 1.92 mEq/L and 31.91 ± 0.91 to 27.58 ± 1.36 mEq/L, respectively). The number of patients with a pre-dialysis TCO2 >25 mEq/L was significantly reduced from 80 (90.5%) to 17 (20.2%) and for post-dialysis TCO2  >29 mEq/L this number was reduced from 83 (98.8%) to 9 (10.7%). PTH significantly decreased from 226.09 (range 172–296) to 182.50 (125–239)  pg/mL at 6 months (P < 0.05) and post-dialysis potassium decreased from 3.16 ± 0.30 to 2.95 ± 0.48 mEq/L at 6 months (P < 0.05). Sodium, pre-dialysis potassium, calcium and phosphorous did not change significantly.

Conclusions

Reducing dialysate bicarbonate concentration by 3 mEq/L significantly and safely decreased pre- and post-dialysis TCO2, avoiding acidosis overcorrection and improving secondary hyperparathyroidism control. An individualized bicarbonate prescription (a key factor in the adequate control of acidosis) according to pre-dialysis TCO2 is suggested based on these results.
Effect of Temperature on Plant Resistance to Arthropod Pests
Authors: Nechols James R , Hough Ashley R , Margolies David C , Ruberson John R , McCornack Brian P , Sandercock Brett K , Murray Leigh
Published: March 2020

Temperature has a strong influence on the development, survival, and fecundity of herbivorous arthropods, and it plays a key role in regulating the growth and development of their host plants. In addition, temperature affects the production of plant secondary chemicals as well as structural characteristics used for defense against herbivores. Thus, temperature has potentially important implications for host plant resistance. Because temperature directly impacts arthropod pests, both positively and negatively, distinguishing direct effects from indirect effects mediated through host plants poses a challenge for researchers and practitioners. A more comprehensive understanding of how temperature affects plant resistance specifically, and arthropod pests in general, would lead to better predictions of pest populations, and more effective use of plant resistance as a management tactic. Therefore, the goals of this paper are to 1) review and update knowledge about temperature effects on plant resistance, 2) evaluate alternative experimental approaches for separating direct from plant-mediated indirect effects of temperature on pests, including benefits and limitations of each approach, and 3) offer recommendations for future research.
Juberg-Hayward syndrome is a cohesinopathy, caused by mutation in ESCO2
Authors: Kantaputra Piranit Nik , Dejkhamron Prapai , Intachai Worrachet , Ngamphiw Chumpol , Kawasaki Katsushige , Ohazama Atsushi , Krisanaprakornkit Suttichai , Olsen Bjorn , Tongsima Sissades , Ketudat Cairns Jame R
Published: March 2020

Background

Juberg-Hayward syndrome (JHS; MIM 216100) is a rare autosomal recessive malformation syndrome, characterized by cleft lip/palate, microcephaly, ptosis, short stature, hypoplasia or aplasia of thumbs, and dislocation of radial head and fusion of humerus and radius leading to elbow restriction.

Objective

To report for the first time the molecular aetiology of JHS.

Patient and methods

Clinical and radiographic examination, whole exome sequencing, Sanger sequencing, mutant protein model construction, and in situ hybridization of Esco2 expression in mouse embryos were performed.

Results

Clinical findings of the patient consisted of repaired cleft lip/palate, microcephaly, ptosis, short stature, delayed bone age, hypoplastic fingers and thumbs, clinodactyly of the fifth fingers, and humeroradial synostosis leading to elbow restriction. Intelligence is normal. Whole exome sequencing of the whole family showed a novel homozygous base substitution c.1654C>T in ESCO2 of the proband. The sister was homozygous for the wildtype variant. Parents were heterozygous for the mutation. The mutation is predicted to cause premature stop codon p.Arg552Ter. Mutations in ESCO2, a gene involved in cohesin complex formation, are known to cause Roberts/SC phocomelia syndrome. Roberts/SC phocomelia syndrome and JHS share similar clinical findings, including autosomal recessive inheritance, short stature, cleft lip/palate, severe upper limb anomalies, and hypoplastic digits. Esco2 expression during the early development of lip, palate, eyelid, digits, upper limb, and lower limb and truncated protein model are consistent with the defect.

Conclusions

Our study showed that Roberts/SC phocomelia syndrome and JHS are allelic and distinct entities. This is the first report demonstrating that mutation in ESCO2 causes JHS, a cohesinopathy.
Sooner than you think: the Pre-1914 UK Productivity Slowdown was Victorian not Edwardian
Authors: Crafts Nicholas , Mills Terence C
Published: March 2020

This paper re-examines UK productivity growth in the decades before World War I using a new dataset compiled by the Bank of England. We find that the productivity slowdown of the early twentieth century was quite modest and does not deserve to be called a climacteric. A more serious slowdown in labour productivity growth occurred in the 1870s. Neither of these episodes should be regarded as a precedent for the current severe deterioration in UK productivity performance. Nor should a late-Victorian productivity slowdown be attributed to the end of the steam age despite the popularity of this belief.
Measurement properties of family resilience assessment questionnaires: a systematic review
Authors: Zhou Jia , He Bin , He Yaoyu , Huang Wei , Zhu Hongxu , Zhang Mengmeng , Wang Yuhuan
Published: March 2020

Background

There have been numerous measurement questionnaires to estimate the level of family resilience. However, we lack published evidence regarding the most appropriate family resilience questionnaire in different adversity domains.

Objective

This study critically assesses and contrasts the measurement properties of questionnaires measuring family resilience in two domains: health care domain and social domain.

Methods

Ten electronic databases were searched for studies concerning the establishment, adaptation or evaluation of the measurement properties of a family resilience assessment questionnaire. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. On the basis of methodological quality and scoring criteria for the quality of questionnaires, the overall evidence of each questionnaire was rated.

Results

A total of 4084 initial studies were obtained, 23 of which met our inclusion criteria assessing 12 different questionnaires. The structural validity (23 studies) and internal consistency (22 studies) were the most frequently used measurement properties. Only two studies tested responsiveness, and the measurement error was not examined in any studies. The Family Resilience Assessment Scale (FRAS) and Italian version of the Walsh Family Resilience Questionnaire (Walsh-IT) showed positive evidence in health care domain. The FRAS performed well in social domain with specific adversity, and the Family Resilience Questionnaire (FRQ) received a good score in social domain without specific adversity.

Conclusion

For health care domain, we recommend the FRAS and Walsh-IT. For social domain with specific adversity, we recommend the FRAS questionnaire. For social domain without specific adversity, the FRQ is recommended.
Disparity in Educational Attainment Partially Explains Cognitive Gender Differences in Older Rural South Africans
Authors: Farrell Meagan T , Kobayashi Lindsay C , Montana Livia , Wagner Ryan G , Demeyere Nele , Berkman Lisa
Published: March 2020

Objectives

Direction and magnitude of gender differences in late-life cognitive function are inextricably tied to sociocultural context. Our study evaluates education and literacy as primary drivers of gender equality in cognitive performance among middle-aged and older adults in rural South Africa.

Method

Data were collected on 1,938 participants aged 40–79 from Agincourt, South Africa. Cognitive function was measured via the Oxford Cognitive Screen-Plus, a tablet-based assessment with low literacy demands. Four cognitive domains were derived through confirmatory factor analysis: episodic memory, executive function, visual spatial, and language. Structural equation models tested domain-specific gender effects, incrementally controlling for demographic, education, health, and socioeconomic variables.

Results

In the model adjusting only for demographic factors, men outperformed women on executive function and visual-spatial domains. Adding education and literacy to the model revealed a robust female advantage in episodic memory, and reduced the magnitude of male advantage in executive function and visual and spatial by 47% and 42%, respectively. Health and socioeconomic factors did not alter patterns of gender associations in subsequent models.

Discussion

In this older South African cohort, gender inequality in cognitive performance was partially attributable to educational differences. Understanding biopsychosocial mechanisms that promote cognitive resilience in older women is critically important given the predominantly female composition of aging populations worldwide.
The functions of CAP superfamily proteins in mammalian fertility and disease
Authors: Gaikwad Avinash S , Hu Jinghua , Chapple David G , O’Bryan Moira K
Published: March 2020

BACKGROUND

Members of the cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPS), antigen 5 (Ag5) and pathogenesis-related 1 (Pr-1) (CAP) superfamily of proteins are found across the bacterial, fungal, plant and animal kingdoms. Although many CAP superfamily proteins remain poorly characterized, over the past decade evidence has accumulated, which provides insights into the functional roles of these proteins in various processes, including fertilization, immune defence and subversion, pathogen virulence, venom toxicology and cancer biology.

OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE

The aim of this article is to summarize the current state of knowledge on CAP superfamily proteins in mammalian fertility, organismal homeostasis and disease pathogenesis.

SEARCH METHODS

The scientific literature search was undertaken via PubMed database on all articles published prior to November 2019. Search terms were based on following keywords: ‘CAP superfamily’, ‘CRISP’, ‘Cysteine-rich secretory proteins’, ‘Antigen 5’, ‘Pathogenesis-related 1’, ‘male fertility’, ‘CAP and CTL domain containing’, ‘CRISPLD1’, ‘CRISPLD2’, ‘bacterial SCP’, ‘ion channel regulator’, ‘CatSper’, ‘PI15’, ‘PI16’, ‘CLEC’, ‘PRY proteins’, ‘ASP proteins’, ‘spermatogenesis’, ‘epididymal maturation’, ‘capacitation’ and ‘snake CRISP’. In addition to that, reference lists of primary and review article were reviewed for additional relevant publications.

OUTCOMES

In this review, we discuss the breadth of knowledge on CAP superfamily proteins with regards to their protein structure, biological functions and emerging significance in reproduction, health and disease. We discuss the evolution of CAP superfamily proteins from their otherwise unembellished prokaryotic predecessors into the multi-domain and neofunctionalized members found in eukaryotic organisms today. At least in part because of the rapid evolution of these proteins, many inconsistencies in nomenclature exist within the literature. As such, and in part through the use of a maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis of the vertebrate CRISP subfamily, we have attempted to clarify this confusion, thus allowing for a comparison of orthologous protein function between species. This framework also allows the prediction of functional relevance between species based on sequence and structural conservation.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS

This review generates a picture of critical roles for CAP proteins in ion channel regulation, sterol and lipid binding and protease inhibition, and as ligands involved in the induction of multiple cellular processes.
Introduction to and Screening Visit Results of the Multicenter Pediatric Crohn’s Disease Growth Study
Authors: Gupta Neera , Lustig Robert H , Andrews Howard , Sylvester Francisco , Keljo David , Goyal Alka , Gokhale Ranjana , Patel Ashish S , Guthery Stephen , Leu Cheng-Shiun
Published: March 2020

Background

Statural growth impairment is more common in males with Crohn’s disease (CD). We assessed sex differences in height Z score differences and bone age (BA) Z scores and characterized age of menarche in a novel contemporary cohort of pediatric CD patients undergoing screening for enrollment in the multicenter longitudinal Growth Study.

Methods

Crohn’s disease patients (females with chronological age [CA] 5 years and older and younger than 14 years; males with CA 6 years and older and younger than 16 years) participated in a screening visit for the Growth Study. Height BA-Z scores are height Z scores calculated based on BA. Height CA-Z scores are height Z scores calculated based on CA. The height Z score difference equals height CA-Z score minus height BA-Z score.

Results

One hundred seventy-one patients (60% male) qualified for this analysis. Mean CA was 12.2 years. Mean height CA-Z score was −0.4, and mean height BA-Z score was 0.4 in females. Mean height CA-Z score was −0.1, and mean height BA-Z score was 0.2 in males. The absolute value of the mean height Z score difference was significantly greater in females (0.8) than males (0.3; P = 0.005). The mean BA-Z score in females (−1.0) was significantly lower than in males (−0.2; P = 0.002). The median CA at menarche was 13.6 (95% CI, 12.6–14.6) years.

Conclusions

Our screening visit data suggest that standardized height gain is lower in males with skeletal maturation and delayed puberty is common in females in CD. We are investigating these findings in the ongoing Growth Study.
Elements Generating a Proper Normal Subgroup of the Cremona Group
Authors: Cantat Serge , Guirardel Vincent , Lonjou Anne
Published: March 2020

Consider an algebraically closed field ${\textbf{k}}$, and let $\textsf{Cr}_2({\textbf{k}})$ be the Cremona group of all birational transformations of the projective plane over ${\textbf{k}}$. We characterize infinite order elements $g\in \textsf{Cr}_2({\textbf{k}})$ having a power $g^n$, $n\neq 0$, generating a proper normal subgroup of $\textsf{Cr}_2({\textbf{k}})$.
N= 4 Superconformal Algebras and Diagonal Cosets
Authors: Creutzig Thomas , Feigin Boris , Linshaw Andrew R
Published: March 2020

Coset constructions of ${{\mathcal{W}}}$-algebras have many applications and were recently given for principal ${{\mathcal{W}}}$-algebras of $A$, $D$, and $E$ types by Arakawa together with the 1st and 3rd authors. In this paper, we give coset constructions of the large and small $N=4$ superconformal algebras, which are the minimal ${{\mathcal{W}}}$-algebras of ${{\mathfrak{d}}}(2,1;a)$ and ${{\mathfrak{p}}}{{\mathfrak{s}}}{{\mathfrak{l}}}(2|2)$, respectively. From these realizations, one finds a remarkable connection between the large $N=4$ algebra and the diagonal coset $C^{k_1, k_2} = \textrm{Com}(V^{k_1+k_2}({{\mathfrak{s}}}{{\mathfrak{l}}}_2), V^{k_1}({{\mathfrak{s}}}{{\mathfrak{l}}}_2) \otimes V^{k_2}({{\mathfrak{s}}}{{\mathfrak{l}}}_2))$, namely, as two-parameter vertex algebras, $C^{k_1, k_2}$ coincides with the coset of the large $N=4$ algebra by its affine subalgebra. We also show that at special points in the parameter space, the simple quotients of these cosets are isomorphic to various ${{\mathcal{W}}}$-algebras. As a corollary, we give new examples of strongly rational principal ${{\mathcal{W}}}$-algebras of type $C$ at degenerate admissible levels.
Innate Immune Responses in Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid From Neonates and Infants Infected With Parechovirus-A3 or Enteroviruses
Authors: Habuka Rie , Aizawa Yuta , Izumita Ryohei , Domon Hisanori , Terao Yutaka , Takihara Hayato , Okuda Shujiro , Saitoh Akihiko
Published: March 2020

Background

Parechovirus (PeV)-A3 and enteroviruses (EV) are the most common viruses causing sepsis and meningoencephalitis in neonates and young infants. Clinical manifestations of PeV-A3 infection are more severe than those of EV infection, and no pleocytosis with a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result for PeV-A3 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are characteristic findings. We hypothesized that innate immune responses to PeV-A3 and EV are distinct in serum and CSF.

Methods

We evaluated 22 cytokines/chemokines in serum and CSF from PeV-A3- or EV-infected patients younger than 4 months in Niigata, Japan, from 2015 through 2018. Infection was diagnosed with real-time PCR followed by sequencing. Febrile neonates and infants with sepsis-like syndrome who had negative bacterial culture and viral PCR for both PeV-A and EV were also included (non-PeV-A/EV patients).

Results

Among 192 febrile patients, we evaluated 16 PeV-A3-infected, 15 EV-infected, and 8 non-PeV-A/EV patients. Serum pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokine/chemokine levels were higher in PeV-A3-infected patients than in EV-infected patients (P < .02). Although most cytokine/chemokine were elevated in CSF from EV-infected patients, levels were low or undetectable in PeV-A3-infected and non-PeV-A/EV patients (P < .001).

Conclusions

Distinct cytokine/chemokine patterns in serum and CSF may explain the different clinical manifestations of PeV-A3-infected and EV-infected neonates and young infants.
The Venom Compound N-(3-methylbutyl)acetamide Attracts Several Polistes (Fuscopolistes) Species (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)
Authors: Elmquist Dane C , Landolt Peter J , Cooper William Rodney , Reed Hal , Foutz Jillian , Clepper Timothy , Kacprzyk Bryon , Teig Donald , Zack Richard S
Published: March 2020

Polistes paper wasps in the Fuscopolistes subgenus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) can be serious pests when they swarm at tall man-made structures. Chemical attractants may be useful to trap such paper wasps when they achieve pest status. Polistes venom has been shown to elicit a variety of behavioral responses in congeneric wasps, making it a source for potential chemical attractants. The compound N-(3-methylbutyl)acetamide is a principal volatile component in the venom of many female vespid wasps, including numerous Polistes species. We report the presence of N-(3-methylbutyl)acetamide in autumn gynes of Polistes metricus Say, Polistes bellicosus Cresson, and Polistes dorsalis (F.), as well as workers of Polistes aurifer (Saussure), P. bellicosus, P. metricus, and P. dorsalis. In field tests conducted in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Washington, N-(3-methylbutyl)acetamide attracted male and female P. aurifer and P. metricus, as well as male P. dorsalis and P. bellicosus. Thus, N-(3-methylbutyl)acetamide may be a useful lure for trapping these paper wasps in pest situations.
Impact of gender and employment type on job loss among cancer survivors
Authors: Tsuchiya Miyako , Horio Yoshitsugu , Funazaki Hatsumi , Aogi Kenjiro , Miyauchi Kazue , Arai Yasuaki , Takahashi Miyako
Published: March 2020

Objective

To identify factors associated with cancer-related job loss following cancer diagnosis.

Methods

A multicentre cross-sectional survey was conducted among adult cancer survivors employed at the time of cancer diagnosis. Hierarchical multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association of gender and employment type with job loss after cancer diagnosis and if the interaction between gender and employment type predicted job loss.

Results

Of 1618 patients recruited, 1483 returned questionnaires (91.7% response rate). Data from 708 patients were eligible for analyses. Approximately 21% of patients had lost their job within 10 years of diagnosis. Patients who had undergone chemotherapy were more likely to lose their jobs than those who had not (OR = 3.24, 95% CI 2.13–4.91). Women were more likely to lose their jobs than men (OR = 2.58, 95% CI 1.48–4.50). Temporary employees were more likely to lose their jobs than regular employees (OR = 2.62, 95% CI 1.72–3.99). After controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics, no interaction effects between gender and employment type were observed (P = 0.44).

Conclusions

Women and temporary employees are more vulnerable to cancer-related job loss. Clinicians need greater awareness of the risk of patient job loss, and they need to assess patients’ employment types and provide appropriate support to balance treatment schedules and work.
The runaway kidney: a rare case of a parastomal hernia with partial kidney herniation
Authors: Livezey Jonathan B , Bolock Alexa M , Farrell Timothy J
Published: March 2020

Although parastomal hernias are a common complication of ostomy formation, herniation of intra-abdominal organs, aside from intestine, is infrequent. Furthermore, herniation of retroperitoneal organs, such as the kidney, is an extremely rare finding. We report the case of a 59-year-old male with a right ileostomy who presented with an acute kidney injury with suggestive urinary tract infection. A computed tomography scan revealed a left proximal ureteral stone with left hydronephrosis and a prominent right parastomal hernia with herniation of the mesenteric/retroperitoneal fat, portion of the right kidney, right proximal ureter and some bowel. The patient was taken to the operating room for a left cystourethroscopy with stent placement and made a full recovery. Due to the patient’s extensive surgical history, high risk of postoperative infection and lack of evidence demonstrating functional impairment of the right kidney, surgical intervention was not recommended at the present time.
Zygnema circumcarinatum UTEX 1559 chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes provide insight into land plant evolution
Authors: Orton Lauren M , Fitzek Elisabeth , Feng Xuehuan , Grayburn W Scott , Mower Jeffrey P , Liu Kan , Zhang Chi , Duvall Melvin R , Yin Yanbin
Published: March 2020

The complete chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes of Charophyta have shed new light on land plant terrestrialization. Here, we report the organellar genomes of the Zygnema circumcarinatum strain UTEX 1559, and a comparative genomics investigation of 33 plastomes and 18 mitogenomes of Chlorophyta, Charophyta (including UTEX 1559 and its conspecific relative SAG 698-1a), and Embryophyta. Gene presence/absence was determined across these plastomes and mitogenomes. A comparison between the plastomes of UTEX 1559 (157 548 bp) and SAG 698-1a (165 372 bp) revealed very similar gene contents, but substantial genome rearrangements. Surprisingly, the two plastomes share only 85.69% nucleotide sequence identity. The UTEX 1559 mitogenome size is 215 954 bp, the largest among all sequenced Charophyta. Interestingly, this large mitogenome contains a 50 kb region without homology to any other organellar genomes, which is flanked by two 86 bp direct repeats and contains 15 ORFs. These ORFs have significant homology to proteins from bacteria and plants with functions such as primase, RNA polymerase, and DNA polymerase. We conclude that (i) the previously published SAG 698-1a plastome is probably from a different Zygnema species, and (ii) the 50 kb region in the UTEX 1559 mitogenome might be recently acquired as a mobile element.
The shape of SN 1993J re-analysed
Authors: Stevance H F , Baade D , Bruten J R , Cikota A , Clocchiatti A , Hines D C , Höflich P , Maund J R , Patat F , Vallely P J , Wheeler J C
Published: March 2020

SN 1993J is one of the best-studied Type IIb supernovae. Spectropolarimetric data analyses were published over two decades ago at a time when the field of supernova spectropolarimetry was in its infancy. Here, we present a new analysis of the spectropolarimetric data of SN 1993J and an improved estimate of its interstellar polarization (ISP) as well as a critical review of ISP removal techniques employed in the field. The polarization of SN 1993J is found to show significant alignment on the q − u plane, suggesting the presence of a dominant axis and therefore of continuum polarization. We also see strong line polarization features, including H β, He i λ5876, H α, He i λ6678, He i λ7065, and high velocity (HV) components of He i λ5876 and H α. SN 1993J is therefore the second example of a stripped-envelope supernova, alongside iPTF13bvn, with prominent HV helium polarization features, and the first to show a likely HV H α contribution. Overall, we determine that the observed features can be interpreted as the superposition of anisotropically distributed line forming regions over ellipsoidal ejecta. We cannot exclude the possibility of an off-axis energy source within the ejecta. These data demonstrate the rich structures that are inaccessible if solely considering the flux spectra but can be probed by spectropolarimetric observations. In future studies, the new ISP corrected data can be used in conjunction with 3D radiative transfer models to better map the geometry of the ejecta of SN 1993J.
Setting the scene for BUFFALO: a study of the matter distribution in the HFF galaxy cluster MACS J0416.1−2403 and its parallel field
Authors: Gonzalez E J , Chalela M , Jauzac M , Eckert D , Schaller M , Harvey D , Niemiec A , Koekemoer A M , Barnes D , Clowe D , Connor T , Diego J M , Remolina Gonzalez J D , Steinhardt C L
Published: March 2020

In the context of the Beyond Ultradeep Frontier Fields And Legacy Observations (BUFFALO) survey, we present a new analysis of the merging galaxy cluster MACS J0416.1−2403 (z = 0.397) and its parallel field using Hubble Frontier Fields (HFF) data. We measure the surface mass density from a weak-lensing analysis and characterize the overall matter distribution in both the cluster and parallel fields. The surface mass distribution derived for the parallel field shows clumpy overdensities connected by filament-like structures elongated in the direction of the cluster core. We also characterize the X-ray emission in the parallel field and compare it with the lensing mass distribution. We identify five mass peaks at the >5σ level over the two fields, four of them being in the cluster one. Three of them are located close to galaxy overdensities and one is also close to an excess in the X-ray emission. Nevertheless, two of them have neither optical nor X-ray counterpart and are located close to the edges of the field of view, thus further studies are needed to confirm them as substructures. Finally, we compare our results with the predicted subhalo distribution of one of the Hydrangea/C-EAGLE simulated cluster. Significant differences are obtained suggesting the simulated cluster is at a more advanced evolutionary stage than MACS J0416.1−2403. Our results anticipate the upcoming BUFFALO observations that will link the two HFF fields, extending further the HST coverage.
The Bubble Nebula NGC 7635 – testing the wind-blown bubble theory
Authors: Toalá J A , Guerrero M A , Todt H , Sabin L , Oskinova L M , Chu Y-H , Ramos-Larios G , Gómez-González V M A
Published: March 2020

We present a multiwavelength study of the iconic Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635) and its ionizing star BD+60○2522. We obtained XMM–Newton EPIC X-ray observations to search for extended X-ray emission as in other similar wind-blown bubbles around massive stars. We also obtained San Pedro Mártir spectroscopic observations with the Manchester Echelle Spectrometer to study the dynamics of the Bubble Nebula. Although our EPIC observations are deep, we do not detect extended X-ray emission from this wind-blown bubble. On the other hand, BD+60○2522 is a bright X-ray source similar to other O stars. We used the stellar atmosphere code PoWR to characterize BD+60○2522 and found that this star is a young O-type star with stellar wind capable of producing a wind-blown bubble that in principle could be filled with hot gas. We discussed our findings in line with recent numerical simulations proposing that the Bubble Nebula has been formed as the result of the fast motion of BD+60○2522 through the medium. Our kinematic study shows that the Bubble Nebula is composed by a series of nested shells, some showing blister-like structures, but with little signatures of hydrodynamical instabilities that would mix the material producing diffuse X-ray emission as seen in other wind-blown bubbles. Its morphology seems to be merely the result of projection effects of these different shells.
Processing of 72-K water-rich ices by keV and MeV oxygen ions: implications for the Saturnian moon Enceladus
Authors: Rachid M G , Pilling S , Rocha W R M , Agnihotri A , Rothard H , Boduch P
Published: March 2020

The processing of H2O:CO2:CH4 (10:1:1) and H2O:CO2:CH4:NH3 (10:1:1:1) ices at 72 K by oxygen ions was studied in an attempt to simulate the physicochemical effects induced by energetic ions on the surface of Enceladus (or similar cold surfaces in the outer Solar System). The experiments were carried out at the Grand Accélérateur National d’Ions Lourds (GANIL) in Caen/France. The samples were irradiated with 15.7-MeV O5+ at the IRRadiation SUD (IRRSUD) beamline and with 108-keV O6+ at the Accélérateurs pour les Recherches avec les Ions de Basses Energies (ARIBE) beamline. The frozen samples were monitored by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy (4000–650 cm−1, 2.5–15.4 μm, at 1 cm−1 resolution). The identified molecular species formed during irradiation were CO, OCN−, CH3OH, HCN, CN−, H2CO3, HNCO, HCO and CO3. The effective formation cross-sections for the synthesis of new species and the effective molecular destruction cross-sections of the parent species in the experiments with MeV ions were found to be of the order of 10−14–10−13 cm2. For the keV ion experiments, these values were of the order of 10−16–10−15 cm2. The fluence at which the sample reaches chemical equilibrium and the molecular abundances in this region (equilibrium branching ratios) were estimated. These experiments suggest that the chemical inventory on the surface of Enceladus can be influenced by the incidence of charged particles on to the moon’s surface.
H ii regions in the CALIFA survey: I. catalogue presentation
Authors: Espinosa-Ponce C , Sánchez S F , Morisset C , Barrera-Ballesteros J K , Galbany L , García-Benito R , Lacerda E A D , Mast D
Published: March 2020

We present a new catalogue of H ii regions based on the integral field spectroscopy (IFS) data of the extended CALIFA and PISCO samples. The selection of H ii regions was based on two assumptions: a clumpy structure with high contrast of H α emission and an underlying stellar population comprising young stars. The catalogue provides the spectroscopic information of 26 408 individual regions corresponding to 924 galaxies, including the flux intensities and equivalent widths of 51 emission lines covering the wavelength range between 3745 and 7200 Å. To our knowledge, this is the largest catalogue of spectroscopic properties of H ii regions. We explore a new approach to decontaminate the emission lines from diffuse ionized gas contribution. This diffuse gas correction was estimated to correct every emission line within the considered spectral range. With the catalogue of H ii regions corrected, new demarcation lines are proposed for the classical diagnostic diagrams. Finally, we study the properties of the underlying stellar populations of the H ii regions. It was found that there is a direct relationship between the ionization conditions on the nebulae and the properties of stellar populations besides the physicals condition on the ionized regions.
Validating the methodology for constraining the linear growth rate from clustering anisotropies
Authors: García-Farieta Jorge Enrique , Marulli Federico , Moscardini Lauro , Veropalumbo Alfonso , Casas-Miranda Rigoberto A
Published: March 2020

Redshift-space clustering distortions provide one of the most powerful probes to test the gravity theory on the largest cosmological scales. We perform a systematic validation study of the state-of-the-art statistical methods currently used to constrain the linear growth rate from redshift-space distortions in the galaxy two-point correlation function. The numerical pipelines are tested on mock halo catalogues extracted from large N-body simulations of the standard cosmological framework. We consider both the monopole and quadrupole multipole moments of the redshift-space two-point correlation function, as well as the radial and transverse clustering wedges, in the comoving scale range 10 < r[$h^{-1}\, \mbox{Mpc}$] < 55. Moreover, we investigate the impact of redshift measurement errors on the growth rate and linear bias measurements due to the assumptions in the redshift-space distortion model. Considering both the dispersion model and two widely used models based on perturbation theory, we find that the linear growth rate is underestimated by about $5\!-\! 10\, {\rm {per\ cent}}$ at $z$ < 1, while limiting the analysis at larger scales, r > 30 $h^{-1}\, \mbox{Mpc}$, the discrepancy is reduced below $5\, {\rm {per\ cent}}$. At higher redshifts, we find instead an overall good agreement between measurements and model predictions. Though this accuracy is good enough for clustering analyses in current redshift surveys, the models have to be further improved not to introduce significant systematics in RSD constraints from next-generation galaxy surveys. The effect of redshift errors is degenerate with the one of small-scale random motions, and can be marginalized over in the statistical analysis, not introducing any statistically significant bias in the linear growth constraints, especially at $z$ ≥ 1.