bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-objective optimization study of vehicle suspension based on minimum time handling and stability
Authors: Zhang Lixia , Liu Jiaqi , Pan Fuquan , Wang Shuai , Ge Xiaohan
Published: April 2020

To improve the minimum time handling and stability of a vehicle, multi-objective optimization of vehicle suspension was studied. Taking a vehicle with double wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension as an example, the vehicle model was built based on ADAMS/Car. Through double-lane change simulation test, it was found that the vehicle understeer was too large. The main factors influencing understeer in the suspension were analyzed. It was determined that the height of the suspension roll center, the equivalent cornering stiffness, and the roll steering coefficient were taken as the optimization objective. Combined with insight sensitivity analysis on hard point coordinates and bushing stiffness, the optimization variables were determined. According to the evaluation index of minimum time handling and stability, the performance before and after the optimization was analyzed and contrasted by ADAMS. The result showed that the evaluation index of driver burden, the evaluation index of rollover hazard, the evaluation index of vehicle side-slip hazard, the evaluation index of dynamic, the evaluation index of tire road holding capacity, and the evaluation index of responsiveness were all decreased, which indicated that the minimum time handling and stability of a vehicle was improved after optimization.
Factors Associated With the Choice of Oral Anticoagulant Class in the Older Patients: An Observational Study
Authors: Pagès Arnaud , Sabatier Rémi , Sallerin Brigitte
Published: April 2020

Aim:

Oral anticoagulants are the first-line drugs for treating thrombotic disorders related to nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and for treating deep vein thrombosis, diseases that increase in prevalence with age. Older patients have a greater risk of thrombotic and hemorrhagic events and are more prone to drug interactions. Given this backdrop, we wanted to determine the factors associated with the prescription of direct oral anticoagulants and vitamin K antagonists in older patients.

Methods:

We performed a cross-sectional observational study using a hospital prescription database. The study population consists of 405 older patients who were given oral anticoagulants. The 2 variables of interest were the prescription of 1 of the 2 classes of oral anticoagulants (direct oral anticoagulants vs vitamin K antagonists) and appropriateness of oral anticoagulant prescribing according to Summary of Product Characteristics (potentially inappropriate vs appropriate).

Results:

The factors associated with direct oral anticoagulant prescribing were the female gender (odds ratio [OR]: 1.87, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22-2.88) and initiation during hospital stay (OR: 2.56, 95% CI: [1.52-4.32]). Stage 4 and 5 chronic kidney diseases (OR: 0.39, 95% CI: [0.19-0.79] and OR: 0.07, 95% CI: [0.01-0.53]) were factors favoring vitamin K antagonist prescription. Being 90 years of age or more (OR: 2.05, 95% CI: [1.06-3.98]) was a factor for potentially inappropriate anticoagulant prescribing. The gastroenterology department (OR: 2.91, 95% CI: [1.05-8.11]) was associated with potentially inappropriate anticoagulant prescribing.

Conclusions:

Direct oral anticoagulants are the drugs of choice for anticoagulant treatment, including in older adults. The female gender and the initiation during hospital stay increased the chances of being prescribed a direct oral anticoagulant in older adults. Stage 4 and 5 chronic kidney disease increased the likelihood of having a vitamin K antagonist prescribed. Our study also revealed a persistence of potentially inappropriate oral anticoagulant prescriptions in older patients.
Automated refraction after trifocal and trifocal toric intraocular lens implantation
Authors: Rementería-Capelo Laureano A , García-Pérez Jorge L , Contreras Inés , Blázquez Vanesa , Ruiz-Alcocer Javier
Published: April 2020

Background:

To analyze the correlation between automated refraction and manifest refraction after implantation of a trifocal intraocular lens or its toric version.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study involved 105 eyes of 105 patients. Subjects were divided in two groups: 62 with trifocal (AcrySof PanOptix) and 43 with trifocal toric (AcrySof PanOptix Toric) intraocular lenses. Automated refraction was employed as starting point for obtaining the manifest refraction. Automated refraction and manifest refraction measurements were analyzed and compared using the vector analysis 3 months after the surgery.

Results:

In both groups, the higher differences between automated refraction and manifest refraction measurements were found for the cylinder and the spherical equivalent (M). Cylinder values for PanOptix were: −0.60 ± 0.36 D with automated refraction and −0.17 ± 38 D with manifest refraction ( p < 0.001); for PanOptix Toric, the values were: −0.49 ± 0.31 D with automated refraction and −0.05 ± 0.21 D with manifest refraction ( p < 0.001). M values for PanOptix were: −0.23 ± 0.31 D with automated refraction and −0.03 ± 0.16 D with manifest refraction ( p < 0.001); for PanOptix Toric, the values were: −0.13 ± 0.40 D with automated refraction and 0.01 ± 0.12 D with manifest refraction ( p < 0.001). For the PanOptix group, intraclass correlation coefficients were: 0.51 (sphere), 0.64 (cylinder), 0.42 (M), 0.62 (J0), and 0.37 (J45). For the PanOptix Toric group, the intraclass correlation coefficients were: 0.39 (sphere), 0.61 (cylinder), 0.39 (M), 0.53 (J0), and 0.09 (J45).

Conclusion:

The results of this study suggest that patients implanted with the trifocal and the trifocal toric intraocular lens under study showed similar automated refraction results between them, with a slight trend to more negative amounts of cylinder and M. Nevertheless, clinicians should carefully confirm all parameters of the refraction with manifest refraction.
Postvaccination graft dysfunction/aplastic anemia relapse with massive clonal expansion of autologous CD8+ lymphocytes
Authors: Ritz Caitlin , Meng Wenzhao , Stanley Natasha L. , Baroja Miren L. , Xu Chong , Yan Patrick , Huang Alexander C. , Hausler Ryan , Nicholas Peter , Fan Jian-Meng , Lieberman David , Carreno Beatriz M. , Luning Prak Eline T. , Olson Timothy S. , Babushok Daria V.
Published: April 2020

Key Points

Acquired aplastic anemia is a T-cell–mediated autoimmune bone marrow aplasia, without a known etiologic trigger. Clonal expansion of CD8+ effector T lymphocytes can occur following vaccination and accompany graft dysfunction or aplastic anemia relapse.
Primary vitreoretinal lymphomas display a remarkably restricted immunoglobulin gene repertoire
Authors: Belhouachi Nabila , Xochelli Aliki , Boudjoghra Myriam , Lesty Claude , Cassoux Nathalie , Fardeau Christine , Tran Thi Ha Chau , Choquet Sylvain , Sarker Bishnu , Houillier Caroline , Alentorn Agusti , LeHoang Phuc , Soussain Carole , Touitou Valerie , Merle-Beral Helene , Hoang-Xuan Khe , Bodaghi Bahram , Stamatopoulos Kostas , Davi Frederic
Published: April 2020

Primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL) is a high-grade lymphoma affecting the vitreous and/or the retina. The vast majority of cases are histopathologically classified as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and considered a subtype of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). To obtain more insight into the ontogenetic relationship between PVRL and PCNSL, we adopted an immunogenetic perspective and explored the respective immunoglobulin gene repertoire profiles from 55 PVRL cases and 48 PCNSL cases. In addition, considering that both entities are predominantly related to activated B-cell (ABC) DLBCL, we compared their repertoire with that of publicly available 262 immunoglobulin heavy variable domain gene rearrangement sequences from systemic ABC-type DLBCLs. PVRL displayed a strikingly biased repertoire, with the IGHV4-34 gene being used in 63.6% of cases, which was significantly higher than in PCNSL (34.7%) or in DLBCL (30.2%). Further repertoire bias was evident by (1) restricted associations of IGHV4-34 expressing heavy chains, with κ light chains utilizing the IGKV3-20/IGKJ1 gene pair, including 5 cases with quasi-identical sequences, and (2) the presence of a subset of stereotyped IGHV3-7 rearrangements. All PVRL IGHV sequences were highly mutated, with evidence of antigen selection and ongoing mutations. Finally, half of PVRL and PCNSL cases carried the MYD88 L265P mutation, which was present in all 4 PVRL cases with stereotyped IGHV3-7 rearrangements. In conclusion, the massive bias in the immunoglobulin gene repertoire of PVRL delineates it from PCNSL and points to antigen selection as a major driving force in their development.
Shikonin suppresses NEAT1 and Akt signaling in treating paclitaxel-resistant non-small cell of lung cancer
Authors: Zang Farong , Rao Yuanquan , Zhu Xinhai , Wu Zhibing , Jiang Hao
Published: April 2020

Background

The development of paclitaxel-resistance led to the tumor relapse and treatment failure of non-small cell lung cancer. Shikonin has been demonstrated to show anti-cancer activity in many cancer types. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-cancer activity of shikonin in paclitaxel-resistant non-small cell lung cancer treatment.

Methods

MTT, clonogenic assay, apoptotic cell death analysis, western blot, qRT-PCR, gene knockdown and overexpression, xenograft experiment, immunohistochemistry were performed.

Results

Shikonin decreased paclitaxel-resistant NSCLC cell viability and inhibited the growth of xenograft tumor. Shikonin induced apoptotic cell death of paclitaxel-resistant NSCLC cell lines and suppressed the level of NEAT1 and Akt signaling of paclitaxel-resistant NSCLC cell lines and xenograft tumors. Either low dose or high dose of shikonin considerably suppressed the cell growth and induced the cell apoptotic death in NEAT1 knockdown A549/PTX cells, and p-Akt expression was decreased.

Conclusions

Shikonin could be a promising candidate for paclitaxel-resistant NSCLC treatment.
Correction to: Genomic measures of inbreeding coefficients and genome-wide scan for runs of homozygosity islands in Iranian river buffalo, Bubalus bubalis
Authors: Ghoreishifar Seyed Mohammad , Moradi-Shahrbabak Hossein , Fallahi Mohammad Hossein , Jalil Sarghale Ali , Moradi-Shahrbabak Mohammad , Abdollahi-Arpanahi Rostam , Khansefid Majid
Published: April 2020

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors flagged that the article had published with the author ‘Ali Jalil Sarghale’ erroneously omitted from the author list.
Human biologic monitoring based on blood donations to the National Blood Services
Authors: Hassan Lior , Moser Asher , Rorman Efrat , Groisman Luda , Naor Yamit , Shinar Eilat , Gat Roni , Jaffe Eli , Novack Victor , Kloog Itai , Novack Lena
Published: April 2020

Background

The ambient exposure does not always reflect the internal levels of pollution absorbed in the body. While human biomonitoring (HBM) could provide a valid estimate of exposure extent, it is usually an expensive and a heavily manpowered enterprise. Using samples collected during blood donations for HMB may provide a more efficient platform for a routine biomonitoring.

Methods

The current study is aimed to explore the feasibility of using the national blood banking system for the purposes of HBM, to compare between residents of a suspected polluted area in northern Israel (Haifa Bay) to the rest of the country. Specifically, we will assemble a geographically representative sample of blood donors residing in the study area and of the general population, to test for four industry and traffic-related metals: lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and chromium (Cr). Samples of whole blood from donors will be tested in the Laboratory of Public Health Services managed by the Ministry of Health. The information on donors’ biomarkers levels will be further linked with the air pollution and meteorological data assessed at the location of the blood collection sites (short-term exposure) and donors’ permanent address (long-term exposure), as recorded by the monitoring stations spread throughout Israel and the satellite-based exposure models. The association between biomarkers and ambient environmental exposures will be assessed.

The samples’ collection is planned for 2 years of 2020–2021.

Discussion

The information collected in this study could lead to environmental regulations within Haifa Bay area aimed to prevent exposure to high levels of hazardous chemicals.
The response of Plasmodium falciparum to isoleucine withdrawal is dependent on the stage of progression through the intraerythrocytic cell cycle
Authors: McLean Kyle Jarrod , Jacobs-Lorena Marcelo
Published: April 2020

Background

A previous study reported that the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum enters an altered growth state upon extracellular withdrawal of the essential amino acid isoleucine. Parasites slowed transit through the cell cycle when deprived of isoleucine prior to the onset of S-phase.

Methods

This project was undertaken to study at higher resolution, how isoleucine withdrawal affects parasite growth. Parasites were followed at regular intervals across an extended isoleucine deprivation time course across the cell cycle using flow cytometry.

Results

These experiments revealed that isoleucine-deprived parasites never exit the cell cycle, but instead continuously grow at a markedly reduced pace. Moreover, slow growth occurs only if isoleucine is removed prior to the onset of schizogony. After S-phase commenced, the parasite is insensitive to isoleucine depletion and transits through the cell cycle at the normal pace.

Conclusions

The markedly different response of the parasite to isoleucine withdrawal before or after the onset of DNA replication is reminiscent of the nutrient-dependent G1 cell cycle checkpoints described in other organisms.
Time trends of non-alcoholic beverage consumption among adults in Germany, 1990–2011
Authors: Schienkiewitz Anja , Haftenberger Marjolein , Mensink Gert B. M.
Published: April 2020

Background

In Germany, information on trends in non-alcoholic beverage intake over the last decades is sparse. The aim of this analysis is to examine trends in non-alcoholic beverage consumption among adults living in Germany between 1990 and 2011 with special focus on gender, age and education level.

Methods

We used self-reported food frequency questionnaire information from 25 to 69 year old participants of three German National Health Interview and Examination Surveys conducted in 1990–1992 (n = 7466), 1997–1999 (n = 5825) and 2008–2011 (n = 5375) and focused on consumption frequency of fruit juice, soft drinks, water, tea and coffee. Positive answers in the categories “almost daily”, “daily” and “daily and more” were categorized as frequent beverage intake. Proportion estimates and 95%-CI were weighted to better reflect the German population using SAS 9.4 survey procedures for complex sample designs.

Results

Between 1990–1992 and 2008–2011, the proportion of men and women who reported to frequently drink juice, soft drinks, water or tea has increased from 21.9% (95%-CI: 20.8–23.0%) to 27.2% (25.6–29.0%), 10.0% (9.0–11.1%) to 18.7% (17.3–20.3%), 59.1% (56.8–61.4%) to 87.6% (86.2–88.9%), and 32.2% (30.3–34.2%) to 39.2% (36.9–41.5%), respectively. Frequent consumption of coffee decreased from 80.6% (79.1–82.0%) in 1990–1992 to 74.9% (73.3–76.5%) in 1997–1999 and increased to 81.2% (79.8–82.6%) in 2008–2011. Frequent consumption of juice increased over time among men with middle and high education (17.7% (15.7–19.8%) to 26.4% (23.4–29.6%) and 22.9% (20.2–25.8%) to 32.7% (29.4–36.2%), respectively), whereas a similar increase was only seen among women with low education (19.8% (17.1–22.9%) to 28.4% (22.9–34.7%). Frequent soft drink consumption increased among men in all age and education groups but among women only in the 25 to 34 year age group and in the low education group. Frequent water consumption increased about 20% or more among men and women, in all age and education groups.

Conclusions

The results show changes in non-alcoholic beverage consumption over the past two decades in Germany. Exploring non-alcoholic beverage intake over time is important for the evaluation of consumption patterns with regard to guidelines and to design appropriate prevention measures.
Medical education: an Italian contribution to the discussion on global health education
Authors: Civitelli Giulia , Tarsitani Gianfranco , Rinaldi Alessandro , Marceca Maurizio
Published: April 2020

Background

In Italy an important contribution to the spread of global health education (GHE) grew from the establishment and work of the Italian Network for Global Health Education (INGHE). INGHE gave a national shared definition of global health (GH), grounded in the theory of determinants of health, inspired by a vision of social justice, and committed to reduce health inequities. The aim of this article is to share with the international community INGHE’s point of view on Medical Education.

Methods

To express its view of medical education at the national level, INGHE established a dedicated commission, which elaborated a first draft of the document and then shared and discussed it with all other members.

Results

INGHE elaborated a paper where it explained the need to change medical education in order to prepare future health professionals for the challenges of the globalized and unequal world. In this article the authors summarize the experience of INGHE and share with the international community its document.

Conclusions

The authors believe it is necessary now, more than ever, to insert this new approach to health at social and academic levels. Students should play a fundamental role in the spread of GHE, and activities related with GHE could be considered an important part of the third mission of universities to promote social justice.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Citrate stabilized Fe3O4/DMG modified carbon paste electrode for determination of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane in blood plasma and urine samples of cement factory workers
Authors: Heidarimoghadam Rashid , Farmany Abbas
Published: April 2020

In this paper, a novel mercury-free electrochemical probe was constructed for the trace determination of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) in some biological fluids by adsorptive stripping voltammetry. The platform is based on the adsorptive accumulation of Ni(II) onto a carbon paste electrode modified with citrate stabilized Fe3O4 (Cit-Fe3O4) and dimethylglyoxime (DMG). It was shown that trace levels of D4 enhance the electrochemical adsorptive stripping signal of Ni(II) on the electrode platform. It was shown that electrochemical signals are proportional to concentrations of D4. The supporting electrolyte, pH and instrumental parameters associated with the electrode response, including scan rate, accumulation potential and deposition time were optimized. The electrode platform demonstrated well resolved, reproducible peaks, with relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.8% and detection limit (3Sb/m) of 27.0 ng/mL. The sensor exhibited good D4 detection and quantification in human blood plasma and urine samples.
Quantifying systemic congestion with Point-Of-Care ultrasound: development of the venous excess ultrasound grading system
Authors: Beaubien-Souligny William , Rola Philippe , Haycock Korbin , Bouchard Josée , Lamarche Yoan , Spiegel Rory , Denault André Y.
Published: April 2020

Background

Organ congestion is a mediator of adverse outcomes in critically ill patients. Point-Of-Care ultrasound (POCUS) is widely available and could enable clinicians to detect signs of venous congestion at the bedside. The aim of this study was to develop several grading system prototypes using POCUS and to determine their respective ability to predict acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery. This is a post-hoc analysis of a single-center prospective study in 145 patients undergoing cardiac surgery for which repeated daily measurements of hepatic, portal, intra-renal vein Doppler and inferior vena cava (IVC) ultrasound were performed during the first 72 h after surgery. Five prototypes of venous excess ultrasound (VExUS) grading system combining multiple ultrasound markers were developed.

Results

The association between each score and AKI was assessed using time-dependant Cox models as well as conventional performance measures of diagnostic testing. A total of 706 ultrasound assessments were analyzed. We found that defining severe venous congestion as the presence of severe flow abnormalities in multiple Doppler patterns with a dilated IVC (≥ 2 cm) showed the strongest association with the development of subsequent AKI compared with other combinations (HR: 3.69 CI 1.65–8.24 p = 0.001). The association remained significant after adjustment for baseline risk of AKI and vasopressor/inotropic support (HR: 2.82 CI 1.21–6.55 p = 0.02). Furthermore, this severe VExUS grade offered a useful positive likelihood ratio (+LR: 6.37 CI 2.19–18.50) when detected at ICU admission, which outperformed central venous pressure measurements.

Conclusions

The combination of multiple POCUS markers may identify clinically significant venous congestion.
Variations in Retroperitoneal Soft Tissue Sarcoma Outcomes by Hospital Type: A National Cancer Database Analysis
Authors: Villano Anthony M. , Zeymo Alexander , Chan Kitty S. , Unger Keith R. , Shara Nawar , Al-Refaie Waddah B.
Published: April 2020

PURPOSE:

Surgical resection remains the cornerstone of retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma (RPS) treatment. Patient- and sarcoma-related factors are well known to influence survival outcomes. The effect of hospital-related factors on long-term survival, however, are not well understood. We sought to assess the relative contribution of hospital-level factors to mortality after surgical treatment of RPS.

METHODS AND MATERIALS:

The 2004-2015 National Cancer Database was used to identify 10,113 patients who underwent surgical treatment of RPS. Patient-, sarcoma-, hospital-, and treatment-level factors were compared by increasing survival times. Stepwise multivariable Cox regression was performed that controlled for covariates to measure the relative contributions of these factors on overall survival (OS). Effect modification analyses ascertained how hospital type modulates the volume relationship with respect to RPS mortality.

RESULTS:

Factors predictive of worsening OS were older age, nonprivate insurance, low income, presence of comorbidities, tumor histology, high grade or stage, and R2 resection (for all, P < .05). Increasing hospital surgical volume predicted decreasing risk of death across all survival times. However, analysis by hospital type demonstrated that compared with academic centers, the risk of death at community centers increased significantly as surgical volume increased (hazard ratio, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.53).

CONCLUSION:

Hospital factors affect mortality after surgical treatment of RPS. Specifically, hospital type alters the surgical volume-outcome relationship for RPS mortality such that community centers perform worse with increasing volumes. Recommendations that higher surgical volume improves outcomes cannot be applied universally and must be re-examined in other complex surgical cancers.
Adrenal Incidentaloma
Authors: Sherlock Mark , Scarsbrook Andrew , Abbas Afroze , Fraser Sheila , Limumpornpetch Padiporn , Dineen Rosemary , Stewart Paul M
Published: April 2020

An adrenal incidentaloma is now established as a common endocrine diagnosis that requires a multidisciplinary approach for effective management. The majority of patients can be reassured and discharged, but a personalized approach based upon image analysis, endocrine workup, and clinical symptoms and signs are required in every case. Adrenocortical carcinoma remains a real concern but is restricted to <2% of all cases. Functional adrenal incidentaloma lesions are commoner (but still probably <10% of total) and the greatest challenge remains the diagnosis and optimum management of autonomous cortisol secretion. Modern-day surgery has improved outcomes and novel radiological and urinary biomarkers will improve early detection and patient stratification in future years to come.
Determining patient abdomen thickness from a single digital radiograph with a computational model: clinical results from a proof of concept study
Authors: Worrall Mark , Vinnicombe Sarah , Sutton David
Published: April 2020

Objective:

A computational model has been created to estimate the abdominal thickness of a patient following an X-ray examination; its intended application is assisting with patient dose audit of paediatric X-ray examinations. This work evaluates the accuracy of the computational model in a clinical setting for adult patients undergoing anteroposterior (AP) abdomen X-ray examinations.

Methods:

The model estimates patient thickness using the radiographic image, the exposure factors with which the image was acquired, a priori knowledge of the characteristics of the X-ray unit and detector and the results of extensive Monte Carlo simulation of patient examinations. For 20 patients undergoing AP abdominal X-ray examinations, the model was used to estimate the patient thickness; these estimates were compared against a direct measurement made at the time of the examination.

Results:

Estimates of patient thickness made using the model were on average within ±5.8% of the measured thickness.

Conclusion:

The model can be used to accurately estimate the thickness of a patient undergoing an AP abdominal X-ray examination where the patient’s size falls within the range of the size of patients used to create the computational model.

Advances in knowledge:

This work demonstrates that it is possible to accurately estimate the AP abdominal thickness of an adult patient using the digital X-ray image and a computational model.
Analysis of channel correlation and channel capacity for indoor MIMO visible light communication systems
Authors: Deng Lijun , Fan Yangyu
Published: April 2020

In indoor multi-input–multi-output (MIMO) visible light communication (VLC) systems, spatial multiplexing (SMP) is employed to improve spectral efficiency. However, the performance of SMP in an indoor VLC system depends on a low channel correlation. In this paper, a receiver model with angular diversity detectors is considered. The objective is to reduce the channel correlation and hence the system performance in terms of bit error rate (BER) and channel capacity compared to vertically oriented detectors under no-line-of-sight (NLOS) channel conditions. For a vertical detector setup, the results show that the channel correlation cannot be further reduced by varying the transmitter separation, transmitter semi-angle, or field of view of the receiver in NLOS conditions due to the design of receiver separation being very small in small mobile devices. In comparison to vertical detector setups, by varying the detector axis of each photodetector (PD) detector axis in angular diversity detector setups, the channel matrix rank is improved under LOS conditions, and the channel correlation is effectively reduced under NLOS conditions without requiring any implementation complexity at the receiver. Therefore, it is found that the angular diversity detector setup can substantially improve the BER performance of SMP, since it makes each PD more spatially separated to improve channel conditions. Notably, we deduce the channel capacity expression to approximate the capacity of the indoor highly correlated MIMO channel and verify the theoretical analysis by numerical simulations. The results show that the angular diversity detector setup provides capacity improvement when compared with the vertical detector setup. Even though it diminishes the received power when the elevation angle exceeds the optimal elevation angle, it outweighs this degradation by providing reduced channel correlation.
Measurements of experimental transition probabilities of 3p54p → 3p54s arrays in neutral argon
Authors: Asghar Haroon , Piracha Naveed K. , Ali Raheel , Baig M. Aslam
Published: April 2020

We have determined the absolute transition probabilities of 27 emission lines of neutral argon originating from the

3

p

5

4

p

→

3

p

5

4

s

transition array in the wavelength region from 650 to 1100 nm using an argon-filled hollow cathode discharge lamp. The absolute transition probabilities have been deduced using the lifetimes of the upper levels and the measured branching fractions. Atomic oscillator strengths and relative line strengths for all the transitions have been computed using calculated transition probabilities. The experimentally determined transition probabilities are found to be in good agreement with that calculated in the intermediate coupling (IC) scheme. The comparison of experimentally determined transition probabilities with reported theoretical transition probabilities confirms that the IC scheme for the lower as well as for the upper levels seems to be a useful scheme for the level designation for the

3

p

5

4

p

to

3

p

5

4

s

configuration-based levels in argon. Furthermore, the measured relative line strengths are used to validate the

J

-file sum rule for the

3

p

5

4

p

→

3

p

5

4

s

transition array of argon. The reported transition probabilities, oscillator strengths, and relative line strengths are compared with the published data, showing good agreement.
Metal target detection method using passive millimeter-wave polarimetric imagery
Authors: Tang Fangzhou , Gui Liangqi , Liu Jinbang , Chen Ke , Lang Liang , Cheng Yayun
Published: April 2020

Polarization-based passive millimeter-wave imaging has been applied in several applications, including material clustering, pattern recognition, and target detection. We present here a general formulation of a metal target detection method called dual linear polarization discriminator (DLPD), utilizing passive millimeter-wave polarimetric imagery. Several potential discriminators are defined, and linear polarization difference ratio (LPDR) is selected and proposed to be a new feature discriminator that is sensitive to material composition and able to reduce ambient radiation effects when detecting target with different material and shape. Furthermore, the detection criterion is verified utilizing the threshold values determined by a statistical analysis of LPDR. Outdoor experiments demonstrate that the proposed detection method is highly effective for detecting a metal target in a complex background.
Observation of double indirect interlayer exciton in WSe2/WS2 heterostructure
Authors: Yu Juan , Kuang Xiaofei , Zhong Jiahong , Cao Lingkai , Zeng Cheng , Ding Junnan , Cong Chunxiao , Wang Shenghao , Dai Pengfei , Yue Xiaofei , Liu Zongwen , Liu Yanping
Published: April 2020

Interlayer excitons (IX) are produced by the spatially separated electron-hole pairs due to the robust Coulomb interactions in van der Waals transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) heterostructures (HSS). IX is characterized by a larger binding energy, and its lifetime is orders of magnitude longer than that of the direct excitons, providing a significant platform for the manufacture of long-lived exciton devices and the exploration of exciton quantum gas. However, the studies are restricted to the single interlayer exciton, and the simultaneous capture and study of double IX remain challenging in the WSe2/WS2 HS. Here, we demonstrate the existence of double indirect IX in the WSe2/WS2 HS with the emission centers at 1.4585eV (∼25.9meV wide) and 1.4885 eV (∼14.4 meV wide) at cryogenic temperature. Interestingly, the intensities of the double IX emission peaks are almost equal, and the energy difference between them is in a good agreement with the cleavage value of the WS2 conduction band (CB). Additionally, diverse types of excitons in the individual materials were successfully observed in the PL spectra at 8 K. Such unique double IX features, in combination with excellent exciton identification, open up new opportunities for further investigations for new physical properties of TMDCs and explorations for the technological innovation of exciton devices.
Automated noise estimation in polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography
Authors: Keahey P. A. , Bouma B. E. , Villiger M.
Published: April 2020

Advanced signal reconstruction in polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (OCT) frequently relies on an accurate determination of the signal noise floor. However, current methods for evaluating the noise floor are often impractical and subjective. Here we present a method using the degree of polarization uniformity and known speckle intensity statistics to model and estimate the OCT noise floor automatically. We establish the working principle of our method with a series of phantom experiments and demonstrate the robustness of our noise estimation method across different imaging systems and applications in vivo.
Analysis of ethanol dehydration using membrane separation processes
Authors: Conde-Mejía Carolina , Jiménez-Gutiérrez Arturo
Published: April 2020

After the biomass pretreatment and fermentation processes, the purification step constitutes a major task in bioethanol production processes. The use of membranes provides an interesting choice to achieve high-purity bioethanol. Membrane separation processes are generally characterized by low energy requirements, but a high capital investment. Some major design aspects for membrane processes and their application to the ethanol dehydration problem are addressed in this work. The analysis includes pervaporation and vapor permeation methods, and considers using two types of membranes, A-type zeolite and amorphous silica membrane. The results identify the best combination of membrane separation method and type of membrane needed for bioethanol purification.
Learnability issues in L2 Japanese: Prosody and ambiguity resolution
Authors: Kamiya Masaaki , Ananth Priya
Published: April 2020

Previous studies in L1 research have claimed that native speakers are able to disambiguate scopally ambiguous sentences using prosodic cues. The present study seeks to investigate if the above claim is true in the case of learners of the Japanese language. We discovered that L2 Japanese learners had difficulty in mapping between scopally ambiguous interpretations and their appropriate prosodic patterns. We claim that these prosodic patterns were neither taught explicitly in class, nor are they available in the learners’ L1 knowledge base. Since they do not possess such knowledge in their long-term memory, the immediate cognitive context could not match with the incoming linguistic acoustic cues to give rise to salience. The present study suggests that L2 Japanese learners cannot learn accentual patterns implicitly, at least in a formal classroom set up, a conclusion corroborated by previous studies.
Aqueous Contact Ion Pairs of Phosphate Groups with Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ – Structural Discrimination by Femtosecond Infrared Spectroscopy and Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Fingerhut Benjamin P. , Schauss Jakob , Kundu Achintya , Elsaesser Thomas
Published: April 2020

The extent of contact and solvent shared ion pairs of phosphate groups with Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions in aqueous environment and their relevance for the stability of polyanionic DNA and RNA structures is highly debated. Employing the asymmetric phosphate stretching vibration of dimethyl phosphate (DMP), a model system of the sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA and RNA, we present linear infrared, femtosecond infrared pump-probe and absorptive 2D-IR spectra that report on contact ion pair formation via the presence of blue shifted spectral signatures. Compared to the linear infrared spectra, the nonlinear spectra reveal contact ion pairs with increased sensitivity because the spectra accentuate differences in peak frequency, transition dipole moment strength, and excited state lifetime. The experimental results are corroborated by long time scale MD simulations, benchmarked by density functional simulations on phosphate-ion-water clusters. The microscopic interpretation reveals subtle structural differences of ion pairs formed by the phosphate group and the ions Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+. Intricate properties of the solvation shell around the phosphate group and the ion are essential to explain the experimental observations. The present work addresses a challenging to probe topic with the help of a model system and establishes new experimental data of contact ion pair formation, thereby underlining the potential of nonlinear 2D-IR spectroscopy as an analytical probe of phosphate-ion interactions in complex biological systems.
From the earliest farmers to the first urban centres: a socio-economic analysis of underground storage practices in north-eastern Iberia
Authors: Prats Georgina , Antolín Ferran , Alonso Natàlia
Published: April 2020

The evolution of storage features in prehistory has been linked to larger socio-economic and demographic changes. The investigation of such an evolution in the archaeological record, however, is restricted in scope, both geographically and chronologically. This article offers a comparative approach to understanding the development of Neolithic to Late Iron Age (c. 5600–50 BC) farming communities in north-eastern Iberia, based on diachronic changes in the volume and shape of underground storage silos. Results indicate that variations in silo capacity and morphology correlate with archaeological evidence for long-term socio-economic changes within these prehistoric and protohistoric farming communities.
Bird collisions with power lines in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic
Authors: Mammadov A. F. , Matsyura A.
Published: April 2020

The article summarizes the results of research in four selected sites (observations) on the impact of surface power lines on bird death in the area of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in 2016-2017. Studies show that electrical wires have a major impact on bird death during the spring migration and nesting period. We determined that 225 individual of 27 species were killed by electric shock in selected areas, while 16 individuals belonging to 3 predator bird species were exposed to this threat. Two of these species are in the World Red List. The next plot with high mortality rate was the Cananbar well - Shikhmahmud plain (2 km), although we did not make a research here for the first two months. An average mortality rate of birds here were 2.72 individuals/km. The electric poles in the selected Nakhchivan - Shikhmahmud road (4 km) consisted mainly of wooden material and were sometimes replaced with reinforced concrete. We attribute the fact that the percentage of deaths in this area is lower than other stations because of the poles are more wooden. Among the dead birds some species belonging to the Red List of the World (Falco naumanni and Coracias garrulus). As we already mentioned, beside the overhead electric wires were mainly dangerous to Ciconia ciconia, Buteo rufinus and eagles. The dead and wounded species were recorded only one to four km from the electric line. Among the most common species exposed electric shocks were: Columba livia, Merops apiaster, Corvus frugilegus, Sturnus vulgaris and Passer domesticus. A total of 3,225 birds from 26 species were killed by the private electric shock during the study, four birds could not be identified (unknown species). When looking at the process from a landscape-species perspective, bird species - those most exposed to the electric wires are: less open, open space (loos); forest landscape (fl); residential areas (ra) and less grove areas (lga).
OS DEUSES ESTRANGEIROS E A DISRUPÇÃO DA ORDEM NATURAL: NOTA SOBRE O FRAGM. 581 DE ARISTÓFANES
Authors: Sacconi Karen Amaral
Published: April 2020

Um dos mais eloquentes fragmentos de Aristófanes, o fragm. 581, da comédia Estações, apresenta um diálogo, possivelmente entre duas divindades, no qual se discutem as vantagens e desvantagens do ciclo de estações para a pólis. Esse artigo busca comentar o fragmento a partir da relação entre a disrupção da ordem natural e o culto de divindades estrangeiras em Atenas.
Encruzilhadas do editor: diferenças na tomada de decisão na edição crítica e na edição interpretativa
Authors: Cambraia César Nardelli
Published: April 2020

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo defender a tese de que a diferença terminológica entre edição crítica, realizada a partir da comparação de diferentes testemunhos, e edição interpretativa, executada a partir de um único testemunho, é fundamental para a crítica textual, pois reflete importantes diferenças conceituais. Analisaram-se seis passagens extraídas da tradição textual da tradução portuguesa e da francesa da obra de Isaac de Nínive, tendo em conta as duas principais tomadas de decisão com que um editor tem de lidar em seu percurso editorial: identificação da existência de uma lição não genuína em uma dada tradição textual e fixação da lição genuína. Demonstrou-se que, em relação a esses dois tipos de tomada de decisão, há diferenças entre as edições consideradas: na edição crítica, a primeira tomada de decisão é mais objetiva em função da colação e a segunda tomada de decisão também o é mas em função da baliza das lições presentes nos testemunhos; na edição interpretativa, as duas referidas tomadas de decisão são menos objetivas porque se fundamentam essencialmente no conhecimento do editor, fator de grande variabilidade.
DA LÍNGUA DOS CLÁSSICOS AOS CLÁSSICOS NA LÍNGUA: UMA LEITURA DO POEMA ‘VÊNUS’ DE CARLOS DRUMMOND DE ANDRADE
Authors: Frade Mafalda
Published: April 2020

O presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar a forma como a linguagem e o mito clássico são utilizados no poema ‘Vênus’ de Carlos Drummond de Andrade para explorar diversas facetas do amor. De facto, na obra de Drummond de Andrade, dois dos eixos semânticos utilizados são o do amor e o da cultura clássica, que são apresentados de diversas formas. Nesta composição poética, os dois unem-se e, através do uso das línguas clássicas na criação de neologismos, elabora-se um jogo de palavras que permite ao sujeito poético revelar o que pensa e sente a propósito das diversas faces do amor.
Comparando representações - o Agesilau de Xenofonte e o de Plutarco
Authors: Bantim de Assumpção Luis Filipe
Published: April 2020

Agesilau II foi um dos agentes políticos mais influentes na passagem do século IV A.E.C. A sua proeminência se tornou emblemática em virtude da sua participação em interações político-militares de Esparta, da Lacedemônia, do Peloponeso e da Hélade, como um todo. Entretanto, as suas relações políticas obtiveram resultados que, em muitas ocasiões, a desenvolver tensões e conflitos entre esparciatas, helenos e persas. Nesse sentido, muitas foram as representações elaboradas sobre este basileús e, dentre elas, as que mais se destacaram foram a de Xenofonte e a de Plutarco. Partindo da metodologia comparativa de Marcel Detienne em Comparar o Incomparável, selecionamos comparáveis para tentarmos perceber as motivações destes autores clássicos para representar Agesilau em conformidade aos seus próprios interesses e ao lugar social em que estavam inseridos em suas respectivas sociedades e períodos.
Postex System User Guide v1
Authors: L Crofts Anna
Published: April 2020

The Postex system (Haglöf Sweden AB, Långsele, SE) is used to position objects–most often, and in our case, trees–within sample plots. The positions of individual trees are easily obtained and accurate, making the Postex system suitable for collecting ground-based measurements that compliment aerial surveys. Using ultrasound technology, the three stationary transponders, centered around the plot centre, measure the distance between each other and the handheld device, located at the object (i.e., tree) of interest and determines the position of the object in relation to the plot center. The Postex system was used during the canopy tree surveys of the forested Canadian Airborne Biodiversity Observatory (CABO) study sites: Parc national du Mont-Mégantic and Parc national du Mont-Saint-Bruno. Here, we provide a stepwise guide to using the Postex system, specifically related to how it was used for CABO canopy tree surveys (for full description of the Postex system please refer to the Postax version 2.2 and DP II user manuals, see pdfs attached below).
A method for motif-based sequence alignment analysis v1
Authors: Wang Yue
Published: April 2020

A method for motif-based sequence alignment analysis
Percepção de Transparência nas Instituições de Ensino
Authors: Mendes Vieira Kelmara , Pegoraro Daniela , Sâmara Visentini Monize
Published: April 2020

Objetivo: Muito se avançou na construção de indicadores que analisam a transparência das instituições públicas e governos tendo como base os aspectos legais. Entretanto, ainda há uma carência de estudos que avaliem a transparência a partir da percepção dos atores sociais, ou seja, da sociedade para a qual os esforços de transparência são praticados. Assim, este trabalho propõe um instrumento de avaliação da transparência ativa e passiva em instituições de ensino, na percepção dos atores sociais.

Método: A validação do modelo teórico proposto, aplicado com 1070 atores de uma instituição federal de ensino, foi conduzida a partir da utilização de técnicas para a análise da validade convergente e discriminante, da confiabilidade e da unidimensionalidade do instrumento.

Resultado: Os resultados indicaram a adequação dos três construtos propostos (Gestão Institucional, Acesso à Informação e Transparência Passiva) e confirmaram as três hipóteses.

Contribuições: Uma metodologia de aplicação e uma classificação são sugeridas, visando permitir que qualquer instituição de ensino possa avaliar a percepção de transparência Ativa e Passiva dos seus atores sociais.
Geopsy: A User-Friendly Open-Source Tool Set for Ambient Vibration Processing
Authors: Wathelet Marc , Chatelain Jean-Luc , Cornou Cécile , Giulio Giuseppe Di , Guillier Bertrand , Ohrnberger Matthias , Savvaidis Alexandros
Published: April 2020

Ambient vibrations are nowadays considerably used worldwide for numerous types of engineering applications and scientific research. Geopsy and its companion tools are part of that landscape. Since the first release of the program package in 2005, as outcome of the European Union project Site Effects aSsessment from AMbient noisE, Geopsy has become a mature multiplatform open-source package (released under GNU Public License version 3) that has already been recognized as a reference tool for analyzing ambient vibration data in the context of site characterization studies. The community of users has grown from a core group of researchers up to thousands of seismologists and engineers on every career level and on all continents. The versatility of geopsy allows for the processing of all kinds of data needed in site characterization studies, that is, from single station single trace to three-component array recordings. In all of the aforementioned cases, the steps from field acquisition to the production of publication-ready figures are covered and supported by user-friendly graphical user interfaces or corresponding command-line tools for the automation of the complete processing chain. To avoid black-box usage, a number of lower-level tools guarantee maximum flexibility in accessing and controlling processing results at any stage of the analysis.
Nota de Apresentação
Authors: Oliveira Silvana Maria Pessôa de , Carvalho Maria do Socorro Fernandes de , Souza Raquel Dos Santos Madanêlo , Menezes Roberto Bezerra de
Published: April 2020

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