bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research status of replacement gases for SF6 in power industry
Authors: Tian Shuangshuang , Zhang Xiaoxing , Cressault Yann , Hu Juntai , Wang Bo , Xiao Song , Li Yi , Kabbaj Narjisse
Published: May 2020

SF6 is widely used in the industrial field due to its stable structure and excellent properties. It is mainly used in electrical insulation equipment. Due to the boiling point of SF6, its use in extremely cold regions has been limited. It is harmful to the health of practitioners due to the toxicity of decomposition products. The gas has limited its wider use because of its strong greenhouse effect. As a result, researchers and electrical equipment manufacturing companies around the world are gradually searching for new environmentally friendly gases and have conducted research and exploration on theory and experiment. In this paper, the current status and existing problems of SF6 are summarized. The research contents and research methods of SF6 alternative gas direction are reviewed from the aspects of insulation performance, interrupter performance, and decomposition performance. The existing research results of the natural gas, SF6 mixed gas, perfluorocarbons, and CnFmX gas are summarized, and the future development trend of alternative gas for SF6 in the electrical industry is proposed.
Electron scattering at Co(0001) surfaces: Effects of Ti and TiN capping layers
Authors: Milosevic Erik , Gall Daniel
Published: May 2020

In situ transport measurements on epitaxial 7.6-nm-thick Co(0001)/Al2O3(0001) films with and without Ti and TiN capping layers during O2 exposure are used to investigate the effects of surface chemistry on electron scattering at Co(0001) surfaces. The Co sheet resistance Rs increases with increasing thickness dTi and dTiN of the Ti and TiN capping layers, saturating at 8% and 31% above the uncoated Co(0001) for dTi > 0.2 nm and dTiN > 0.1 nm, respectively. This increase is attributed to electron scattering into local surface states, which is less pronounced for Ti than TiN. In situ resistance measurements taken during a continuously increasing O2 partial pressure from 0 Pa to 40 Pa indicate a relatively steep 24% increase in Rs at an exposure of ∼50 Pa s, which can be attributed to Co surface oxidation that leads to atomic level roughness and a decrease in the electron scattering specularity p. Ti and TiN cap layers with dTi ≥ 0.5 nm and dTiN ≥ 0.13 nm exhibit no resistance change upon air exposure, indicating suppression of Co oxidation. These results indicate a promising Co–Ti interface with an electron scattering specularity of p = 0.4–0.5, which is retained during oxygen exposure, while, in contrast, electron scattering at the Co–TiN interface is completely diffuse (p = 0), suggesting that Ti barrier layers facilitate higher-conductivity Co interconnects than TiN barriers, as long as the Ti layer is sufficiently thick (dTi ≥ 0.5 nm) to suppress Co oxidation.
Overview of microfabricated bolometers with vertically aligned carbon nanotube absorbers
Authors: Tomlin N. A. , Yung C. S. , Castleman Z. , Denoual M. , Drake G. , Farber N. , Harber D. , Heuerman K. , Kopp G. , Passe H. , Richard E. , Rutkowski J. , Sprunck J. , Stephens M. , Straatsma C. , Van Dreser S. , Vayshenker I. , White M. G. , Woods S. I. , Zheng W. , Lehman J. H.
Published: May 2020

Multi-wall vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) are nearly ideal absorbers due to their exceptionally low reflectance over a broad wavelength range. Integrating VACNTs as bolometer absorbers, however, can be difficult due to their high growth temperature and fragile nature. Despite these challenges, we have microfabricated many different types of VACNT bolometers, ranging from cryogenic optical power primary standards to room temperature satellite-based solar irradiance monitors and broadband infrared microbolometers. Advantages our VACNT bolometers provide over the bolometers they replace vary by application, but can be reduced size and time constant, increased absorption, and/or microfabrication instead of hand assembly. Depending on the application and operating conditions, our VACNT bolometers are designed with a variety of thermistors and weak thermal links. The thermistors used include commercial surface mount chips, superconducting transition-edge sensors, and vanadium oxide (VOx). Weak thermal links include silicon nitride (SiNx) membranes, Si bridges, and laser-cut polyimide. We summarize a wide variety of microfabricated bolometers with VACNT absorbers that measure optical power levels spanning over seven orders of magnitude.
Effects of growth temperature on electrical properties of GaN/AlN based resonant tunneling diodes with peak current density up to 1.01 MA/cm2
Authors: Cornuelle Evan M. , Growden Tyler A. , Storm David F. , Brown Elliott R. , Zhang Weidong , Downey Brian P. , Gokhale Vikrant , Ruppalt Laura B. , Champlain James G. , Peri Prudhvi , McCartney Martha R. , Smith David J. , Meyer David J. , Berger Paul R.
Published: May 2020

Identical GaN/AlN resonant tunneling diode structures were grown on free-standing bulk GaN at substrate temperatures of 760 °C, 810 °C, 860 °C, and 900 °C via plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. Each sample displayed negative differential resistance (NDR) at room temperature. The figures-of-merit quantified were peak-to-valley current ratio (PVCR), yield of the device with room-temperature NDR, and peak current density (Jp). The figures-of-merit demonstrate an inverse relationship between PVCR/yield and Jp over this growth temperature series. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were used to determine the growth rates, and layer thicknesses were used to explain the varying figures-of-merit. Due to the high yield of devices grown at 760 °C and 810 °C, the PVCR, peak voltage (Vp), and Jp were plotted vs device area, which demonstrated high uniformity and application tunability. Peak current densities of up to 1.01 MA/cm2 were observed for the sample grown at 900 °C.
Design to prediction tools for banana maturity based on image processing
Authors: Sandra  , Prayogi I Y , Damayanti R , Djoyowasito G
Published: May 2020

Image processing is a method to process image become information consisted of phisycal condition of product. Image processing applications in agriculture are currently developing very rapidly, especially for the prediction of fruit quality and maturity. The purpose of this study is to design a tool to predict the maturity of bananas. The type of banana used in this study isbarlinbanana (Musa paradisiaca. L) with maturity levels 1, 3, 5 and 7. While the image processing characteristics use data R, G and B which are captured by the TCS3200 sensor. From a number of experiments, a distinguishing factor is obtained for the RGB value for each level of maturity, maturity 1 with the value of G> B; maturity 3 with Value R> G, Value (R-G) <9 and G Value ⩾ 142; maturity 5 with a value of R> G, a value of 9 ⩽ (R-G) and a value of G ⩾ 142; maturity 7 with a value of R> G and a value of 142 ⩾ G. The results of the prediction of the banana maturity using this tool for maturity 1 accuracy prediction 100%, maturity 3 accuracy predictions 80%, maturity 5n accuracy prediction 100% and maturity 7 accuracy predictions 60%.
Effect of brewing time and duration of listening to Mozart’s symphony on emotions and sensory perception of Wonosari green tea
Authors: Fibrianto K , Izza A , Caharanis P D G , Hasyati N , Wulandari E S
Published: May 2020

Mind and body relaxation can be stimulated by consuming tea and enjoying music. While green tea contains L-theanin which stimulate relaxation, music in general may change moods and emotions. This current study aims to determine the effect of listening to Mozart’s symphony number 6.K.43 at fundamental tone F music on emotion and sensory perception when consuming green tea. Three brewing durations (1, 3 and 5 minutes), 3 levels of listening time to the music (1, 3, and 5 minutes) with 4 different treatment techniques. There were 14 trained panellists involved in the study and they were asked to assess 15 sensory attributes including taste, flavour and mouth-feel of Wonosari green tea on Spectrum method. In general it can be concluded that the music mostly enhance the intensity of sensory attributes (p-value<0.05). It is also important to note that positive emotions improved when respondents listening to Mozart’s regardless the duration of listening.
Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L. var. rubra L.) flour proportion and oven temperature affect the physicochemical characteristics of beetroot cookies
Authors: Aulia F , Sunarharum W B
Published: May 2020

Red beetroot (Beta vulgaris L. var. rubra L.) is one of the agricultural commodities that is very beneficial for human health, one of the benefits is to facilitate the transport of nutrients throughout the body and maintain the number of red blood cells. However, the utilization of red beetroot commodities is still limited, especially in Indonesia. For this reason, innovation is required in the manufacture of red beetroot derivative products. This study aims to know the effect of beetroot flour proportion and oven temperature on the physicochemical characteristics of beetroot cookies. This study was conducted by using Factorial Randomized Block Design consisting of two treatment factors, i.e. proportion of beet flour (10%, 15%, and 20%) and oven temperature (160°C, 170°C, and 180°C) in three replicates. Statistical analysis was performed using Minitab 17. Best treatment was selected by Multiple Attribute method. The results showed that the factor of increasing the proportion of beetroot powder and oven temperature had a significant effect on lightness, redness, yellowness, hardness, fracturability, moisture content, and crude fiber of the cookies. The interaction between the two factors of beetroot powder proportion and oven temperature was significantly (α=0.05) affecting the brightness, redness, and yellowness, and crude fiber, but did not significantly affect hardness, fracturability, and moisture content. Best treatment was the cookies made of 15% proportion of beetroot and 180°C of oven temperature that contains potassium of 476.16 mg / kg, magnesium of 2045.76 mg / kg, and phosphorus (P) of 2801.6 mg / kg.
Investigation of several surfactant use strategies to improve the hydrolysis of glucan in newspaper
Authors: Vaurs L-P , Heaven S , Banks Charles
Published: May 2020

Newspaper represent a large quantity of a relatively cheap and available source of lignocellulose. Newspaper could enzymatically be hydrolysed into fermentable sugars for further bioethanol or biochemical production. Low glucan conversions (20-50%) have been generally found in literature, thus this led to the investigations of multiple pre-treatments to improve sugars release. Surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), Tween 80 and polyethylene glycol represent a relatively low-cost pre-treatment to improve newspaper hydrolysability. Several surfactants use strategies were tested using the 3 products mentioned earlier. A simple mass, cost and energy model was developed to determine the optimum surfactant pre-treatment. SDS wash using 0.5% SDS based on total solids (TS) gave the most promising results: it released 82 kg of the cheapest produced sugars (0.7£ kg-1 sugar).
Biosurfactants production using glucose and molasses as carbon sources by Azotobacter vinelandii and soil washing application in hydrocarbon-contaminated soil
Authors: Devianto L A , Latunussa C E L , Helmy Q , Kardena E
Published: May 2020

The purpose of this research was to understand the influence of carbon source variation in the biosurfactant production by Azotobacter vinelandii as well as its potential application on remediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil by soil washing. The growth microorganism, biosurfactant quantity in exopolysaccharide and fatty acid fraction were examined. The quality of biosurfactant was analysed by emulsification index. The results show that biggest production was occurred at the 48th hour with μmax1 = 0.416/hour, μmax2 = 0.093/hour and Ks1 = 6.55 g/L, Ks2 = 4.69 g/L for glucose and molasses substrate respectively. Biosurfactant product of Azotobacter vinelandii in glucose 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, and 3% showed emulsification index as much as 100%. While, emulsification index of the biosurfactant produced with molasses reached 100% within 1%, 1.5%, and 2% molasse concentration. These results showed that molasses has potential utilization as carbon source in biosurfactant production. In soil washing application, Biosurfactant and Tween 80 were used as emulsifier to removed Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) by contacting in conical flask at rotary shaker. The results showed that highest removal achieved by using biosurfactant up to 48.89% which occurred at 100 rpm for 40 minutes.
A study of the effect of calcium chloride (CaCl2) and pH on the flocculation ability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (NCYC 1195)
Authors: Pienasthika M , Brahmanti A A , Purwatiningrum I , Wardani A K
Published: May 2020

The best fermentation ability of yeast-forming flock species is highly desirable in the bioethanol production process. Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC 1195 is known to have the ability to form flock which is influenced by the concentration of calcium chloride (CaCl2) and pH. This is because calcium ions can form bonds with mannose on the surface of the cell wall of S. cerevisiae, while the degree of acidity will affect the charges of specific protein on the cell wall. The ability of flocculation will precipitate S. cerevisiae cells so that they will not be mixed with fermentation medium. Thus, the separation process of cell and fermentation media can be done quickly and efficiently, without expensive centrifugation step. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of CaCl2 concentration and pH that used to determine the ability and stability of the flock of S. cerevisiae. Three concentration of CaCl2 (10-5, 10-7, 10-9 M) were used as well as three variations of pH (4,5,6). Culture was incubated at 30°C with 100 rpm agitation and analysed for flocculation ability every 4 hours during 24 hours. The stability of the flock was analysed every 24 hours during 30 days. The highest flock formation ability (73.15%) was obtained with the concentration of CaCl2 concentration 10-9 M and pH 5.
Experimental study of the effect of phase mismatch on a CW-pumped cascaded quadratic nonlinear frequency comb
Authors: Ulvila Ville , Vainio Markku
Published: May 2020

Optical frequency comb generation by continuous-wave-pumped cascaded quadratic nonlinearities (CQN) appears a promising alternative to well-established modelocked lasers, especially if access to the mid-infrared spectral region is needed. We report an experimental investigation of spectral properties of a CQN frequency comb, which is based on second-harmonic generation (SHG) and is pumped internally by a continuous-wave optical parametric oscillator. Our study focuses on SHG phase mismatch, which has drawn little attention in the previously reported CQN frequency comb research. The main observation of our study is that it is possible to improve spectral purity of the CQN frequency comb by adjusting the phase mismatch. In addition to the CQN process that generates a frequency comb in the near-infrared region, our experimental setup involves several other nonlinear processes. These processes lead to a composite comb, which extends from visible to mid-infrared.
An Avatar-Led Intervention Promotes Smoking Cessation in Young Adults: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Karekla Maria , Savvides Stella Nicoleta , Gloster Andrew
Published: May 2020

Background

Smoking remains a global concern, especially for young adults. There is a dearth of smoking cessation programs for this population, who seldom seek help or are motivated to quit.

Purpose

This pilot study assessed the effectiveness of a digital avatar-led Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) smoking cessation program (Flexiquit) for young adult smokers at all levels of motivation to quit.

Methods

Smokers with no particular interest in quitting smoking (65.45% reported being in pre-contemplation or contemplation stages of change) were recruited from three universities (105 smoking ≥ 1 cigarette per day during the past 30 days, 68 females). Those who completed questionnaires online (N = 84; M = 22.44 years, SD = 2.61, range 18–28 years old) were randomized to either a six-session avatar-led intervention (Flexiquit; N = 49) or a wait-list control (N = 35). Primary outcomes included cessation status (7-day point prevalence) and number of cigarettes smoked per day; secondary outcomes were nicotine dependence, intention-to-quit smoking and self-efficacy, assessed at pre- and post-intervention, and only for Flexiquit at 6-month follow-up.

Results

In intention-to-treat analysis more participants (OR = 3.10, 95% CI = 0.92–10.41) in the treatment group (28.57%) versus the control group (11.43%) reported quitting smoking; however, the difference was not statistically significant (p = .067). There were statistically significant decreases in average number of cigarettes, nicotine dependence and increases in self-efficacy, and intention-to-quit smoking compared to controls. Treatment gains in the Flexiquit group were maintained through the 6-month follow-up.

Conclusions

An avatar-led digitized smoking cessation intervention based on ACT could increase the odds of quitting smoking. Findings suggest that a digitized program designed to engage young adults in smoking cessation may result in quitting smoking and has a high applicability potential especially among the hard-to-reach population of young adults.

Question

Can an avatar-led digitized Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) smoking cessation intervention result in quitting smoking and increasing intention to quit among young smokers at various levels of motivation to quit, compared to a wait-list control group?

Findings

In this pilot randomized clinical trial that included 84 smokers, 28.57% in the treatment condition versus 11.43% in the wait-list control group were abstinent at post (intention-to-treat [ITT] analysis). An avatar-led digitized ACT smoking cessation intervention results in high quitting smoking rates and has a high applicability potential especially among the hard-to-reach population of young adult smokers.
Orchid conservation: from theory to practice
Authors: Phillips Ryan D , Reiter Noushka , Peakall Rod
Published: May 2020

Background

Given the exceptional diversity of orchids (26 000+ species), improving strategies for the conservation of orchids will benefit a vast number of taxa. Furthermore, with rapidly increasing numbers of endangered orchids and low success rates in orchid conservation translocation programmes worldwide, it is evident that our progress in understanding the biology of orchids is not yet translating into widespread effective conservation.

Scope

We highlight unusual aspects of the reproductive biology of orchids that can have important consequences for conservation programmes, such as specialization of pollination systems, low fruit set but high seed production, and the potential for long-distance seed dispersal. Further, we discuss the importance of their reliance on mycorrhizal fungi for germination, including quantifying the incidence of specialized versus generalized mycorrhizal associations in orchids. In light of leading conservation theory and the biology of orchids, we provide recommendations for improving population management and translocation programmes.

Conclusions

Major gains in orchid conservation can be achieved by incorporating knowledge of ecological interactions, for both generalist and specialist species. For example, habitat management can be tailored to maintain pollinator populations and conservation translocation sites selected based on confirmed availability of pollinators. Similarly, use of efficacious mycorrhizal fungi in propagation will increase the value of ex situ collections and likely increase the success of conservation translocations. Given the low genetic differentiation between populations of many orchids, experimental genetic mixing is an option to increase fitness of small populations, although caution is needed where cytotypes or floral ecotypes are present. Combining demographic data and field experiments will provide knowledge to enhance management and translocation success. Finally, high per-fruit fecundity means that orchids offer powerful but overlooked opportunities to propagate plants for experiments aimed at improving conservation outcomes. Given the predictions of ongoing environmental change, experimental approaches also offer effective ways to build more resilient populations.
QDeep: distance-based protein model quality estimation by residue-level ensemble error classifications using stacked deep residual neural networks
Authors: Shuvo Md Hossain , Bhattacharya Sutanu , Bhattacharya Debswapna
Published: May 2020

Motivation

Protein model quality estimation, in many ways, informs protein structure prediction. Despite their tight coupling, existing model quality estimation methods do not leverage inter-residue distance information or the latest technological breakthrough in deep learning that has recently revolutionized protein structure prediction.

Results

We present a new distance-based single-model quality estimation method called QDeep by harnessing the power of stacked deep residual neural networks (ResNets). Our method first employs stacked deep ResNets to perform residue-level ensemble error classifications at multiple predefined error thresholds, and then combines the predictions from the individual error classifiers for estimating the quality of a protein structural model. Experimental results show that our method consistently outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods including ProQ2, ProQ3, ProQ3D, ProQ4, 3DCNN, MESHI, and VoroMQA in multiple independent test datasets across a wide-range of accuracy measures; and that predicted distance information significantly contributes to the improved performance of QDeep.

Availability and implementation

https://github.com/Bhattacharya-Lab/QDeep.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Phylogenetic double placement of mixed samples
Authors: Balaban Metin , Mirarab Siavash
Published: May 2020

Motivation

Consider a simple computational problem. The inputs are (i) the set of mixed reads generated from a sample that combines two organisms and (ii) separate sets of reads for several reference genomes of known origins. The goal is to find the two organisms that constitute the mixed sample. When constituents are absent from the reference set, we seek to phylogenetically position them with respect to the underlying tree of the reference species. This simple yet fundamental problem (which we call phylogenetic double-placement) has enjoyed surprisingly little attention in the literature. As genome skimming (low-pass sequencing of genomes at low coverage, precluding assembly) becomes more prevalent, this problem finds wide-ranging applications in areas as varied as biodiversity research, food production and provenance, and evolutionary reconstruction.

Results

We introduce a model that relates distances between a mixed sample and reference species to the distances between constituents and reference species. Our model is based on Jaccard indices computed between each sample represented as k-mer sets. The model, built on several assumptions and approximations, allows us to formalize the phylogenetic double-placement problem as a non-convex optimization problem that decomposes mixture distances and performs phylogenetic placement simultaneously. Using a variety of techniques, we are able to solve this optimization problem numerically. We test the resulting method, called MIxed Sample Analysis tool (MISA), on a varied set of simulated and biological datasets. Despite all the assumptions used, the method performs remarkably well in practice.

Availability and implementation

The software and data are available at https://github.com/balabanmetin/misa and https://github.com/balabanmetin/misa-data.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Fully interpretable deep learning model of transcriptional control
Authors: Liu Yi , Barr Kenneth , Reinitz John
Published: May 2020

Motivation

The universal expressibility assumption of Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) is the key motivation behind recent worksin the systems biology community to employDNNs to solve important problems in functional genomics and moleculargenetics. Typically, such investigations have taken a ‘black box’ approach in which the internal structure of themodel used is set purely by machine learning considerations with little consideration of representing the internalstructure of the biological system by the mathematical structure of the DNN. DNNs have not yet been applied to thedetailed modeling of transcriptional control in which mRNA production is controlled by the binding of specific transcriptionfactors to DNA, in part because such models are in part formulated in terms of specific chemical equationsthat appear different in form from those used in neural networks.

Results

In this paper, we give an example of a DNN whichcan model the detailed control of transcription in a precise and predictive manner. Its internal structure is fully interpretableand is faithful to underlying chemistry of transcription factor binding to DNA. We derive our DNN from asystems biology model that was not previously recognized as having a DNN structure. Although we apply our DNNto data from the early embryo of the fruit fly Drosophila, this system serves as a test bed for analysis of much larger datasets obtained by systems biology studies on a genomic scale. .

Availability and implementation

The implementation and data for the models used in this paper are in a zip file in the supplementary material.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Rapid Analysis of Four Amphetamines in Urine by Self-Made Pipette-Tip Solid-Phase Extraction Followed by GC-MS/MS
Authors: Shi Jia-Wei , Zhou Jing-Feng , He Xiong , Zhang Yun
Published: May 2020

A simple and rapid pipette-tip solid-phase extraction (PT-SPE) procedure with derivatization prior to gas chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry analysis is developed for the simultaneous determination of amphetamine (AMP), methamphetamine (MA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in urine samples. The PT-SPE procedure using self-made sorbent could extract drugs within 6 min from 100-μL urine samples, requiring low solvent-consumption (<2.0 mL). Besides, the self-made pipette tip could be reused at least five times. Under optimized conditions, the recoveries of four amphetamines at spiked levels (low, medium and high) ranged from 87.7 to 110.4%, with relative standard deviations < 9.5%. The limit of detections and limit of quantifications for AMP, MA, MDA and MDMA were in the range of 2.52–8.25 ng⋅mL−1 and 8.4–27.5 ng⋅mL−1, respectively. Validation results show that the proposed method is suitable for the quantitation of amphetamines and has been successfully applied in the urine samples of suspected drug abusers.
Ketones can become the major fuel source for the heart but do not increase cardiac efficiency
Authors: Ho Kim L , Karwi Qutuba G , Wagg Cory , Zhang Liyan , Vo Katherina , Altamimi Tariq , Uddin Golam M , Ussher John R , Lopaschuk Gary D
Published: May 2020

Aims

Ketones have been proposed to be a ‘thrifty’ fuel for the heart and increasing cardiac ketone oxidation can be cardioprotective. However, it is unclear how much ketone oxidation can contribute to energy production in the heart, nor whether increasing ketone oxidation increases cardiac efficiency. Therefore, our goal was to determine to what extent high levels of the ketone body, β-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB), contributes to cardiac energy production, and whether this influences cardiac efficiency.

Methods and results

Isolated working mice hearts were aerobically perfused with palmitate (0.8 mM or 1.2 mM), glucose (5 mM) and increasing concentrations of βOHB (0, 0.6, 2.0 mM). Subsequently, oxidation of these substrates, cardiac function, and cardiac efficiency were assessed. Increasing βOHB concentrations increased myocardial ketone oxidation rates without affecting glucose or fatty acid oxidation rates where normal physiological levels of glucose (5 mM) and fatty acid (0.8 mM) are present. Notably, ketones became the major fuel source for the heart at 2.0 mM βOHB (at both low or high fatty acid concentrations), with the elevated ketone oxidation rates markedly increasing tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle activity, producing a large amount of reducing equivalents and finally, increasing myocardial oxygen consumption. However, the marked increase in ketone oxidation at high concentrations of βOHB was not accompanied by an increase in cardiac work, suggesting that a mismatch between excess reduced equivalents production from ketone oxidation and cardiac adenosine triphosphate production. Consequently, cardiac efficiency decreased when the heart was exposed to higher ketone levels.

Conclusions

We demonstrate that while ketones can become the major fuel source for the heart, they do not increase cardiac efficiency, which also underscores the importance of recognizing ketones as a major fuel source for the heart in times of starvation, consumption of a ketogenic diet or poorly controlled diabetes.
RGPDB: database of root-associated genes and promoters in maize, soybean, and sorghum
Authors: Moisseyev Gleb , Park Kiyoul , Cui Alix , Freitas Daniel , Rajagopal Divith , Konda Anji Reddy , Martin-Olenski Madalayne , Mcham Mackenzie , Liu Kan , Du Qian , Schnable James C , Moriyama Etsuko N , Cahoon Edgar B , Zhang Chi
Published: May 2020

Root-associated genes play an important role in plants. Despite the fact that there have been studies on root biology, information on genes that are specifically expressed or upregulated in roots is poorly collected. There exist very few databases dedicated to genes and promoters associated with root biology, preventing effective root-related studies. Therefore, we analyzed multiple types of omics data to identify root-associated genes in maize, soybean, and sorghum and constructed a comprehensive online database of these genes and their promoter sequences. This database creates a pivotal platform capable of stimulating and facilitating further studies on manipulating root growth and development.
The Role of Psychological and Social Well-being on Physical Function Trajectories in Older Adults
Authors: Saadeh Marguerita , Welmer Anna-Karin , Dekhtyar Serhiy , Fratiglioni Laura , Calderón-Larrañaga Amaia
Published: May 2020

Background

Psychological and social well-being are emerging as major determinants in preserving health in old age. We aimed to explore the association between these factors and the rate of decline in physical function over time in older adults.

Methods

Data were gathered from the Swedish National study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K). The study population consisted of 1,153 non-demented, community-dwelling men and women free from multimorbidity or impairments in basic or instrumental activities of daily living at baseline. They were followed over 12 years to capture the rate of decline in physical function, which was measured by combining data on walking speed, balance, and chair stands. The association between baseline psychological and social well-being and decline in physical function was estimated through linear mixed models, after multiple adjustments including personality and depressive symptoms.

Results

Higher levels of psychological (β = .007; p = .037) and social (β = .008; p = .043) well-being were significantly associated with a decreased rate of decline in physical function over the follow-up. There was a significant three-way interaction between psychological well-being*time*sex (female vs male) (β = .015; p = .047), showing that a slower decline in physical function was observed only among women and not in men. The association was strongest for individuals with high levels of both psychological and social well-being (β = .012; p = .019).

Conclusion

High levels of psychological and social well-being may slow down the age-related decline in physical function, which confirms the complexity of older adults’ health, but also points towards new preventative strategies.
The compatibility of open/free licences: a legal imbroglio
Authors: Bernelin Margo
Published: May 2020

Thirty years ago, in February 1989, the first ‘free licence’ was created: the GNU-GPL licence. Since then the number of free and open licences has grown exponentially with both private and public actors publishing their own legal document. In plain language, a licence is a document that grants a permission to do something, to perform an action. When it comes to licences covering a creation (eg a software), such a document is a contract listing the permissions and prohibitions, ie the rights and obligations of both the licensor and the licensee with regard to the creation. Usually, such licences include an extensive list of permissions and some prohibitions. However, this list of authorizations and prohibitions might defer from one licence to another, creating thus compatibility issues among them. Moreover, some licences might contradict the licensee’s domestic law. As a result, the reliance on open/free licences covered content for Big Data analysis is in a legal jeopardy. This article will review those difficulties and critically analyse the legal and technical remedies to it.
Driving Impairment Cases Involving Etizolam and Flubromazolam
Authors: Rohrig Timothy P , Osawa Kei A , Baird Tyson R , Youso Kimberly B
Published: May 2020

This study describes 12 cases of drivers stopped for impaired driving, where a designer benzodiazepine was detected, specifically etizolam or flubromazolam. Etizolam was detected in three cases, with blood concentrations ranging from 40 to 330 ng/mL. Two of these cases had low concentrations of methamphetamine and/or amphetamine, and in the third case tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was detected. Flubromazolam was detected in nine cases; in all cases, at least one other drug was detected, with THC being the most prevalent. The mean blood concentration of flubromazolam was 16.3 ng/mL and had a median concentration of 17.0 ng/mL, ranging from 7.0 to 31 ng/mL. The low concentrations of designer benzodiazepines that produce pharmacological effects may allow many of these drugs to go undetected using routine testing in laboratories; therefore, it is necessary to include these novel compounds within validated analytical methods to reduce the chance of reporting false negative results. The prevalence in which laboratories are detecting the presence of novel benzodiazepines in impaired drivers illustrates the increased threat to public safety. These case studies demonstrate the importance of investigating agencies and forensic laboratories to be vigilant in monitoring the emerging novel psychoactive substances in their region.
Financial Stability Regulation under Borrowing and Liquidity Externalities
Authors: Lutz Flora , Pichler Paul
Published: May 2020

We study financial stability regulation in an environment with pecuniary externalities and where banks face both a liability choice (between private money creation and long-term borrowing) and an asset choice (between liquid and illiquid investments). Return risk on illiquid assets gives rise to liquidity risk, because banks that learn to have low future returns find themselves unable to roll over “money-like” debt. Privately optimal borrowing and investment decisions by banks lead, in general, to socially inefficient outcomes. The nature of inefficiency depends critically on the degree to which liquidity risk is systemic: When risk is highly systemic, banks hold the socially optimal amount of liquid assets, but create an excessive amount of money and overinvest in risky assets; when risk is not highly systemic, banks hold too little liquidity, create insufficient private money, and underinvest in risky assets. Quantity- and price-based regulations to address the identified inefficiencies are discussed.
Mass surveillance in the age of COVID-19
Authors: Ram Natalie , Gray David
Published: May 2020

Epidemiological surveillance programs such as digital contact tracing have been touted as a silver bullet that will free the American public from the strictures of social distancing, enabling a return to school, work, and socializing. This Article assesses whether and under what circumstances the United States ought to embrace such programs. Part I analyzes the constitutionality of programs like digital contact tracing, arguing that the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches and seizures may well regulate the use of location data for epidemiological purposes, but that the legislative and executive branches have significant latitude to develop these programs within the broad constraints of the ``special needs'' doctrine elaborated by the courts in parallel circumstances. Part II cautions that the absence of a firm warrant requirement for digital contact tracing should not serve as a green light for unregulated and mass digital location tracking. In light of substantial risks to privacy, policy makers must ask hard questions about efficacy and the comparative advantages of location tracking versus more traditional means of controlling epidemic contagions, take seriously threats to privacy, tailor programs parsimoniously, establish clear metrics for determining success, and set clear plans for decommissioning surveillance programs.
Forty Years of the Four Principles: Enduring Themes from Beauchamp and Childress
Authors: Shea Matthew
Published: May 2020

This special issue commemorates the 40th anniversary of Tom Beauchamp and James Childress’s Principles of Biomedical Ethics with a collection of original essays addressing some of the major themes in the book. It opens with intellectual autobiographies by Beauchamp and Childress themselves. Subsequent articles explore the topics of common morality, specification and balancing of moral principles, virtue, moral status, autonomy, and lists of bioethical principles. The issue closes with a reply by Beauchamp and Childress to the other authors.
Conclusion
Authors: El Far Ahmed
Published: May 2020

This concluding chapter summarizses the legal questions discussed and the findings of each question examined. In order to examine whether abuse of rights can be considered a general principle of law, the principle’'s recognition in all systems of law is not required. As a legal principle, its recognition and application naturally varies from one jurisdiction to another. Similarly, the manner in which the principle is regulated and applied by courts may vary. Nevertheless, the importance of endorsing a general principle of abuse of rights is not only mandated by its role in ensuring the administration of justice, but also owing to its comprehensiveness and its ability to remedy forms of abuse that other rules fail to remedy. The chapter then provides recommendations and considerations, the adherence to which may limit the rising phenomenon of abuse in international arbitration.
Association Between Musculoskeletal Injuries and the Canadian Armed Forces Physical Employment Standard Proxy in Canadian Military Recruits
Authors: Chassé Etienne , Laroche Marie-Andrée , Dufour Carole-Anne , Guimond Renaud , Lalonde François
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) and recruitment are major challenges faced by modern military forces. The Canadian Armed Forces uses a physical employment standard (PES) proxy to determine occupational fitness and job suitability. It is unknown whether the performance on the PES proxy can be also used as predictor of MSKIs. The purpose of this study was to investigate for relationships between age, sex, body composition, aerobic fitness, performance on the Canadian Armed Forces PES proxy (FORCE evaluation), and risk of sustaining a MSKI requiring intervention in the Training Rehabilitation Program (MSKI-TRP1) during Canadian Basic Military Qualification.

Materials and Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of MSKIs in recruits introduced in the Training Rehabilitation Program (TRP1) in 2016 and 2017. A two-tailed t-test and a multivariate stepwise logistic regression were completed to investigate the interrelationships of sex, age, FORCE performance (20 m rushes, sandbag lift, intermittent loaded shuttles, sandbag drag) and health-related characteristics (waist circumference, predicted peak oxygen consumption [$\dot{V}$O2peak]), and odds for sustaining a MSKI-TRP.

Results

The MSKI-TRP1 intervention rate observed was 4.3%. Rehabilitation duration was an average (SD) of 87 (76) days; nearly 80% of MSKI-TRP were lower body injuries. MSKI-TRP recruits were older, had a lower score on FORCE, and had a larger mean waist circumference and lower $\dot{V}$O2peak than non-TRP1 recruits (all P < 0.01). Recruits with performance lower than 1 SD below mean on the 20 m rushes, intermittent loaded shuttle, or sandbag drag were 2.69 (1.89–3.83), 2.74 (1.91–3.95), and 2.26 (1.52–3.37) times more likely to sustain a MSKI-TRP1, respectively (all P < 0.01). Recruits with $\dot{V}$O2peak lower than 1 SD below mean were also 2.19 (1.30–3.70) times more likely to sustain a MSKI-TRP. Neither sex, age, nor waist circumference impacted the risk of MSKI-TRP1 when controlling for FORCE performance.

Conclusions

The Canadian Armed Forces PES proxy performance can be used to assess the odds of sustaining a MSKI-TRP1 in Canadian military recruit training.
Schopenhauer’s Intellectual Relationship with Goethe
Authors: Del Caro Adrian
Published: May 2020

Few intellectual figures of the modern era were as warmly and consistently praised by Schopenhauer as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, with whom Schopenhauer had an acquaintance and in whom he had an early admirer. The binding tie between them is the theory of color, which meant different things to each man and yet united them in their opposition to Newton and certain features of modernist science. Beyond the theory of color, this chapter explores Schopenhauer’s lifelong fascination with Goethe the thinker and Goethe the man, revealing affinities as well as profound differences.
Negative Fragment Answers
Authors: Weir Andrew
Published: May 2020

This chapter discusses the interaction of negation with fragment answers. The ability to use negative concord items as fragment answers has been taken as evidence of their having an inherent negative force; this chapter considers positions for and against this view, and what kind of assumptions (for the licensing of NCIs and/or for the interpretation of elliptical structure in fragments) would be required on each view, as well as considering the implications of double-negation readings for NCI fragments, and the availability of NPI fragments. The chapter also investigates the cooccurrence of a negator with a fragment answer (as in Who ate the cake?—Not John, anyway), exploring what ramifications such structures have for the syntax of fragments, and in particular for the choice between sententialist (elliptical) and non-sententialist analyses of fragments.
Racial disparities in knowledge, attitudes and practices related to COVID-19 in the USA
Authors: Alobuia Wilson M , Dalva-Baird Nathan P , Forrester Joseph D , Bendavid Eran , Bhattacharya Jay , Kebebew Electron
Published: May 2020

Background

Recent reports indicate racial disparities in the rates of infection and mortality from the 2019 novel coronavirus (coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]). The aim of this study was to determine whether disparities exist in the levels of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) related to COVID-19.

Methods

We analyzed data from 1216 adults in the March 2020 Kaiser Family Foundation ‘Coronavirus Poll’, to determine levels of KAPs across different groups. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis was used to identify predictors of KAPs.

Results

In contrast to White respondents, Non-White respondents were more likely to have low knowledge (58% versus 30%; P < 0.001) and low attitude scores (52% versus 27%; P < 0.001), but high practice scores (81% versus 59%; P < 0.001). By multivariate regression, White race (odds ratio [OR] 3.06; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.70–5.50), higher level of education (OR 1.80; 95% CI: 1.46–2.23) and higher income (OR 2.06; 95% CI: 1.58–2.70) were associated with high knowledge of COVID-19. Race, sex, education, income, health insurance status and political views were all associated with KAPs.

Conclusions

Racial and socioeconomic disparity exists in the levels of KAPs related to COVID-19. More work is needed to identify educational tools that tailor to specific racial and socioeconomic groups.
Scelidosaurus harrisonii(Dinosauria: Ornithischia) from the Early Jurassic of Dorset, England: biology and phylogenetic relationships
Authors: Norman David B
Published: May 2020

A layer of keratinous scutes encased the skull of Scelidosaurus. The neurocranium and the associated principal sensory systems of this dinosaur are described. The cranial musculature is reconstructed and a subsequent functional analysis suggests that jaw motion was orthal, allowing pulping of vegetation and some high-angle shearing between opposing teeth. Wishboning of the lower jaw was enabled by transverse displacement of the quadrates, and the long-axis mandibular torsion that occurred during the chewing cycle was permitted by flexibility at the dentary symphysis. Limb proportions and pectoral and pelvic musculature reconstructions suggest that Scelidosaurus was a facultative quadruped of ‘average’ locomotor ability. It retained some anatomical features indicative of a bipedal-cursorial ancestry. Hindlimb motion was oblique-to-parasagittal to accommodate the girth of the abdomen. Scelidosaurus used a combination of costal and abdominally driven aspiration. The hypothesis that respiration was an ‘evolutionary driver’ of opisthopuby in all dinosaurs is overly simplistic. A critical assessment of datasets used to analyse the systematics of ornithischians (and thyreophoran subclades) has led to a revised dataset that positions Scelidosaurus as a stem ankylosaur, rather than a stem thyreophoran. The value of phylogenetic definitions is reconsidered in the light of the new thyreophoran cladogram.