bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Observation and Modeling Contribution to Urban Geotechnical Works Projects: Al Boustane Clinic Extension, Rabat-Morocco
Authors: Bouchaqour Mariame , Bahi Lahcen , Ouadif Latifa
Published: February 2020

Starting each geotechnical work site needs a preparatory study and a pre-design. Both of them requisite an observation intervention before, in particular, those in urban sites. The purpose of this paper is to explain how observation combined with modeling makes it possible to manage the difficulty and complexity of this type of project, based on the observational method. Thus, a safe geotechnical structure requires a modeling based on observation investigation and site survey. In accordance with the site’s context, the model will be verified to see if the actual behavior is consistent with the design modeling. On this manner, we will detail this illustrated approach on several concrete geotechnical projects cases. This article will also include a case study of Alboustane clinic’s extension, in Morocco, to illustrate this method.
Contribution of applied geophysics in mining prospecting
Authors: El Abidi El Alaoui Meryeme , Ouadif Latifa , Bahi Lahcen , Manar Ahmed
Published: February 2020

The Eastern High Atlas (Morocco) contains a variety of rocks with different magnetic susceptibility, among these rocks are those which constitute the Proterozoic and Paleozoic basement of the plain of Tamlelt which is the study area. This work is devoted to the analysis and interpretation of the main magnetic anomalies using the Oisis Montaj program, and the correlation using ArcGis software, from the main « magnetic facies» detected, to the main geological formations affecting the geological basement, highlighted in the plain of Tamlelt. The map of the residual magnetic field shows elongated magnetic anomalies in the direction E-W and NE-SW. the reduction to the pole shows at the level of the plain of Tamlelt a large anomaly elongated in the direction E-W then in the direction NW-SE. The transformation of Tilt Angle allowed to delimit the anomalies of low or high amplitude that limit the shallow structures. The quantitative interpretation of the main magnetic anomalies highlighted in the study area has made it possible to characterize the deep structure of the magnetic bodies, which could contain sulphide clusters, according to the geological and mining context of the studied area.
The Effectiveness of Lugol for Endometritis Therapy in Aceh Cow
Authors: Melia Juli , Sadri Baroli , Siregar Tongku N. , Riady Ginta , Asmilia Nuzul , Hanafiah Muhammad , Panjaitan Budianto
Published: February 2020

Endometritis is an inflammation of the uterine wall that may decrease fertility in the short term and may lead to sterility in the long term. This study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of lugol for endometritis therapy in aceh cow. This study used three aceh cows that had been diagnosed endometritis by ultrasonography. The three aceh cows were then treated with 20 ml of 2% lugol intra-uterine. Observation of the uterine healing process was performed by using transrectal ultrasonography for 24 days after treated with lugol. Parameters observed were uterine diameter, the thickness of the endometrium and the presence of mucus and discharge in the uterus. The result showed that the three cows did not show a significant change. A cream-yellowish discharge came out from the uterus continuously, the diameter of uterine was still large and the sonograph of endometrial displayed as a hyperechoic until the 24th day after therapy. In conclusion, the use of 2% Lugol as a therapy for endometritis in aceh cows during 24 days is not effective on the uterine healing of endometritis’s cows.
Solar PV power driven cold room storage for Saharan rural area
Authors: Tizzaoui Mouloud. , Soualmi Hamou , Allaoui Mohamed , Mansouri Achor , Saadi Zine , Menacer Dalila , Chadli Samir
Published: February 2020

The use of renewable energy sources is usually a reliable alternative in rural areas and developing countries, where the gridline does not exist or is at a great distance. The present work is to study the possibility of feeding the tomatoes preservation cold room storage in the Sahara region driven by solar photovoltaic generator. An energy-efficient design has been achieved by analytical calculation. A PV field calculation approach yielded the following results: for a storage capacity of about 1 ton of tomatoes, the cooling capacity is 2.5 kW. The use of the design unit gave us in terms of electricity requirements 27 kWh/day by the GPV generator at Adrar province. Electrical power demands can be obtained using an alternative solution, which appears in Vapor Compression Cycles driven by PV modules. This technology considered as promoting concept for the south of Algeria investment.
Scenario analysis of balancing capacity market based on unit commitment
Authors: Yamaguchi Nobuyuki , Totsuka Nahoko , Kakimoto Koki , Mizuno Sekito , Shibata Kogen
Published: February 2020

In 2021, it is scheduled for the creation of the balancing capacity market that can procurement and trade more flexible adjustment power than before, and the detailed design of the system is currently underway. As the number of providers of adjustment power increases as a result of marketization and broadening of the area, not only the reduction of procurement costs but also transparency and fairness of procurement are expected. In this paper, we propose the method to analysis scenarios of the balancing market based on Unit Commitment (UC) that considers the range of adjustment power secured in the regulation capacity market and quantitatively evaluate the effect of the adjustment power on the UC.
Effect of Vehicle-to-Grid on generation scheduling: in case of a collection of public holidays on the Japanese calendar
Authors: Yamaguchi Nobuyuki , Kakimoto Koki , Totsuka Nahoko , Mizuno Sekito , Shibata Kogen
Published: February 2020

With the increase in the amount of photovoltaic power generation (PV) introduced, measures to respond to PV output fluctuations by Vehicle to Grid (V2G), which connects storage batteries of electric vehicles (EV) to the power system, have been studied. Since the usage status of many car changes on weekdays and holidays, the effects of V2G may be evaluated more accurately by considering weekly operation in addition to daily operation. In this study, we will quantitatively evaluate the effects of considering EVs that can be used for the weekly operation of a power supply group, including hydropower plants, in case of a collection of public holidays on the Japanese calendar.
Analysis of the influence of zero potential live operation on protection
Authors: Yang Qi , Wang Zhenyu , Zhu Liang , Xu Li , Zhen Chaohui
Published: February 2020

In the case of live working in the distribution network, a live method of live working that satisfies the requirements for personal safety and power supply reliability needs to be studied, because of the serious safety accidents caused by misuse and weak safety awareness. Based on the analysis of singlephase buck symmetrical operation characteristics, a new method of zero-potential live working of distribution network based on injection current is proposed. By injecting current into the neutral point, the zero-sequence voltage is regulated so that the neutral point voltage is equal to the value of the operating phase line voltage drop minus the operating phase power supply voltage, ensuring that the operating point voltage is zero. Based on the principle of current fast-break protection and time-limited overcurrent protection, it is analyzed that the zero-potential uninterruptible operation method of the distribution network will not affect the distribution network protection. Finally, the system model is established based on the MATLAB. The simulation verifies the feasibility of the method by the operating phase voltage curve and the correctness of the protection impact analysis by comparing the non-working phase current curve with the protection setting.
Analysis of the effect neutral connection mode for permanent magnet synchronous generator-vienna rectifier set
Authors: Bettouche Mohamed Amine , Benkhoris Mohamed Fouad , Le Claire Jean-Claude , Aouzellag Djamal , Ghedamsi Kaci , Ait Ahmed Mourad
Published: February 2020

In this paper, it was considered to investigate a new electrical architecture for the conversion of mechanical energy from renewable sources into electrical energy, fault tolerant and high energy and dynamic performance for the exploitation of marine renewable energy (MRE). The architecture to be investigated concerns a three-phase permanent magnet synchronous generator combined with a Vienna rectifier, with a topology that minimizes the number of active switches to increase the reliability of the energy conversion chain. Despite the high non-linearity of this architecture, this control is made possible through to the dynamic performance and control of the maximum switching frequency of the self-oscillating controller called the Phase-Shift Self-Oscillating Current-Controller (PSSOCC). The study of the impact of the connection of the PMSG neutral to the mid-point of the DC bus is being investigated.
Impact analysis of new metro line opening on passenger flow: A case study of Shenzhen
Authors: Li Zihao , Zhou Yufeng , Li Zhongwen , Zhou Wei , Zhong Maohua
Published: February 2020

Metro systems, as major components of the transit system, have been significantly developed in recent years and an increasing number of new metro lines are operated in China. This paper not only analyses the short and long-term impact of new lines opening on passenger flow from passenger volume, section imbalance coefficient, direction imbalance coefficient and travel time, with the help of passenger flow data from September 2016 to October 2018 in Shenzhen but also proposes a new method to identify the growth period of the transfer flow in new lines. The result shows that the new metro lines cannot solve the problems of imbalance and congestion in Shenzhen Metro. it increased the travel time in the morning and evening peak, but largely decreased the travel time in the off-peak period. Additionally, there is a significant positive correlation between the length of the growth period and the number of transfer stations of the transfer line.
An Intercity Freight Mode Choice Model : A Case Study of High Speed Rail Link Northern Line Thailand (Bangkok – Chiangmai)
Authors: Pochan Jessada , Wichitphongsa Wachira
Published: February 2020

This paper presents a model capturing the intercity freight mode choice behaviour in high-speed rail system from Bangkok to Chiangmai. The model is developed based on the stated preference data collected from 800 freight operators, wholesaler, retailer, and people. The results show that, when the high-speed rail system from Bangkok to Chiangmai are developing in the future, the suitable products for high-speed rail system are types of an express mail service (EMS), air cargo, gold, jewellery, gold accessories, computer circuit boards, high prices agricultural products such as fruit, and flowers. Most of determining the selling price will fluctuate with the speed of transport and damage impairment of the product. With the application of discrete choice models, the results show that, aside from travel cost and time, loading and unloading, delays time, frequency are statistically significant. The application of model indicated that the holder and freight forwarder which in the line of high-speed rail (Bangkok – Chiangmai) tend to use rail-transport such as double-track rail is 27.71%, high-speed rail is 11.18% and the most is trucks 56.51% which is a policy development point loading and unloading, multimodal transportation efficiency and safety of the portion of the freight high-speed rail increased.
Impact of intelligent agents on the avoidance of spontaneous traffic jams on two-lane motorways
Authors: Malerczyk Jessica , Lerch Sabine , Tibken Bernd , Kummert Anton
Published: February 2020

This paper approaches the evaluation of intelligent agents for the reduction and avoidance of spontaneous traffic jams, which arise without evident reason. Individual vehicles are regarded as intelligent agents that act autonomously. The basis of this work is the Nagel-Schreckenberg (NaSch) model. Its extensions by the velocity-dependent randomization (VDR) model and multiple lanes allow us to simulate realistic traffic and congestion situations on two-lane motorways. Our concept is applied to the model and analyzed by fundamental diagrams and the average velocity, for example. The results of this paper reveal that traffic congestions are avoided when using swarm intelligence in all vehicles since human behavior, especially misbehavior, is eliminated and the velocities determined by the intelligent vehicle are directly realized. Moreover, an amount of 30% of intelligent vehicles has a significantly positive impact on traffic flow.
An Overview of the Latest Progress and Core Challenge of Autonomous Vehicle Technologies
Authors: Liu Zongwei , Jiang Hao , Tan Hong , Zhao Fuquan
Published: February 2020

The mass production of autonomous vehicle is coming, thanks to the rapid progress of autonomous driving technology, especially the recent breakthroughs in LiDAR sensors, GPUs, and deep learning. Many automotive and IT companies represented by Waymo and GM are constantly promoting their advanced autonomous vehicles to hit public roads as early as possible. This paper systematically reviews the latest development and future trend of the autonomous vehicle technologies, discusses the extensive application of AI in ICV, and identifies the key problems and core challenges facing the commercialization of autonomous vehicle. Based on the review, it forecasts the prospects and conditions of autonomous vehicle’s mass production and points out the arduous, long-term and systematic nature of its development.
Chirurgisches Vorgehen bei einem Vaginalfaltenvorfall in der Läufigkeit bei einer Deutschen Dogge
Authors: Ganz Sebastian , Wehrend Axel , Georgiev Plamen
Published: February 2020

Beschrieben wird die chirurgische Versorgung eines östrogenbedingten Vaginalfaltenvorfalls Grad IV bei einer Deutschen Dogge. Weiterhin werden die Möglichkeiten
der konservativen Therapie bei dieser Erkrankung dargestellt und auf eine neuere Operationstechnik sowie den postoperativen Verlauf eingegangen. Prinzip der
konservativen Behandlung ist, den Zyklus der Hündin durch Induktion der Ovulation zu verkürzen, um dadurch den Einfluss von Östrogenen auf das prolabierte
Gewebe zu reduzieren. Die Vorteile der beiden therapeutischen Ansätze werden diskutiert. Interessant an diesem Fall ist, dass die konservative Therapie nicht
zum Erfolg führte. Die Ursache ist unklar.
Stress und muskuloskelettale Symptome
Authors: Boettcher Edmund
Published: February 2020

Stressbelastungen können mit muskuloskelettalen Symptomen verbunden sein oder diese sogar auslösen. Oft liegen verschiedene Ursachen zugrunde.

Die Behandlung zur Stressregulation sollte vor allem auf Entspannung und Regeneration abzielen.
Prognosefaktoren bei Katzen mit septischer Peritonitis
Authors: Betz Daniela Simon
Published: February 2020

Scotti KM, Koenigshof A, Sri-Jayantha LSH et al. Prognostic indicators in cats with septic peritonitis (2002–2015): 83 cases. Vet Emerg Crit Care 2019; 29:
647–652

Die septische Peritonitis (SP) ist eine lebensbedrohliche Erkrankung, bei der in der Regel eine Laparotomie indiziert ist. Es liegen nur wenige Informationen
zu prognostisch verwertbaren Parametern für Katzen vor. Ionisiertes Kalzium und Laktat wurden in diesem Zusammenhang in vorangegangenen Untersuchungen
beschrieben. Ziel dieser Studie war zu prüfen, inwiefern sich Befunde von Allgemein- und Laboruntersuchungen sowie Zeitintervall bis zur Operation,
empirischer Antibiotikaeinsatz und Ergebnisse der mikrobiologischen Untersuchung als Prognoseindikatoren eignen.
Peritoneallavage bei septischer Peritonitis des Hundes
Authors: Betz Daniela Simon
Published: February 2020

Marshall H, Sinnott-Stutzman V, Ewing P et al. Effect of peritoneal lavage on bacterial isolates in 40 dogs with confirmed septic peritonitis. J Vet Emerg Crit
Care 2019; 29 (6): 635–642

Septische Peritonitis (SP) ist eine Infektion der Peritonealhöhle, die häufig durch eine Ruptur im Bereich des Gastrointestinal-, Hepatobiliär- oder
Urogenitaltrakts bedingt ist. In der Humanmedizin gilt eine Peritoneallavage (PL) bei SP als nicht unumstritten, stellt dennoch eine häufig angewandte
Behandlungsmethode dar. Bei Hunden mit SP liegen nur wenige Erkenntnisse zur Zusammensetzung des bakteriellen Spektrums und der Antibiotika-Resistenzlage
bzw. deren Veränderung im Verlauf einer PL vor. Ziel dieser Studie war, die mikrobiologische Zusammensetzung, die Antibiotikasensitivität und das
Antibiotika-Resistenzmuster der Bakterien in der Bauchhöhlenflüssigkeit von Hunden mit SP vor und nach einer PL zu untersuchen.
Effektivität von Imepitoin bei Geräuschangst des Hundes
Authors: Betz Daniela Simon
Published: February 2020

Engel O, Müller HW, Klee R et al. Effectiveness of imepitoin for the control of anxiety and fear associated with noise phobia in dogs. J Vet Intern Med 2019; 33
(6): 2675–2684

Geräuschbedingte Unruhe oder Angst ist beim Hund mit einer Prävalenz von bis zu 49 % eine häufige Verhaltensveränderung. Ein Teil der betroffenen Hunde agiert
auf Geräusche mit extremen Reaktionen, die einer Phobie beim Menschen ähneln. Imepitoin, ein partieller GABAA-Agonist mit anxiolytischer und
antikonvulsiver Wirksamkeit, ist in vielen Ländern (auch Deutschland) zur Therapie der idiopathischen Epilepsie des Hundes zugelassen. Ziel dieser Studie
war, die Effektivität und Verträglichkeit von Imepitoin als Anxiolytikum bei Geräuschangst des Hundes im Vergleich zu einem Plazebo zu untersuchen.
Neurowissenschaftlich basierte Edukation zum Thema Schmerz hilft
Authors: Vielitz Arne
Published: February 2020

Watson JA, Ryan CG, Cooper L et al. Pain Neuroscience Education for Adults with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review and
Meta-Analysis. J Pain 2019; 20: 1140.e1–1140.e22. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2019.02.011. Epub 2019 Mar 1
1,2,4-Triphenylpyrroles: Synthesis, Structure and Luminescence Properties
Authors: Ferreira Joana R. M. , Nunes da Silva Raquel , Rocha João , Silva Artur M. S. , Guieu Samuel
Published: February 2020

Pyrroles are widely found in natural products and play an important role in biological processes. Certain pyrrole derivatives are fluorescent and may be used as molecular probes or biomarkers in the diagnosis of diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. Herein is reported the synthesis of five new pyrrole derivatives bearing phenyl rings on positions 1, 2, and 4, with electron-donating groups at the periphery. The introduction of more or stronger electron-donating groups red-shifts and increases the efficiency of the fluorescence emission.
NACHGEFRAGT: Brauchen wir ein Patientenrechtegesetz 2.0?
Authors: Doelfs Guntram
Published: February 2020

Die AOK will die Patientenrechte stärken. In einem Positionspapier fordert der AOK-Bundesverband unter anderem, dass Patienten umfassender als bisher informiert werden sollten und die Beweisführung für sie erleichtert werden müsste. Ärzte müssten zwingend eine Haftpflichtversicherung nachweisen. kma hat bei Stakeholdern nachgehakt.
IT-INFRASTRUKTUR: Der Explorer muss weg
Authors: Greschke Maximilian
Published: February 2020

Alle Welt redet vom Krankenhaus 4.0 – doch sind wir überhaupt schon im Krankenhaus 2.0 angekommen? Mit Blick auf die in deutschen Kliniken gängigen Webbrowser sagt kma-Gastautor Maximilian Greschke: eher nicht. Und plädiert dafür, schnellstens umzurüsten.
KÜNSTLICHE INTELLIGENZ: Algorithmen bewegen die Radiologie
Authors: Buchholz Ralf
Published: February 2020

Auch wenn die Teilnehmerzahlen seit Jahren rückläufig sind, ist das Jahrestreffen der Radiological Society of North America, kurz RSNA, in Chicago immer noch DER Ort, an dem Unternehmen ihre Neuheiten präsentieren. Ein vorherrschendes Thema war – wie bereits in den vergangenen Jahren – die Künstliche Intelligenz (KI), die 2019 eine eigene Halle bekam.
TRENDS IN DER ENDOSKOPIE: Manövrieren auf kleinstem Raum
Authors: Rößing Sabine
Published: February 2020

Künstliche Intelligenz, lernende Software, eine immer bessere Kameratechnik und Robotik eröffnen der Endoskopie immer neue Anwendungsfelder. In der Diagnostik und der schonenden Entfernung von Tumoren setzen Mediziner zunehmend auf endoskopische Techniken. Kleinste Instrumente und Kapseln erlauben sogar, in Nervenbahnen vorzudringen.
PERSONALISIERTE MEDIZIN: Die Tablette zum Ausdrucken
Authors: Kempe Lisa
Published: February 2020

Der 3D-Druck beflügelt seit einigen Jahren die Fantasie der Erfinder und Entwickler – vor allem, wenn es um maßgeschneiderte Produkte geht, etwa individuell dosierte Tabletten. Experten versprechen sich von den individualisierten Kombinationspräparaten weniger Nebenwirkungen und eine bessere Compliance der Patienten.
SEKTORENÜBERGREIFENDE VERSORGUNG: „Wie halten Sie es mit der Integrierten Versorgung?“ wird zur Gretchenfrage
Authors: Spitzer Stefan G.
Published: February 2020

Seit 20 Jahren empfiehlt die gesundheitliche Versorgungsforschung, Strukturen zur sektorenübergreifenden Kooperation zu entwickeln und auszubauen. Ebenso lange arbeiten interessensgesteuerte Beharrungskräfte einer solchen Entwicklung entgegen. Patientenwohl und Versorgungseffizienz scheinen bei diesem Gerangel aus dem Fokus zu geraten.
Dust charging in dynamic ion wakes
Authors: Matthews Lorin Swint , Sanford Dustin L. , Kostadinova Evdokiya G. , Ashrafi Khandaker Sharmin , Guay Evelyn , Hyde Truell W.
Published: February 2020

A molecular dynamics simulation of ion flow past dust grains is used to investigate the interaction between a pair of charged dust particles and streaming ions. The charging and dynamics of the grains are coupled and derived from the ion–dust interactions, allowing for detailed analysis of the ion wakefield structure and wakefield-mediated interaction as the dust particles change position. When a downstream grain oscillates vertically within the wake, it decharges by up to 30% as it approaches the upstream grain and then recharges as it recedes. There is an apparent hysteresis in charging depending on whether the grain is approaching or receding from a region of higher ion density. Maps of the ion-mediated dust–dust interaction force show that the radial extent of the wake region, which provides an attractive restoring force on the downstream particle, increases as the ion flow velocity decreases, though the restoring effect becomes weaker. As also shown in recent numerical results, there is no net attractive vertical force between the two grains. Instead, the reduced ion drag on the downstream particle allows it to “draft” in the wakefield of the upstream particle.
Talbot–Lau interferometry-based x-ray imaging system with retractable and rotatable gratings for nondestructive testing
Authors: Morimoto N. , Kimura K. , Shirai T. , Doki T. , Sano S. , Horiba A. , Kitamura K.
Published: February 2020

We develop an x-ray imaging system based on Talbot–Lau interferometry equipped with a mechanical structure for retracting and rotating gratings from the optical axis, which enables not only x-ray phase contrast imaging but also conventional x-ray imaging with high-magnification such as microcomputed tomography (μCT). We investigate the characterization of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminates using this apparatus. Microcracks and fiber orientations are visualized in the dark-field images. Compared with the obtained μCT images, the relationship between the CFRP microstructures and the contrasts in the dark-field images are recognizable.
First operation in SPIDER and the path to complete MITICA
Authors: Serianni G. , Toigo V. , Bigi M. , Boldrin M. , Chitarin G. , Dal Bello S. , Grando L. , Luchetta A. , Marcuzzi D. , Pasqualotto R. , Pomaro N. , Zaccaria P. , Zanotto L. , Agostinetti P. , Agostini M. , Antoni V. , Aprile D. , Barbisan M. , Battistella M. , Brombin M. , Canton A. , Cavazzana R. , Dalla Palma M. , Dan M. , Delogu R. , De Lorenzi A. , De Muri M. , Denizeau S. , Fadone M. , Fellin F. , Ferro A. , Gaio E. , Gambetta G. , Gasparini F. , Gnesotto F. , Jain P. , Maistrello A. , Manduchi G. , Manfrin S. , Marchiori G. , Marconato N. , Moresco M. , Patton T. , Pavei M. , Peruzzo S. , Pilan N. , Pimazzoni A. , Piovan R. , Poggi C. , Recchia M. , Rigoni A. , Rizzolo A. , Rostagni G. , Sartori E. , Siragusa M. , Sonato P. , Spada E. , Spagnolo S. , Spolaore M. , Taliercio C. , Tinti P. , Ugoletti M. , Valente M. , Zamengo A. , Zaniol B. , Zaupa M. , Cavenago M. , Boilson D. , Rotti C. , Veltri P. , Chareyre J. , Decamps H. , Dremel M. , Graceffa J. , Geli F. , Schunke B. , Svensson L. , Urbani M. , Bonicelli T. , Agarici G. , Garbuglia A. , Masiello A. , Paolucci F. , Simon M. , Bailly-Maitre L. , Bragulat E. , Gomez G. , Gutierrez D. , Labate C. , Mico G. , Moreno J. F. , Pilard V. , Kouzmenko G. , Rousseau A. , Chakraborty A. , Baruah U. , Patel H. , Singh N. P. , Patel A. , Dhola H. , Raval B. , Cristofaro S. , Fantz U. , Heinemann B. , Kraus W. , Kashiwagi M. , Tobari H.
Published: February 2020

The requirements of ITER neutral beam injectors (1 MeV, 40 A negative deuterium ion current for 1 h) have never been simultaneously attained; therefore, a dedicated Neutral Beam Test Facility (NBTF) was set up at Consorzio RFX (Padova, Italy). The NBTF includes two experiments: SPIDER (Source for the Production of Ions of Deuterium Extracted from Rf plasma), the full-scale prototype of the source of ITER injectors, with a 100 keV accelerator, to investigate and optimize the properties of the ion source; and MITICA, the full-scale prototype of the entire injector, devoted to the issues related to the accelerator, including voltage holding at low gas pressure. The present paper gives an account of the status of the procurements, of the timeline, and of the voltage holding tests and experiments for MITICA. As for SPIDER, the first year of operation is described, regarding the solution of some issues connected with the radiofrequency power, the source operation, and the characterization of the first negative ion beam.
Clozapp
Authors: Nisbet Kelly , Généreux Michel , Anderson Blake , Kuperman Victor
Published: February 2020

This paper introduces a freely available and easy to use Java application for the collection and recording of
Cloze probability ratings. Clozapp presents participants with text fragments of the researchers’ choice and collects guesses
regarding upcoming words. It can also collect basic demographic information about participants. Available modes of data collection
include elicitation of responses to a limited number of omitted words in a text or to all words in a text. Clozeapp can be
customized to present instructions and experimental stimuli in any given language and to collect multiple types of demographic
data. This paper presents the application by detailing the states and actions available, as well as descriptions of how to
customize the app to fit different experimental needs including possible input and output details. The application manual is
provided. As a proof of concept, we used Clozapp to conduct a replication study of two existing collections of Cloze probability
norms. The Clozapp norms showed strong reliable correlations (r > 0.7) with both existing data sets,
suggesting a high convergence between modes of data collection. The application provides an efficient and customizable way of
collecting predictability norms for language research.
Bladder Cancer Involving Smooth Muscle of Indeterminate Type or Muscularis Mucosae in Transurethral Biopsy Specimens
Authors: Hwang Michael J , Kamat Ashish M , Dinney Colin P , Czerniak Bogdan , Guo Charles C
Published: February 2020

Objectives

Bladder cancers invading the muscularis mucosae (MM) are treated differently from those invading the muscularis propria (MP). However, it may be difficult to determine the type of smooth muscle in transurethral resection (TUR) or biopsy specimens. We aimed to investigate the clinicopathologic features of bladder cancers involving smooth muscle of indeterminate type (SMIT) in TUR specimens in comparison with those invading the MM.

Methods

We identified 103 patients with bladder cancer involving SMIT (n = 27) or the MM (n = 76) in TUR specimens. All patients underwent subsequent restaging TUR or cystectomy.

Results

Bladder cancer with SMIT invasion showed a significantly higher rate of MP invasion in the subsequent specimens than those invading the MM (52% vs 29%). Lack of MP in the TUR specimens had a significantly higher risk of MP invasion in the subsequent specimens than those with the MP (61% vs 40%). The overall survival time for patients with SMIT invasion was significantly shorter than those with MM invasion.

Conclusions

Bladder cancers with SMIT invasion in TUR specimens show more frequent cancer upstaging in the subsequent specimens and a poorer clinical outcome than those invading the MM, which highlights the importance of a cancer restaging procedure for these patients.
The Ex-Middle Problem for Law-and-Economics
Authors: Levmore Saul
Published: February 2020

Law-and-economics has an ex-middle problem. First, there is the problem of preserving law’s deterrent power, and its ability to influence later behavior, even when it is sensible to renegotiate incentives later on. The issue is hardly limited to contract renegotiation, and the ubiquity of this kind of ex-middle thinking is examined here. Second, there is the idea that the more our thinking is driven by an ex-ante perspective, the more it distances itself from common ethical intuitions that tend to involve ex-post observations, or simply results. Solving ex-middle problems by tinkering with incentives leads to increased objections from ethically oriented audiences, who find efficiency claims unattractive when they burden individuals in the interest of future unidentifiable beneficiaries. This conflict makes it hard for law-and-economics to have its deserved influence on lawmaking. When law renegotiates with positive incentives, it reduces its ex-ante impact; when it relies on negative incentives, either ex-post or ex-middle, accompanied by a readjustment of the optimal ex-ante rule, it runs the risk of offending ethical sentiments, and then it rarely takes hold. One aim here is to draw attention to ex-middle recalibrations, and the second aim is to suggest that a law-and-economics approach is most successful when it devises efficient rules that are not at odds with ethical sentiments.
Greater basking opportunity and warmer nights during late pregnancy advance modal birth season in a live-bearing gecko, lowering the risk of reduced embryonic condition
Authors: Moore Georgia , Penniket Sophie , Cree Alison
Published: February 2020

Thermal conditions during pregnancy affect the length of gestation and phenotype of offspring in viviparous lizards. However, past studies have typically exposed females to basking treatments throughout pregnancy, meaning that effects specific to late pregnancy (including cues for parturition) or to night temperatures are poorly understood. We examined effects of thermal treatments during late-embryonic development on Woodworthia ‘Otago/Southland’, a viviparous gecko with an unusual capacity to reproduce annually or biennially. Among females from a cool-climate, biennially reproducing population, elevated levels of basking opportunity and night temperature during late summer together increased the proportion of births occurring before winter in the laboratory. Offspring born before winter also had higher mass and body condition than those born after winter. Regardless of the season, the daytime body temperature of females declined shortly before parturition (putatively assisting survival of fully developed embryos in utero), then increased immediately after parturition to match that of neonates. Overall, the combined effects of warmer days and nights could help to explain geographical variation in birth season for this species. Furthermore, climate change might shift the modal birth season at cool sites from spring to the preceding autumn, with loss of offspring mass in utero over warm winters also potentially favouring a shift in birth season over time.
Geographically dependent individual-level models for infectious diseases transmission
Authors: Mahsin M D , Deardon Rob , Brown Patrick
Published: February 2020

Infectious disease models can be of great use for understanding the underlying mechanisms that influence the spread of diseases and predicting future disease progression. Modeling has been increasingly used to evaluate the potential impact of different control measures and to guide public health policy decisions. In recent years, there has been rapid progress in developing spatio-temporal modeling of infectious diseases and an example of such recent developments is the discrete-time individual-level models (ILMs). These models are well developed and provide a common framework for modeling many disease systems; however, they assume the probability of disease transmission between two individuals depends only on their spatial separation and not on their spatial locations. In cases where spatial location itself is important for understanding the spread of emerging infectious diseases and identifying their causes, it would be beneficial to incorporate the effect of spatial location in the model. In this study, we thus generalize the ILMs to a new class of geographically dependent ILMs, to allow for the evaluation of the effect of spatially varying risk factors (e.g., education, social deprivation, environmental), as well as unobserved spatial structure, upon the transmission of infectious disease. Specifically, we consider a conditional autoregressive (CAR) model to capture the effects of unobserved spatially structured latent covariates or measurement error. This results in flexible infectious disease models that can be used for formulating etiological hypotheses and identifying geographical regions of unusually high risk to formulate preventive action. The reliability of these models is investigated on a combination of simulated epidemic data and Alberta seasonal influenza outbreak data ($2009$). This new class of models is fitted to data within a Bayesian statistical framework using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods.
Monocytes and neutrophils are associated with clinical features in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: McGill Raquel B , Steyn Frederik J , Ngo Shyuan T , Thorpe Kathryn A , Heggie Susan , Ruitenberg Marc J , Henderson Robert D , McCombe Pamela A , Woodruff Trent M
Published: February 2020

Immunity has emerged as a key player in neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, with recent studies documenting aberrant immune changes in patients and animal models. A challenging aspect of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis research is the heterogeneous nature of the disease. In this study, we investigate the associations between peripheral blood myeloid cell populations and clinical features characteristic of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Peripheral blood leukocytes from 23 healthy controls and 48 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis were analysed to measure myeloid cell alterations. The proportion of monocytes (classical, intermediates and non-classical subpopulations) and neutrophils, as well as the expression of select surface markers, were quantitated using flow cytometry. Given the heterogeneous nature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multivariable linear analyses were performed to investigate associations between patients’ myeloid profile and clinical features, such as the Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale, bulbar subscore of the Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale, change in Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale over disease duration and respiratory function. We demonstrate a shift in monocyte subpopulations in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, with the ratio of classical to non-classical monocytes increased compared with healthy controls. In line with this, patients with greater disease severity, as determined by a lower Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale score, had reduced non-classical monocytes. Interestingly, patients with greater bulbar involvement had a reduction in the proportions of classical, intermediate and non-classical monocyte populations. We also revealed several notable associations between myeloid marker expression and clinical features in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. CD16 expression on neutrophils was increased in patients with greater disease severity and a faster rate of disease progression, whereas HLA-DR expression on all monocyte populations was elevated in patients with greater respiratory impairment. This study demonstrates that patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with distinct clinical features have differential myeloid cell signatures. Identified cell populations and markers may be candidates for targeted mechanistic studies and immunomodulation therapies in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Temporal Patterns of Emergence and Spatial Distribution of Sulcal Pits During Fetal Life
Authors: Yun Hyuk Jin , Vasung Lana , Tarui Tomo , Rollins Caitlin K , Ortinau Cynthia M , Grant P Ellen , Im Kiho
Published: February 2020

Sulcal pits are thought to represent the first cortical folds of primary sulci during neurodevelopment. The uniform spatial distribution of sulcal pits across individuals is hypothesized to be predetermined by a human-specific protomap which is related to functional localization under genetic controls in early fetal life. Thus, it is important to characterize temporal and spatial patterns of sulcal pits in the fetal brain that would provide additional information of functional development of the human brain and crucial insights into abnormal cortical maturation. In this paper, we investigated temporal patterns of emergence and spatial distribution of sulcal pits using 48 typically developing fetal brains in the second half of gestation. We found that the position and spatial variance of sulcal pits in the fetal brain are similar to those in the adult brain, and they are also temporally uniform against dynamic brain growth during fetal life. Furthermore, timing of pit emergence shows a regionally diverse pattern that may be associated with the subdivisions of the protomap. Our findings suggest that sulcal pits in the fetal brain are useful anatomical landmarks containing detailed information of functional localization in early cortical development and maintaining their spatial distribution throughout the human lifetime.
Early Life Stress, Frontoamygdala Connectivity, and Biological Aging in Adolescence: A Longitudinal Investigation
Authors: Miller Jonas G , Ho Tiffany C , Humphreys Kathryn L , King Lucy S , Foland-Ross Lara C , Colich Natalie L , Ordaz Sarah J , Lin Jue , Gotlib Ian H
Published: February 2020

Early life stress (ELS) may accelerate frontoamygdala development related to socioemotional processing, serving as a potential source of resilience. Whether this circuit is associated with other proposed measures of accelerated development is unknown. In a sample of young adolescents, we examined the relations among ELS, frontoamygdala circuitry during viewing of emotional faces, cellular aging as measured by telomere shortening, and pubertal tempo. We found that greater cumulative severity of ELS was associated with stronger negative coupling between bilateral centromedial amygdala and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, a pattern that may reflect more mature connectivity. More negative frontoamygdala coupling (for distinct amygdala subdivisions) was associated with slower telomere shortening and pubertal tempo over 2 years. These potentially protective associations of negative frontoamygdala connectivity were most pronounced in adolescents who had been exposed to higher ELS. Our findings provide support for the formulation that ELS accelerates maturation of frontoamygdala connectivity and provide novel evidence that this neural circuitry confers protection against accelerated biological aging, particularly for adolescents who have experienced higher ELS. Although negative frontoamygdala connectivity may be an adaptation to ELS, frontoamygdala connectivity, cellular aging, and pubertal tempo do not appear to be measures of the same developmental process.
Serious Infectious Events and Immunoglobulin Replacement Therapy in Patients With Autoimmune Disease Receiving Rituximab: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Stabler Sarah , Giovannelli Jonathan , Launay David , Cotteau-Leroy Angélique , Heusele Marion , Lefèvre Guillaume , Terriou Louis , Lambert Marc , Dubucquoi Sylvain , Hachulla Eric , Sobanski Vincent
Published: February 2020

Background

Rituximab (RTX) is widely administered to patients with autoimmune disease (AID). This study aimed to estimate the incidence of serious infectious events (SIEs) after RTX initiation in patients with AID. We also described the characteristics and risk factors of SIEs, and immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IgRT) strategies.

Methods

Patients treated between 2005 and 2016 were included in this retrospective monocentric cohort study. An RTX course was defined as the complete RTX treatment regimen received by a given patient for AID. SIEs and IgRT were right-censored at 24 months after RTX initiation.

Results

Two hundred twenty-one patients were included (corresponding to 276 RTX courses). Reasons for RTX initiation included connective tissue disease (38%), systemic vasculitis (36%), and autoimmune cytopenia (22%). The 1- and 2-year incidences of SIEs were 17.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.0–22.5) and 11.3 (95% CI, 8.1–14.5) per 100 person-years, respectively. Forty-seven SIEs were observed, mostly comprising pneumonias (45%) and bacteremias (21%). When documented, the microorganisms were bacterial (55%) and fungal (12%). Identified risk factors of SIEs were age, history of diabetes, history of cancer, concomitant steroid treatment, and low CD4 lymphocyte count at RTX initiation. IgRT was started in 22 RTX courses (8%).

Conclusions

In patients with AID treated with RTX, the 1- and 2-year incidence of SIE was 17.3 and 11.3 per 100 person-years, respectively. Reports of SIE characteristics, risk factors, and IgRT strategies highlight the need for an appropriate and individualized assessment prior to and following RTX to prevent SIEs, particularly in patients with comorbidities.
Modeling Combination Hepatitis C Virus Treatment and Prevention Strategies in a Network of People Who Inject Drugs in the United States
Authors: Zelenev Alexei , Li Jianghong , Shea Portia , Hecht Robert , Altice Frederick L
Published: February 2020

Background

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment as prevention (TasP) strategies can contribute to HCV microelimination, yet complimentary interventions such as opioid agonist therapies (OAT) with methadone or buprenorphine and syringe services programs (SSPs) may improve the prevention impact. This modeling study estimates the impact of scaling up the combination of OAT and SSPs with HCV TasP in a network of people who inject drugs (PWID) in the United States.

Methods

Using empirical data from Hartford, Connecticut, we deployed a stochastic block model to simulate an injection network of 1574 PWID. We used a susceptible-infected model for HCV and human immunodeficiency virus to evaluate the effectiveness of several HCV TasP strategies, including in combination with OAT and SSP scale-up, over 20 years.

Results

At the highest HCV prevalence (75%), when OAT coverage is increased from 10% to 40%, combined with HCV treatment of 10% per year and SSP scale up to 40%, the time to achieve microelimination is reduced from 18.4 to 11.6 years. At the current HCV prevalence (60%), HCV TasP strategies as low as 10% coverage per year may achieve HCV microelimination within 10 years, with minimal impact from additional OAT scale-up. Strategies based on mass initial HCV treatment (50 per 100 PWID the first year followed by 5 per 100 PWID thereafter) were most effective in settings with HCV prevalence of 60% or lower.

Conclusions

Scale-up of HCV TasP is the most effective strategy for microelimination of HCV. OAT scale-up, however, scale-up may be synergistic toward achieving microelimination goals when HCV prevalence exceeds 60% and when HCV treatment coverage is 10 per 100 PWID per year or lower.
Time-Course of Grammatical Processing in Deaf Readers: An Eye-Movement Study
Authors: Gómez-Merino Nadina , Fajardo Inmaculada , Ferrer Antonio , Arfé Barbara
Published: February 2020

Twenty participants who were deaf and 20 chronological age-matched participants with typical hearing (TH) (mean age: 12 years) were asked to judge the correctness of written sentences with or without a grammatically incongruent word while their eye movements were registered. TH participants outperformed deaf participants in grammaticality judgment accuracy. For both groups, First Pass and Total Fixation Times of target words in correct trials were significantly longer in the incongruent condition than in the congruent one. However, whereas TH students showed longer First Pass in the target area than deaf students across congruity conditions, deaf students made more fixations than their TH controls. Syntactic skills, vocabulary, and word reading speeds (measured with additional tests) were significantly lower in deaf students but only syntactic skills were systematically associated to the time-course of congruity processing. These results suggest that syntactic skills could have a cascading effect in sentence processing for deaf readers.
Probabilistic forecasting of bubbles and flash crashes
Authors: Banerjee Anurag , Chevillon Guillaume , Kratz Marie
Published: February 2020

We propose a near-explosive random coefficient autoregressive model (NERC) to obtain predictive probabilities of the apparition and devolution of bubbles. The distribution of the autoregressive coefficient of this model is allowed to be centred at an O(T−α) distance of unity, with α ∈ (0, 1). When the expectation of the autoregressive coefficient lies on the explosive side of unity, the NERC helps to model the temporary explosiveness of time series and obtain related predictive probabilities. We study the asymptotic properties of the NERC and provide a procedure for inference on the parameters. In empirical illustrations, we estimate predictive probabilities of bubbles or flash crashes in financial asset prices.