bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pulmonary metastasectomy in colorectal cancer: health utility scores by EQ‐5D‐3L in a randomized controlled trial show no benefit from lung metastasectomy
Authors: Brew‐Graves Chris , Farewell Vernon , Monson Kathryn , Milošević Mišel , Williams Norman R. , Morris Eva , Macbeth Fergus , Treasure Tom , Fallowfield Lesley
Published: October 2020

Aim

The aim was to assess the health utility of lung metastasectomy in the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) using the EQ‐5D‐3L questionnaire.

Methods

Multidisciplinary CRC teams at 14 sites recruited patients to a two‐arm randomized controlled trial—Pulmonary Metastasectomy in Colorectal Cancer (PulMiCC). Remote randomization was used, stratified by site and with minimization for seven known confounders. Participants completed the EQ‐5D‐3L questionnaire together with other patient reported outcome measures at randomization and then again at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. These were returned by post to the coordinating centre.

Results

Between December 2010 and December 2016, 93 participants were randomized, 91 of whom returned questionnaires. Survival and patient reported quality of life have been published previously, revealing no significant differences between the trial arms. Described here are patient reported data from the five dimensions of the EQ‐5D‐3L and the visual analogue scale (VAS) health state. No significant difference was seen at any time point. The estimated difference between control and metastasectomy patients was −0.23 (95% CI –0.113, 0.066) for the composite 0 to 1 index scale based on the descriptive system and 0.123 (95% CI –7.24, 7.49) for the 0 to 100 VAS scale.

Conclusions

Following lung metastasectomy for CRC, no benefit was demonstrated for health utility, which alongside a lack of a survival or quality of life benefit calls into question the widespread use of the procedure.
Trust in the image of God: Links between religiosity and reciprocity in Haiti
Authors: Auriol Emmanuelle , Delissaint Diego , Fourati Maleke , Miquel‐Florensa Josepa , Seabright Paul
Published: October 2020

Are religious believers more prosocial than other people? In a trust game field experiment with 774 subjects in Haiti, we elicit willingness to pay to play in the presence of religious images, and argue that this can be interpreted as a measure of the strength of religiosity. More religious individuals trust others more and reciprocate more than others, with effect sizes between 14% and 21% of mean behaviour depending on the measure. They do not reciprocate more in the presence of religious images than without them, nor towards members of the same denomination as themselves. The results support the view that religious affiliation is correlated with intrinsic trustworthiness. We show that lab behaviour correlates with intuitive measures of religiosity outside the lab and with participation in borrowing and lending networks.
Ethnographic Reviews
Authors: Papavasiliou Faidra
Published: October 2020

Books reviewed in this issue.

African Science. Witchcraft, Vodun and Healing in Southern Benin. Douglas J. Falen.
The ethics of care and academic motherhood amid COVID‐19
Authors: Miller Karyn E.
Published: October 2020

The COVID‐19 pandemic has upended the lives of working parents as they strive to meet the conflicting demands of childcare and professional obligations. While growing evidence suggests the extraordinary challenges to time and work brought by the pandemic, this article explores the pandemic as an opportunity for stillness and reflection, a personal and professional recalibration. Through a personal narrative describing my experiences as an academic and mother before and during the pandemic, framed within the ethics of care, this article brings light to the untenable reality of working mothers pre‐pandemic, explores the ways in which the pandemic has positively facilitated caring relationships at home as well as the reallocation of time and household responsibilities, and argues for policy and legislative action at the institutional and societal levels that support and value the care work of women and men alike.
Current dilemmas in the pathological staging of colorectal cancer: the results of a national survey
Authors: Wong Newton A C S , Bracey Tim S , Mozayani Behrang , Bateman Adrian C , Novelli Marco R , Shepherd Neil A
Published: October 2020

Aims

Accurate and consistent pathological staging of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) in resection specimens is especially crucial to guide adjuvant therapy. The aim of this study was to assess whether certain staging scenarios yield discordant opinions in the setting of current international and UK national guidelines.

Methods and results

Members of the UK Gastrointestinal Pathology External Quality Assurance Scheme were invited to complete an anonymous, on‐line survey that presented 15 scenarios related to pT or pR staging of CRC, and three questions about the respondent. The survey invitation was e‐mailed to 405 pathologists, and 184 (45%) responses were received. The respondents had discordant opinions on whether and how CRC pT or pR staging is affected by: acellular mucin lakes and duration after short‐course radiotherapy; the nature of the carcinoma at a resection margin or peritoneal surface; and microscopic evidence of perforation. This discordance was rarely related to the respondent's occupation type, and was not related to duration of work as a consultant or the staging guidelines used.

Conclusions

This survey confirms that there remain several clinically critical but unresolved pT and pR staging issues for CRC. These issues therefore deserve attention in future versions of international and national staging guidelines.
Value of dividend signaling in uncertain times
Authors: Baker Hayley , Chang Millicent , Ho Choy Yeing (Chloe)
Published: October 2020

When investors are uncertain about firm value, they collect private information and contemplate the decisions made by management before trading. In this study, we examine the effects of policy uncertainty on managers' payout decisions and investors' reactions to these decisions. We show that managers tend to increase dividend payouts when uncertainty surrounding government policies is high. This relationship is particularly evident among better performing firms. Investors also respond more favorably to dividend increases in times of uncertainty. As a result, we conclude that policy uncertainty affects the firm's information environment owing to which managers respond to investor demand for information by paying dividends to signal firm quality.
CircHivep2 contributes to microglia activation and inflammation via miR‐181a‐5p/SOCS2 signalling in mice with kainic acid‐induced epileptic seizures
Authors: Xiaoying Gao , Guo Mian , Jie Liu , Yanmei Zhu , Ying Cui , Shengjie Shu , Haiyan Gou , Feixiang Sun , Sihua Qi , Jiahang Sun
Published: October 2020

Epilepsy is a chronic brain disease characterized by recurrent seizures. Circular RNA (circRNA) is a novel family of endogenous non‐coding RNAs that have been proposed to regulate gene expression. However, there is a lack of data on the role of circRNA in epilepsy. In this study, the circRNA profiles were evaluated by microarray analysis. In total, 627 circRNAs were up‐regulated, whereas 892 were down‐regulated in the hippocampus in mice with kainic acid (KA)‐induced epileptic seizures compared with control. The expression of circHivep2 was significantly down‐regulated in hippocampus tissues of mice with KA‐induced epileptic seizures and BV‐2 microglia cells upon KA treatment. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that circHivep2 interacts with miR‐181a‐5p to regulate SOCS2 expression, which was validated using a dual‐luciferase reporter assay. Moreover, overexpression of circHivep2 significantly inhibited KA‐induced microglial activation and the expression of inflammatory factors in vitro, which was blocked by miR‐181a‐5p, whereas circHivep2 knockdown further induced microglia cell activation and the release of pro‐inflammatory proteins in BV‐2 microglia cells after KA treatment. The application of circHivep2+ exosomes derived from adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) exerted significant beneficial effects on the behavioural seizure scores of mice with KA‐induced epilepsy compared to control exosomes. The circHivep2+ exosomes also inhibited microglial activation, the expression of inflammatory factors, and the miR‐181a‐5p/SOCS2 axis in vivo. Our results suggest that circHivep2 regulates microglia activation in the progression of epilepsy by interfering with miR‐181a‐5p to promote SOCS2 expression, indicating that circHivep2 may serve as a therapeutic tool to prevent the development of epilepsy.
The long‐term stability of soft tissue augmentation in treatment of localized severe maxillary anterior ridge deformities
Authors: Mathews David P.
Published: October 2020

The long‐term stability of soft tissue augmentation in treatment of localized severe maxillary anterior ridge deformities.

Objective

Severely deformed edentulous ridges in the esthetic zone (EZ) are very difficult to restore with an esthetic fixed dental prosthesis (FDP). Soft tissue augmentation of these deformed ridges can dramatically improve the esthetics of the restoration. The long‐term stability of soft tissue grafting used alone to treat severe localized alveolar ridge deformities will be reported.

Clinical Considerations

Three different soft tissue augmentation techniques, connective tissue graft (CTG), keratinized gingival graft (KGG), and pediculated connective tissue graft (PCTG) used to treat severe ridge deformities in the maxillary anterior region in five patients will be described. The stability of the augmentation will be shown at follow‐up periods ranging from 5‐30 years.

Conclusions

All three soft tissue grafting techniques demonstrated long‐term stability following the six‐month post‐treatment result.

Clinical Significance

Edentulous ridges in the esthetic zone, with severe hard and soft tissue deformities, are very difficult to restore esthetically. The development of soft tissue augmentation techniques has allowed clinicians to enhance the esthetics of their fixed dental prostheses (FDP). Restorative clinicians need to be assured that soft tissue shrinkage under the pontics will not occur after the final prosthesis is seated. The stability of these soft tissue augmentations over an extended period of time, will be demonstrated in the presented cases.
The effects of different postures and provocative swallow materials on the normative Chicago 3.0 metrics in a healthy Asian population
Authors: Mohd Said Mohd Ridzuan , Wong Zhiqin , Abdul Rani Rafiz , Ngiu Chai Soon , Raja Ali Raja Affendi , Lee Yeong Yeh
Published: October 2020

Background and Aim

Variations in the Chicago 3.0 normative metrics may exist with different postures and with different provocative swallow materials in a healthy Asian population.

Method

Eligible healthy Malay volunteers were invited to undergo the high‐resolution esophageal manometry (inSIGHT Ultima, Diversatek Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI, USA). In recumbent and standing positions, test swallows were performed using liquid, viscous, and solid materials. Metrics including integrated relaxation pressure 4 s (IRP‐4 s, mmHg), distal contractile integral (DCI, mmHg s cm), distal latency (DL, s), and peristaltic break (PB, cm) were reported in median and 95th percentile.

Results

Fifty of 57 screened participants were recruited, and 586 saline, 265 viscous, and 261 solid swallows were analyzed. Per‐patient wise, in the recumbent position, 95th percentile for IRP‐4 s, DCI, DL, and PB were 16.5 mmHg, 2431 mmHg s cm, 8.5 s, and 7.2 cm, respectively. We observed that with each posture, the use of viscous swallows led to changes in DL, but the use of solid swallows led to more changes in the metrics including DCI and length of PB. Compared with a recumbent posture, anupright posture led to lower IRP‐4 s and DCI values. Both per‐patient analysis and per‐swallow analyses yielded almost similar results when comparing the different postures and types of swallows. No major motility disorders were observed in this cohort of asymptomatic population. However, more motility disorders were reported in the upright position.

Conclusions

Variations in metrics can be observed in different postures and with different provocative swallow materials in a healthy population. The normative Chicago 3.0 metrics are also determined for the Malay population.
Approaches to Optimize Medication Data Analysis in Clinical Cohort Studies
Authors: Duprey Matthew S. , Devlin John W. , Briesacher Becky A. , Travison Thomas G. , Griffith John L. , Inouye Sharon K.
Published: October 2020

OBJECTIVES

Methods for pharmacoepidemiologic studies of large‐scale data repositories are established. Although clinical cohorts of older adults often contain critical information to advance our understanding of medication risk and benefit, the methods best suited to manage medication data in these samples are sometimes unclear and their degree of validation unknown. We sought to provide researchers, in the context of a clinical cohort study of delirium in older adults, with guidance on the methodological tools to use data from clinical cohorts to better understand medication risk factors and outcomes.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

The Successful Aging After Elective Surgery (SAGES) prospective cohort.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 560 older adults (aged ≥70 years) without dementia undergoing elective major surgery.

MEASUREMENTS

Using the SAGES clinical cohort, methods used to characterize medications were identified, reviewed, analyzed, and distinguished by appropriateness and degree of validation for characterizing pharmacoepidemiologic data in smaller clinical data sets.

RESULTS

Medication coding is essential; the American Hospital Formulary System, most often used in the United States, is not preferred over others. Use of equivalent dosing scales (e.g., morphine equivalents) for a single medication class (e.g., opioids) is preferred over multiclass analgesic equivalency scales. Medication aggregation from the same class (e.g., benzodiazepines) is well established; the optimal prevalence breakout for aggregation remains unclear. Validated scale(s) to combine structurally dissimilar medications (e.g., anticholinergics) should be used with caution; a lack of consensus exists regarding the optimal scale. Directed acyclic graph(s) are an accepted method to conceptualize causative frameworks when identifying potential confounders. Modeling‐based strategies should be used with evidence‐based, a priori variable‐selection strategies.

CONCLUSION

As highlighted in the SAGES cohort, the methods used to classify and analyze medication data in clinically rich cohort studies vary in the rigor by which they have been developed and validated.
Solutionism across borders: Sorting out problems, solutions and stakeholders in medical education internationalisation
Authors: Brouwer Emmaline , Frambach Janneke
Published: October 2020

Just whose problems are being solved when we internationalize medical education? Here Brouwer et al. reflect on the misalignment between the challenges of globalization and solutions of internationalization.
Antifungal susceptibility profile and molecular identification of Cyp51C mutations in clinical and environmental isolates of Aspergillus flavus from Argentina
Authors: Hermida‐Alava Katherine , Brito Devoto Tomás , Sautua Francisco , Gordó Manuela , Scandiani Mercedes , Formento Norma , Luque Alicia , Carmona Marcelo , Cuestas María L.
Published: October 2020

Background

The emergence of azole resistance in non‐fumigatus Aspergillus strains is on the raise.

Objectives

To study the susceptibility profiles and the molecular mechanisms of azole resistance of environmental and clinical strains of Aspergillus flavus from Argentina.

Methods

Thirty‐five A flavus isolates (18 from soybean seeds and chickpea seeds and 17 from the clinic) were analysed for amphotericin B and azole resistance using the standard microbroth dilution method according to CLSI M38‐A2 guidelines. Sequencing analysis of the cyp51 genes was conducted in those isolates displaying high MICs values to itraconazole, voriconazole and/or posaconazole.

Results

Among the environmental isolates, 33.3% of them showed high MIC values for at least one triazole whereas 23.5% of the clinical isolates displayed high MIC values for amphotericin B. Point mutations in the Cyp51C gene were recorded in most environmental isolates with non‐wild‐type MIC values.

Conclusions

Susceptibility differences among environmental A flavus isolates might suggest the possibility of native resistance to certain triazole antifungals used in the clinic. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of antifungal screening of environmental strains of A flavus in soybean seeds and chickpea seeds from Argentina that showed increased resistance to voriconazole and itraconazole in comparison to clinical strains.
Effects of a blue‐blocking screen filter on accommodative accuracy and visual discomfort
Authors: Redondo Beatriz , Vera Jesús , Ortega‐Sánchez Alba , Molina Rubén , Jiménez Raimundo
Published: October 2020

Introduction

The prescription of blue‐blocking (B‐B) filters for the management of visual symptoms and signs associated with the use of electronic devices is routinely performed by eye care specialists. However, the utility of B‐B filters is a matter of debate and discussion by the scientific community due to the lack of evidence supporting their use. Here, we aimed to determine the effects of using B‐B filters on the dynamics of the accommodative response and pupil size and perceived levels of visual discomfort, while performing a 30‐min reading task at a close distance in subjects who routinely use electronic devices.

Methods

Nineteen healthy young adults (22.0 ± 2.7 years) read two 30‐min passages on a computer screen placed at 50 cm, either while using a commercially available B‐B filter or without any filter on two different days. The magnitude and variability of both the accommodative response and pupil size were dynamically measured for 60 s using the WAM‐5500 open field autorefractometer at 4–5, 9–10, 14–15, 19–20, 24–25, and 29–30 min into the trial. The perceived levels of visual discomfort were also obtained.

Results

The lag and variability of accommodation were insensitive to the blue light level (p = 0.34 and 0.62, respectively). There was a time‐on‐task effect for the variability of accommodation, showing greater instability over time regardless of the blue light level. The use of the B‐B filter was associated with improved reading speed (p = 0.02), with an increase of 16.5 words per minute. However, it was not associated with any significant change in pupil dynamics or the perceived levels of visual discomfort (p> 0.05 in both cases).

Conclusions

Our data showed that the use of a B‐B filter had no effect on accommodative dynamics or visual symptomatology. Based on these findings, there is no support for the prescription of B‐B filters to attenuate the visual symptoms and signs associated with the use of electronic devices in healthy young adults.
Finite Element Analysis of Insertion Angle of Absorbable Screws for the Fixation of Radial Head Fractures
Authors: Xu Guang‐ming , Liang Zi‐yang , Li Wei , Yang Zheng‐zhong , Chen Zhi‐bin , Zhang Jie
Published: October 2020

Objective

To investigate the biomechanical effects of different insertion angles of absorbable screws for the fixation of radial head fractures.

Methods

The finite element models used to simulate the fractures were created based on CT scans. Two absorbable screws were used to fix and maintain the stability of the fracture, and the angles between the screws were set to 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, and 90°. A downward force of 100 N was applied at the stress point, which was coupled with the surface, and the distal radius was limited to six degrees of freedom. The direction and location of the applied force were the same in each model. The values of the von Mises stress and peak displacements were calculated.

Results

Under the applied load and different screw angles, the maximum von Mises stress in the screws was concentrated on the surface contacting the fracture surfaces. The maximum von Mises equivalent stress in the screw decreased when the angle increased from 0° (19.54 MPa) to 45° (13.11 MPa) and increased when the angle further increased to 90° (24.63 MPa). The peak displacement decreased as the angle increased from 0° (0.19 mm) to 45° (0.15 mm) and increased when the angle further increased to 90° (0.25 mm).

Conclusion

The computational stress distribution showed that fixation with absorbable screws is safe for patients. Moreover, the minimum von Mises stress and displacements were generated when the angle between the screws was 45°; hence, this setting should be recommended for Mason type II radial fractures.
A Planning Approach to Revenue Management for Non‐Guaranteed Targeted Display Advertising
Authors: Shen Huaxiao , Li Yanzhi , Guan Jingjing , Tso Geoffrey K.F.
Published: October 2020

Many publishers of online display advertising sell their ad resources through event‐based auctions in the spot market. Such a way of selling lacks a holistic view of the publisher’s ad resource and thus suffers from a well‐recognized drawback: the publisher’s revenue is often not maximized, particularly due to users’ dynamic ad clicking behavior and advertisers’ budget constraints. In this study, we propose a planning approach for ad publishers to better allocate their ad resources. Specifically, we propose a framework comprising two building blocks: (i) a mixed‐integer nonlinear programming model that solves for the optimal ad resource allocation plan, which maximizes the publisher’s revenue, for which we have developed an efficient solution algorithm; and (ii) an arbitrary‐point‐inflated Poisson regression model that deals with users’ ad clicking behavior, whereby we directly forecast the number of clicks, instead of relying on the click‐through rate (CTR) as in the literature. The two blocks are closely related in the sense that the output of the regression model serves as the input to the optimization model and the optimization model motivates the development of the regression model. We conduct extensive numerical experiments based on a data set spanning 20 days provided by a leading social network sites firm. Experimental results substantiate the effectiveness of our approach.
Follicle‐stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone regulate the synthesis mechanism of dihydrotestosterone in sheep granulosa cells
Authors: Duan Hongwei , Xiao Longfei , Ge Wenbo , Yang Shanshan , Jiang Yuting , Lv Jianshu , Hu Junjie , Zhang Yong , Zhao Xingxu , Hua Yongli
Published: October 2020

Steroid hormones and receptors play important roles in female reproduction, and their expression patterns affect follicular growth and development. To examine the expression of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) synthases (5α‐reductases (5α‐red1 and 5α‐red2)) and androgen receptor (AR) during follicular development, and the regulation of DHT signalling by follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), we have used enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays, quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting to examine DHT synthesis in small (≤2 mm), medium (2–5 mm) and large (≥5 mm) sheep follicles. Expression of 5α‐red1, 5α‐red2 and AR was observed in ovine ovaries, and with the development of follicles, the expressions of 5α‐red1 and 5α‐red2 mRNA and protein increased, but the levels of AR mRNA, protein and DHT level decreased. In addition, granulosa cells were treated with FSH (0.01, 0.1 and 1 international unit (IU)/ml), LH (0.01, 0.1 and 1 IU/ml) and testosterone (T, 10–7 M) to evaluate the effects of FSH and LH on DHT and oestradiol (E2) synthesis and 5α‐red1, 5α‐red2 and AR expression. We found that FSH and LH upregulated 5α‐red1 and 5α‐red2 in sheep granulosa cells, but downregulated the concentration of DHT and expression of AR. Meanwhile, FSH and LH significantly upregulated the expression of aromatase (P450arom) and secretion of E2. This result indicates that although FSH and LH promote the expression of 5α‐red1 and 5α‐red2, T is not transformed into DHT, but E2. This study reveals the reason why DHT concentration is downregulated in large follicles and lays a foundation for further exploring the synthesis mechanism of DHT during follicular development.
Answerable and Unanswerable Questions in Risk Analysis with Open‐World Novelty
Authors: Cox Louis Anthony
Published: October 2020

Decision analysis and risk analysis have grown up around a set of organizing questions: what might go wrong, how likely is it to do so, how bad might the consequences be, what should be done to maximize expected utility and minimize expected loss or regret, and how large are the remaining risks? In probabilistic causal models capable of representing unpredictable and novel events, probabilities for what will happen, and even what is possible, cannot necessarily be determined in advance. Standard decision and risk analysis questions become inherently unanswerable (“undecidable”) for realistically complex causal systems with “open‐world” uncertainties about what exists, what can happen, what other agents know, and how they will act. Recent artificial intelligence (AI) techniques enable agents (e.g., robots, drone swarms, and automatic controllers) to learn, plan, and act effectively despite open‐world uncertainties in a host of practical applications, from robotics and autonomous vehicles to industrial engineering, transportation and logistics automation, and industrial process control. This article offers an AI/machine learning perspective on recent ideas for making decision and risk analysis (even) more useful. It reviews undecidability results and recent principles and methods for enabling intelligent agents to learn what works and how to complete useful tasks, adjust plans as needed, and achieve multiple goals safely and reasonably efficiently when possible, despite open‐world uncertainties and unpredictable events. In the near future, these principles could contribute to the formulation and effective implementation of more effective plans and policies in business, regulation, and public policy, as well as in engineering, disaster management, and military and civil defense operations. They can extend traditional decision and risk analysis to deal more successfully with open‐world novelty and unpredictable events in large‐scale real‐world planning, policymaking, and risk management.
A novel HLA‐B allele, HLA‐B*44:493, detected in a potential hematopoietic stem cell donor
Authors: Ananeva Anastasiia , Sergeeva Iuliia , Gaifullina Raushania , Shagimardanova Elena
Published: October 2020

One nucleotide substitution in codon 87 of HLA‐B*44:03:01:01 results in a novel allele, HLA‐B*44:493.
Emergency response to COVID‐19 epidemic: One Chinese blood centre's experience
Authors: Hu Ping , Kang Jianxun , Li Ying , Li Xiaochun , Li Meng , Deng Min , Zhao Yuwei , Tian Hao , Li Rui , Zhang Jie , Xi Yan , Li Wen , Gao Jialiang , Shan Hua , Fu Xuemei
Published: October 2020

Objective

The COVID‐19 epidemic has caused a significant global social and economic impact since December 2019. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the emergency response of a Chinese blood centre on maintaining both the safety and the sufficiency of blood supply during large, emerging, infectious epidemics.

Materials and Methods

Early on in the outbreak of COVID‐19, the Chengdu Blood Center developed strategies and implemented a series of measures, including enhanced recruitment efforts, addition of new donation deferral criteria and notification after donation, optimisation of donor experience, development and implementation of a new coronavirus nucleic acid detection technology platform for blood screening and screening all donations for SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA to maximumly protect the safety of blood supply during a time of unclear risk.

Results

Starting on February 20, the immediate satisfaction rate of blood product orders in Chengdu city's clinical settings reached 100%, and there was no case of blood transfusion infection.

Conclusion

The recent experience during the outbreak of SARS‐CoV‐2 reminded us that improvement in the areas of national and international collaborative programmes for dealing with blood availability and safety concerns during early stages of a disaster and regional and national mechanisms for timely communication with the general public on behalf of blood services should help to better prepare us for future disasters.
Variability of Settling Particles Fluxes and Isotopic Composition (δ13C and δ15N) from Material Trapped in Coastal Reefs of Abrolhos Bank, Eastern Brazilian Shelf
Authors: Spanó Saulo , Belem André Luiz , Zucchi Maria Do Rosário , Mafalda Junior Paulo De Oliveira , Aguiar Alessandro Lopes , Sousa José Roberto Bispo de , Silva Iracema Reimão , Azevedo Antônio Expedito Gomes de
Published: October 2020

Elemental and isotopic ratios (C/N, δ13C, δ15N) of sediment samples captured by PVC traps in eight stations along the coastal reefs of the Abrolhos region, Brazil, were analyzed. The study area is characterized by the influence of continental sediments on biogenic sediments. The highest δ13C values were found in the Sebastião Gomes (second shallower station), with average values close to -15‰ in all sampling periods. The isotopic ratio of carbon and nitrogen indicates that the organic matter analyzed has marine origin, with signature features of oceanic regions. The highest C/N ratio average value of 8.29 occurred in Nova Viçosa (the southernmost station and one of the shallowest) during the spring, in other seasons the average value was close to 7 in all periods. Although the values of C/N indicate a significantly marine contribution, δ15N values suggest that N series recycling processes are frequent during the time that the material remained in the environment. The results will provide a baseline for future environmental monitoring and studies on changes in sediment composition in an important set of coastal coral reefs.
Hydrogeochemical and Isotopic (δ2H-δ18O) Investigations of Hydrologic Dynamics of the Southern Urucuia Aquifer System, Brazil
Authors: Barbosa Natanael Da Silva , Leal Luiz Rogério Bastos , Barbosa Natali Da Silva , Klammler Harald , Santos Rafael Lima dos Santos , Zucchi Maria Do Rosário
Published: October 2020

The integration of hydrogeochemical and isotopic data (δ2H-δ18O) allowed the reconstruction of the hydrological dynamics of Southern Urucuia Aquifer System. This system is a combination of aquifers that are responsible for the perennity of the rivers during the rainy recession. In this study, water samples were collected from three sources: rainfall, rivers and pumping wells. The hydrogeochemical data lead to subdivide the aquifers in three main types: regional unconfined, confined, and unconfined with deep water level. The unconfined aquifer with deep water level originates from an groundwater flow deflection in the westernmost portion of the study area. The occurrence of silicified and fractured levels divide the aquifer types and represents a mixing and interfaced zone, allowing a leakage between aquifers and a great variability of hydrogeochemical facies. The hydrogeochemical evolution occurs by local, intermediate and regional flow systems. The buildup of dissolved solids is the major controlling mechanism of the groundwater composition represented by the systematic changes of anion species from HCO3 to SO4 to Cl, and cationic exchange between Ca and Na. The discharge occurs through the baseflow of rivers, which have hybrid composition between regional unconfined and confined aquifer from Na-Ca-Cl to Na-Cl. The analysis of stable isotopes shows that the surface water and groundwater are located in the same range of values, which indicates a connection between the reservoirs. During the rainy season, the regional unconfined isotopic composition becomes similar to the precipitation isotopic composition, with the main recharge occurring mostly by direct infiltration of rainwater. However, there is a modification of this composition in the dry season due to strong isotopic enrichment caused by the evaporation process. The seasonal variation in the isotopic composition represents a continuous cycle. In other words, as the rainy season approaches, the atmospheric air column becomes increasingly saturated with water vapor, what results in a considerably diminishment of evaporation.
The Effects of Texting, Sitting Surface Stability, and Balance Training on Simulated Driving Performance and Perceived Workload in Young and Older Drivers
Authors: Mohammadi Sanjani Faezeh , Bahram Abbas , Bahmani Moslem , Arvin Mina , van der Kamp John
Published: October 2020

It has been shown that texting degrades driving performance, but the extent to which this is mediated by the driver’s age and postural stability has not been addressed. Hence, the present study examined the effects of texting, sitting surface stability, and balance training in young and older adults’ driving performance. Fifteen young (mean age = 24.3 years) and 13 older (mean age = 62.8 years) participants were tested in a driving simulator with and without texting on a smartphone and while sitting on a stable or unstable surface (i.e., a plastic wobble board), before and after a 30-min sitting balance training. Analyses of variance showed that texting deteriorated driving performance but irrespective of sitting surface stability. Balance training decreased the negative effects of texting on driving, especially in older adults. Perceived workload increased when drivers were texting, and balance training reduced perceived workload. Perceived workload was higher while sitting on the unstable surface, but less so after balance training. Path analyses showed that the effects on driving performance and perceived workload were (indirectly) associated with changes in postural stability (i.e., postural sway). The study confirms that texting threatens safe driving performance by challenging postural stability, especially in older adults. The study also suggests that it is important to further investigate the role balance training can play in reducing these negative effects of texting.
The Intriguing Interaction of Escherichia coli with the Host Environment and Innovative Strategies To Interfere with Colonization: a Summary of the 2019 E. coli and the Mucosal Immune System Meeting
Authors: Cox Eric , Aloulou Meryem , Fleckenstein James M. , Schäffer Christina , Sjöling Åsa , Schüller Stephanie , Hanevik Kurt , Devriendt Bert , Zhang Weiping , Svennerholm Ann-Mari , Dudley Edward G.
Published: October 2020

The third
E. coli
and the Mucosal Immune System (ECMIS) meeting was held at Ghent University in Belgium from 2 to 5 June 2019. It brought together an international group of scientists interested in mechanisms of colonization, host response, and vaccine development. ECMIS distinguishes itself from related meetings on these enteropathogens by providing a greater emphasis on animal health and disease and covering a broad range of pathotypes, including enterohemorrhagic, enteropathogenic, enterotoxigenic, enteroaggregative, and extraintestinal pathogenic
Escherichia coli
.
Geotechnical considerations in the design of borehole heat exchangers
Authors: Zymnis Despina M. , Whittle Andrew J.
Published: October 2020

The use of ground source heat pumps to transfer heat to and from the ground via borehole heat exchangers (BHEs) is among the most energy efficient techniques for space heating and cooling. Broader applications in urban environments require more careful evaluation of hydro-mechanical behavior of soil to ensure their reliable long-term performance and to minimize adverse effects on adjacent structures. An advanced soil model has been integrated within a finite difference (FD) framework, to solve coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) problems in an axisymmetric space. The FD simulator is applied to a prototype project and the ground conditions represent typical stress history profiles found in Geneva, Switzerland. An extensive parametric study is undertaken to study the long-term THM response of clay for a broad range of heat exchanger design parameters. The results show that significant settlements can be induced due to the long-term operation of BHEs (i.e., over periods from 10 to 50 years). The parametric study gives useful guidelines for heat exchanger design and identifies a design space of optimum solutions that meet pre-specified foundation settlement criteria. The study provides a qualitative investigation and a systematic framework for analyzing the long-term THM response of clay to seasonal heating and cooling.
Evolution, history, and use of stem taper equations: a review of their development, application, and implementation
Authors: McTague John Paul , Weiskittel Aaron
Published: October 2020

Stem taper equations, which predict the change in stem form from ground to tip, have become the primary means for estimating bole volume. Stem taper equations can provide predictions with similar levels of accuracy as volume equations, but with greater flexibility, a wider range of potential uses, and consistency between taper and volume. This review is a synthesis of the current state of knowledge on stem taper equations and an assessment of challenges for future model refinement. It includes the history and evolution of stem taper model forms, which have received tremendous attention and focus over the last several decades. Additional focal areas covered are (i) the use of additional covariates beyond tree diameter at breast height (DBH) and total height; (ii) alternative statistical methods for developing stem taper equations such as parametric, semiparametric, and nonparametric approaches; (iii) key considerations for proper development, application, and use of stem taper equations such as sample size requirements, local calibration, and evaluation; and (iv) a synthesis of key findings, future opportunities, and ongoing challenges. Current and developing technologies such as terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) offer an unprecedented opportunity to measure stem form in much greater detail at significantly lower costs and time requirements than traditional methods. Overall, continued development, refinement, and application of stem taper equations will remain important given the critical nature of tree volume for science, accurate inventories, and ultimately, sustainable forest management.
Towards reconciliation: 10 Calls to Action to natural scientists working in Canada
Authors: Wong Carmen , Ballegooyen Kate , Ignace Lawrence , Johnson Mary Jane (Gùdia) , Swanson Heidi
Published: October 2020

In 2015, after documenting testimonies from Indigenous survivors of the residential school system in Canada, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released 94 Calls to Action to enable reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. Without personal connections to Indigenous communities, many Canadians fail to grasp the depth of intergenerational impacts of residential schools and associated systemic racism. Consequently, reconciliation remains an elusive concept. Here we outline 10 Calls to Action to natural scientists to enable reconciliation in their work. We focus on natural scientists because a common connection to the land should tie the social license of natural scientists more closely to Indigenous communities than currently exists. We also focus on natural sciences because of the underrepresentation of Indigenous peoples in this field. We draw on existing guidelines and our experiences in northern Canada. Our 10 Calls to Action are triggered by frustration. The authors have witnessed examples where natural scientists treat Indigenous communities with blatant disrespect or with ignorance of Indigenous rights. These 10 Calls to Action challenge the scientific community to recognize that reconciliation requires a new way of conducting natural science, one that includes and respects Indigenous communities, rights, and knowledge leading to better scientific and community outcomes.
First DNA sequence reference library for mammals and plants of the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Authors: Boukhdoud Liliane , Saliba Carole , Parker Lillian D. , Rotzel McInerney Nancy , Ishak Mouawad Ghiwa , Kharrat Mariane , Kahale Rhea , Chahine Tony , Maldonado Jesús E. , Bou Dagher-Kharrat Magda
Published: October 2020

The Mediterranean region is identified as one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots, with the Earth’s most biologically rich yet threatened areas. Lebanon is a hub for Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) biodiversity with 9116 characterized plant and animal species (4486 fauna and 4630 flora). Using DNA barcoding as a tool has become crucial in the accurate identification of species in multiple contexts. It can also complement species morphological descriptions, which will add to our understanding of the biodiversity and richness of ecosystems and benefit conservation projects for endangered and endemic species. In this study, we create the first reference library of standard DNA markers for mammals and plants in the EMR, with a focus on endemic and endangered species. Plant leaves were collected from different nature reserves in Mount Lebanon, and mammal samples were obtained from taxidermized museum specimens or road kills. We generated the 12S rRNA sequences of 18 mammal species from 6 orders and 13 different families. We also obtained the trnL and rbcL barcode sequences of 52 plant species from 24 different families. Twenty-five plant species and two mammal species included in this study were sequenced for the first time using these markers.
Hardware Efficient Hybrid Encoder for Video Surveillance Application
Authors: Patel Minesh , Darji Anand
Published: October 2020

Extensive use of digital multimedia has led to the development of advance video processing techniques for development of multimedia applications. Application such as video surveillance requires 247 recording and streaming. So, the bandwidth and storage costs become significant. With introduction of video streaming over internet, where different kinds of end users request same content with different available bandwidth, it requires scalable video coding (SVC). These challenges can be overcome by developing new techniques to reduce redundancy in subsequent frames and to improve the coding efficiency. In this paper, overlapping weighted linear sum (OWLS) pre-processing method and its hardware architecture are proposed. It is implemented using field progrmmable gate array (FPGA) and the application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is also developed using TSMC180nm technology standard cell library. Results show improvement in terms of power and area as compared to the existing work. In motion compensated temporal filtering (MCTF), wavelet transform is implemented by temporal filters. Architecture for 5/3 Lifting MCTF is also implemented and compared with baseline H.264 video codec. Simulation results show that the average peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) improvement is 2.36[Formula: see text]dB. The MCTF design using 5/3 Lifting filter is synthesized for Virtex-5 FPGA and compared with the existing close-loop architecture with better performance.
A Meshless Local Radial Point Collocation Method for Simulating the Time-Fractional Convection-Diffusion Equations on Surfaces
Authors: Qiao Yuanyang , Feng Xinlong , He Yinnian
Published: October 2020

The time-fractional problem is a class of important models to represent the real world. It is an open problem to study how the fractional operator acts on the surface. In this work, we present and analyze a meshless local radial point collocation method for numerically solving time-fractional convection-diffusion equations on closed surfaces embedded in [Formula: see text]. The second-order shifted Grünwald scheme is applied in time discretization. All computations use only extrinsic coordinates to avoid coordinate distortions and singularities. Moreover, the stability and convergence of the method are proven by the energy estimate. Numerical experiments are provided to support the convergence analysis and numerical performance of the proposed method.
The modified magnetodielectric response in KNN-CZFMO based particulate multiferroic composite system
Authors: Kaur Kulwinder , Singh Mandeep , Singh Jaspal , Kumar Sanjeev
Published: October 2020

Lead-free multiferroic composites of 1[Formula: see text](K[Formula: see text]Na[Formula: see text]NbO[Formula: see text](Co[Formula: see text]Zn[Formula: see text](Fe[Formula: see text]Mn[Formula: see text]O4 (KNN-CZFMO), where [Formula: see text]= 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 1.0, have been investigated for their structural, morphological, electrical, magnetic, dielectric and magneto-dielectric properties. Presence of KNN and CZFMO crystal structure in each composite has been confirmed from X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Cuboidal-shaped grains of KNN and spherical-shaped grains of CZFMO have been observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The room temperature ferroelectric behavior as confirmed by polarization versus electric field ([Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] hysteresis loops has been found to be decreasing with increasing CZFMO concentration. Increasing magnetic ordering with the increase in CZFMO concentration in the prepared composites has been observed by magnetization versus magnetic field ([Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] hysteresis loops. The electrical conductivity of composites has been studied using Jonscher’s universal power law. The room temperature dielectric constant ([Formula: see text] and dielectric loss (tan [Formula: see text] have been observed to decrease with the increase in the frequency of the applied external electric field. The dielectric relaxation behavior has been observed using curve fitting analysis via the Havriliak–Negami relaxation model. Maximum value of the magnetodielectric (MD) effect [Formula: see text]−11% at a frequency of 1 kHz with the applied magnetic field of 1 T has been achieved for 0.9 KNN−0.1 CZFMO ([Formula: see text]= 0.1) composite in the present research work.
A Modified Law of Heat Conduction of Thermoelasticity with Fractional Derivative and Relaxation Time
Authors: Abouelregal Ahmed E.
Published: October 2020

(1) In the present work, a new modified thermoelasticity theory with fractional order has been constructed based on fractional calculus and Taylor series expansion of time-fractional order. The models of fractional thermoelasticity proposed by Sherief et al. [H. H. Sherief, A. M. A. El-Sayed and A. M. Abd El-Latief, Int. J. Solids Struct. 47, 269 (2010)], Ezzat [M. A. Ezzat, Phys. B 406, 30 (2011)] and Lord and Shulman with one relaxation time [H. W. Lord and Y. H. Shulman, J. Mech. Phys. Solids 15(5), 299 (1967)] as well as coupled thermoelasticity [M. A. Biot, J. Appl. Phys. 27, 240 (1956)] follow as limiting cases. This modified model is applied to an infinitely long annular cylinder. The inner and outer surfaces of the cylinder are traction free and subjected to known surrounding temperatures. Laplace transform technique will be used to get the solutions of all physical quantities. Some comparisons are shown in figures and tables to assess the effects of the fractional-order parameters in the studied fields. Results of some earlier researchers have been deduced from the current formulation. Finally, a conclusion about the new modified model has been promoted according to the analysis and numerical results.