bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research of heat exchange and efficiency of the arcs in the arc steel-melting furnaces with usual conveyor and loaded
Authors: Makarov A N , Okuneva V V , Pavlova Yu M
Published: June 2019

The analysis of heat exchange and the efficiency of the arcs in the arc steel-melting furnaces with usual conveyor and loaded. For comparison, accepted arc furnace close in power and performance. The analysis revealed that the average efficiency of arcs furnace Consteel ASF-120co 8-9% less than particle ASF-120us. Analysis of the efficiency of the arcs of electric arc furnaces allowed to explain more 8-9% lower specific energy consumption in the furnace ASF-120co compared to the same period in the furnace ASF-120us. Calculation and the analysis of efficiency of various ways of input of heat in a bathtub of metal of ASF-120co and ASF-120us furnaces is performed. The most effective way is introduction of heat by means of electric arches which efficiency is 0,69-0,78. Heating of the metal charge by means of torches of gas-oxygen torches, efficiency of the method 0,45-0,55 is less effectively carried out. Heating of a metal bath by means of oxidation of coke which is continuously entered into slag for foaming of the last is carried out with the efficiency of a way of the method 0,28-0,36.
Theoretical study of the flow of cement raw material sludge through pipes
Authors: Perelygin D N , Boichuk I P , Grinek A V , Kozlov V K
Published: June 2019

The flow of fluids through pipes directly depends on the physicomechanical characteristics of the material. When designing technological equipment, it is assumed that the equipment operates with the limiting physical characteristics of the liquid. The study of the flow of non-Newtonian fluids is important for the development of energy-saving methods for the cement industry. In this paper, we study the flow of cement raw sludge through rigid pipes. It is shown that when moving in pipes near the pipe walls, the sludge moves like a normal Newtonian liquid, and near the pipe it moves like a solid. This indicates that when moving through a pipe with a prolonged non-stationary effect, the sludge behaves like a normal Bingham body. The article found the flow rate, the drag coefficient, the Reynolds number, and the hydraulic resistance when the sludge moves through the pipe. In this paper, the parametric law of resistance of sludge movement in pipes is defined, which can be considered as a convenient way to calculate pressure drop. It follows from the law that, when flowing through pipes, sludge now acquires the properties of a plastic body and behaves like Bingham plastic.
Process of charge prevention with low bulk density
Authors: Sevostyanov M V , Il’ina T N , Martakov I G
Published: June 2019

The processes of agglomeration of dispersed materials, the relevance of their use in the utilization of man-made powdered materials. Shows the need for prehardening of the granulated charge when they are balling with balling. This is especially true for man-made materials with low bulk density, which is an obligatory stage for the formation of micro-granules, the subsequent growth and compaction of which occurs under the action of centrifugal forces. Analytical expressions for calculation of rotation frequency of the forming rolls providing necessary conditions for realization of processes of filtration of gaseous and liquid phases of a composite mix, and also for reception of microgranules of the set density at a vibro-roll method of preliminary compaction are presented. The obtained dependences are the basis for the development of a vibration-centrifugal granulator for the step-by-step process of forming technogenic dispersed materials with low bulk density.
Analysis of separator operating conditions in a technological module with vibration-centrifugal closed-cycle grinding unit for obtaining high-dispersity materials
Authors: Sevostyanov V S , Uralsky V I , Boichuk I P , Ermilov R A , Lukyanova E A
Published: June 2019

The demand for up-to-date building materials and components for their production is constantly growing. The purchasing of foreign analogues is often unreasonable and costly, and the domestic products not always meet the high requirements specified for them. In light of this, it is necessary to develop up-to-date knowledge-intensive technologies of producing building materials of various purpose, as well as materials and products of ceramic, varnish- and-paint, glass and other industries, the basis of which is the application of high-dispersive powders. The extensive use of fine-ground and ultrafine-ground materials resulted in designing a wide range of grinders of various types (ball, vibration, planetary, centrifugal, jet grinders etc.). In each certain unit the special conditions for grinding are created, which allows using them for processing materials with various physical and mechanical characteristics. In this work the mathematical model of closed grinding cycle with combined-action air separator is suggested. In this model the integral functions of partition in air separator have been obtained. The calculated and experimental values of the integral functions of partition in air separator have been compared.
Resource and energy-saving technologies of complex processing and utilization of technogenic materials
Authors: Shein N T , Sevostyanov V S , Obolonsky V V , Sevostyanov M V , Goryagin P Yu , Babukov V A
Published: June 2019

At present, a very topical environmental problem is the increase in the formation of industrial and solid municipal waste (ISMW). This leads to a deterioration of the ecological situation, and, consequently, threatens human life and health, has a detrimental effect on the biosphere as a whole. Therefore, a special place in the organization of rational use of natural resources should take a comprehensive system of measures for the processing and utilization of various man-made materials that are the product of human production. The purpose of research and development projects is the creation of resource-saving technology, technological systems and special equipment for integrated processing and recycling of various man-made materials. One of the conditions for the implementation of resource-saving technology is the use of internal energy and material resources of the processing plant.
Investigation of the kinetics of spark plasma sintering of alumina ceramics. Part 1. The initial stage of sintering
Authors: Boldin M S , Popov A A , Lantsev E A , Nokhrin A V , Chuvil’deev V N
Published: June 2019

The article presents the results of the investigation of the initial sintering stage of alumina. The authors determined the activation energy of shrinkage at the initial stage of sintering. The study shows that the additives do not change the kinetics of shrinkage at the initial stage of SPS.
Chrono-topographical analysis of the laws of the microheterogeneous combustion mode for the production of powders by the SHS method
Authors: Dolmatov A V
Published: June 2019

The paper presents the capabilities of the chrono-topographical analysis method for studying the discrete nature of the propagation of the SHS process on the scale of the combustion focy and the reaction cell. Using the approach of chrono-topographic analysis, thermal imaging studies of the microheterogeneous mode of combustion in the Ni-Al system were carried out. The regularities of the dynamics of individual foci in the SHS wave are revealed. Using chronographic maps of the SHS process, it is shown that there are two types of foci in the combustion wave, which differ in the nature of the propagation dynamics. On the scale of the reaction cells, the experiment investigated the relationship of the combustion dynamics with the moments of the formation of new reaction sites. According to the results, it was concluded that an increase in the heat deficit in microheterogeneous combustion regimes leads to an increase in the dispersion of the resulting product. The work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research in research projects no. 18-08-01475, 18-08-01152, as well as grant no. 13-01-20/28 “Leading Scientific School of Ugra State University”.
Theoretical and experimental study of cellular structures in restricted filtration combustion of porous media
Authors: Krishenik P M , Kostin S V , Ozerkovskaya N I , Shkadinsky K G
Published: June 2019

Infiltration-mediated combustion of a thin porous cylinder in reactive gas was studied by mathematical modeling. Gas reagent is infiltrated through an annular gap left of the side surface. In conditions of instability, the self-sustained propagation of individual cellular spots of exothermic combustion was observed. The structure of cellular waves, their dynamics, and travel direction are defined by such factors as temperature profile, pressure gradients, heat release rate, porous structure, and heat losses. Cellular combustion of Ti powder in dish was also explored experimentally and the results were compared with theoretical predictions.
Synthesis of nanopowders of Fe-C system via Flow-Levitation method and study of their properties
Authors: Kuskov M L , Zhigach A N , Leipunsky I O , Afanasenkova E S , Safronova O A , Berezkina N G , Artemov V V , Zhigalina O M , Khmelenin D N
Published: June 2019

Nanopowders of Fe-C system are synthesized via modified Guen-Miller Flow-Levitation method by in situ reaction of nascent iron nanoparticles with acetylene. Morphology, internal structure, chemical and phase composition are studied by electron microscopy methods, including electron diffraction and element analysis, X-ray phase analysis and CNHS chemical analysis. It is shown that depending on the parameters of the reaction with acetylene (temperature, concentration), particles composition can vary from pure iron with thin carbon coating complex composition consisting predominantly of iron carbide.
Manufacture of products from boron-containing materials by the method of combined static-pulse compaction
Authors: Mironov V A , Glushchenkov V A , Usherenko Yu S , Belyaeva I S , Stankevich P I , Irtisheva I I
Published: June 2019

In the production of long parts of powder materials, the magnetic pulse method of pressing is of great interest. In this paper a variant of the method combining the radial magnetic-pulse compaction of a powder in a metal shell and longitudinal drawing is considered. Samples were made of boron-containing materials.
Spark plasma sintering for high-rate diffusion welding of a UFG titanium alloy PT3V
Authors: Nokhrin A V , Boldin M S , Lantsev E A , Vostokov M M , Gryaznov M Yu , Kopylov V I , Chuvil’deev V N
Published: June 2019

This is the first ever paper to address the prospects of using Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) for high-rate diffusion welding of a high-strength ultrafine-grained (UFG) α-titanium alloy Ti–5A–2V. The effect of growing diffusion welding intensity in UFG titanium alloys is also described. Welds of a UFG α-titanium alloy Ti–5Al–2V obtained with SPS are characterized by high density, strength, and corrosion resistance. The rate of weld sealing in UFG alloys is shown to be in nonmonotonic (maximum) dependence on the heating rate.
Synthesis of materials with multiscale porosity from fine powders of boron, titanium, aluminum and coarse granules of VT6 alloy
Authors: Ponomarev M A , Loryan V E
Published: June 2019

The material with different-scale porosity was prepared from powder mixtures with significantly different particle sizes of components by the method of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis in the combustion mode. Model mixtures were formed from coarse particles of VT6 alloy previously coated with a layer of aluminum, and fine-fraction powders of titanium and boron. Synthesis in such a system took place in stages — the fine components were the first to enter into chemical interaction in the combustion wave, with the formation of a porous boride framework. A strongly exothermic reaction between titanium and boron provided the entry of coarse particles of the VT6 alloy with aluminum coating into the reaction. The melt of reacting components and formed intermetallic compounds impregnated the porous boride matrix. The stages of the synthesis are reflected in the thermograms of the combustion process. The EDS, SEM, and XRD data of the obtained material are consistent with the observed stages of the process. Up to four different scales in pore size are distinguished in the synthesis product.
Self-propagating high-temperature synthesis of Fe2TiSn based Heusler alloys with following spark plasma sintering
Authors: Sedegov A S , Yermekova Zh S , Taranova A I , Novitskii A P , Voronin A I , Nepapushev A A , Moskovskikh D O
Published: June 2019

The Fe2TiSn based Heusler alloys were synthesized and studied. The samples were fabricated by a combination of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) followed by spark plasma sintering (SPS). An optimal mechanical activation (MA) regime, favoring for successful SHS process was experimentally defined for the stoichiometric mixture of elements powder. The phase evolution of the Fe2TiSni-xSix (x = 0, 0.10, 0.15, 1) compound and the morphology of a bulk specimens were studied. It was shown that with the presence of an impurity side phase Fe2Ti the electrical resistivity of material decreased by an order of magnitude, while the Seebeck coefficient remains unchanged in the range from 3 to 8 μ V K−1.
Mathematical modeling of phase separation in three-phase melt formed behind the combustion wave
Authors: Shkadinsky K G , Ozerkovskaya N I , Krishenik P M
Published: June 2019

A mathematical model of the exothermic chemical interaction of a high-calorie solid powder mixture in the presence of centrifugal forces is considered. The process of mathematical modeling is studied for the 3NiO + (2 + α)Al → Al2O3 + (3 – α)Ni + αNiAl thermite composition, as an example. Such models are used to describe the process of high-temperature synthesis for the production of target products in the combustion wave propagating through the initial mixture. This technological process represents a combination of high-temperature combustion with the transformation of the solid porous mixture to liquid products, their separation, and subsequent cooling. A distinctive feature of the proposed model is the use of a “through” description, which makes it possible to examine the mutual influence of the individual stages on the dynamics of the process. This feature provides a more realistic description of the actual process.
Bagasse Sheets Reinforced with Nanofibrillated Celluloses
Authors: Klayya S , Rattanawongkun P , Kunfong N , Yodsuwan N , Tawichai N , Intatha U , Soykeabkaew N
Published: June 2019

The nanofibrillated celluloses (NFC) from different sources (i.e. bacterial cellulose (BC), pineapple leaf (PA) and banana pseudostem (BA)) were prepared using microfluidization. TEM and XRD results revealed diverse characteristics of the NFCs from different sources. Then, 0.1wt% of the prepared NFCs were integrated into the bagasse (BG) paper sheets. SEM images showed the densest surface of BG/NFC-BA sheet which also exhibited the highest sheet rigidity. Furthermore, the tensile tests indicated that the BG sheet reinforced with NFC-BC, possessing the highest fiber aspect ratio (L/D of 336) and crystallinity (80%), offered the highest strength and toughness. All tensile properties of the BG sheets were impressively enhanced with very low content (0.1wt%) of NFC addition. This confirmed that NFC is a highly effective reinforcement and suitable for use in paper making industry. However, suitable sources of NFCs for a particular paper product or application should be considered in advance.
Electronically Adjustable Voltage-mode First-order Allpass Filter Using Single Commercially Available IC
Authors: Chaichana Amornchai , Siripongdee Surapong , Jaikla Winai
Published: June 2019

In this design, the use of single commercially available integrated circuit (IC), LT1228 from Linear Technology Corporation, to implement the first order allpass filter is presented. The passband voltage gain of the presented first allpass filter (APF) is unit and constant throughout the operation frequency, while the phase response is electronically tuned by changing the external DC bias current. With this property, the proposed first order filter can be used as phase shifter with microcontroller controllability. Tuning phase property is not required any matching condition. The proposed phase shifter consists of one LT1228, one capacitor and two resistors which is attractive for off the shelf implementation. Moreover, the impedance at output voltage node is exhibit low which can connect to other circuit without the requirement of external voltage buffer. The expected performances of the proposed circuit are proved by Pspice simulation using macro model parameters. Also, the quadrature sinusoidal oscillator which is designed from the connecting of the proposed filter and integrator is chosen as application example.
Realization of Voltage-mode Multifunction Biaquadratic Filter Using Minimum Number of Active Element
Authors: Jaikla Winai , Siripongdee Surapong , Suwanjan Peerawut
Published: June 2019

The realization of voltage-mode multifunction biquadratic filter has been presented in this research contribution. The proposed circuit contains three input voltage nodes and one output voltage node. The structure of proposed filter is simple consisting of one modified current controlled current conveyor transconductance amplifier (M-CCCCTA) as active building block with one resistor and two capacitors. With electronically controllable property of M-CCCCTA, the parameters, natural frequency (ω0) and quality factor (Q) are electronically controlled by changing the external DC bias currents of the M-CCCCTA. The tuning characteristic of Q is also done without effect the w0. In the same circuit construction, five second order filter responses, all-pass, high-pass (HP), band-reject (BR), low-pass (LP) and band-pass (BP) functions are obtained. The output filter responses are obtained with applying appropriate input voltage to input node without the matching condition of active and passive elements. The performances of the proposed biquadratic filter have been verified through Pspice simulation in TSMC 0.25 μm CMOS technology parameters.
A Comparative Study of the Divalent Transition Metal Oxide Supported on Magnesium Oxide Catalyst for Lactic Acid Production from Glucose
Authors: Udomcharoensab T , Praserthdam P
Published: June 2019

In order to achieve the lactic acid production of lower energy consumption, reactor corrosion rate, while being environmentally friendly and sustaining high catalytic activity of various divalent transition metal oxide (Cu, Co, Ni and Zn) supported on magnesium oxide having the hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a capping agent was investigated, where the reaction was performed under mild conditions in an alkali additive-free environment. Among all of the divalent candidates, the ZnCTAB/MgO exhibits the highest activity with a glucose conversion of 64% at a 100°C and a lactic acid yield of 12% at 140°C, a pressure of 0.4 MPa, over 1 h of reaction time. This is due to the high basicity produced via the water chemisorption on such catalyst’s surface.
Attractor sets and Julia sets in low dimensions
Authors: Fletcher A.
Published: June 2019

IfXXis the attractor set of a conformal IFS (iterated function system) in dimension two or three, we prove that there exists a quasiregular semigroupGGwith a Julia set equal toXX. We also show that in dimension two, with a further assumption similar to the open set condition, the same result can be achieved with a semigroup generated by one element. Consequently, in this case the attractor set is quasiconformally equivalent to the Julia set of a rational map.
Where to go: the floating arbitration agreement
Authors: Frank Morten
Published: June 2019

The article examines questions concerning interpretation of commercial arbitration agreements, according to which the place of arbitration is ‘floating’ and hence cannot be finally determined at the time of contracting. The question is, primarily, whether this inherent uncertainty about material procedural rules ‘infects’ the jurisdictional allocation to such an extent that the arbitration agreement must be considered unenforceable and secondarily, whether the floating element in itself constitutes a sufficiently specific procedural rule. Against the background of an analysis of case law from USA, England, Singapore, and Hong Kong, and drawing on experiences from unilateral and bilateral option agreements, the article extracts general principles of interpretation as well as provides specific guidance on the drafting of floating arbitration agreements.
Deep learning for drug–drug interaction extraction from the literature: a review
Authors: Zhang Tianlin , Leng Jiaxu , Liu Ying
Published: June 2019

Drug–drug interactions (DDIs) are crucial for drug research and pharmacovigilance. These interactions may cause adverse drug effects that threaten public health and patient safety. Therefore, the DDIs extraction from biomedical literature has been widely studied and emphasized in modern biomedical research. The previous rules-based and machine learning approaches rely on tedious feature engineering, which is labourious, time-consuming and unsatisfactory. With the development of deep learning technologies, this problem is alleviated by learning feature representations automatically. Here, we review the recent deep learning methods that have been applied to the extraction of DDIs from biomedical literature. We describe each method briefly and compare its performance in the DDI corpus systematically. Next, we summarize the advantages and disadvantages of these deep learning models for this task. Furthermore, we discuss some challenges and future perspectives of DDI extraction via deep learning methods. This review aims to serve as a useful guide for interested researchers to further advance bioinformatics algorithms for DDIs extraction from the literature.
Optimal designs for frequentist model averaging
Authors: Alhorn K , Schorning K , Dette H
Published: June 2019

We consider the problem of designing experiments for estimating a target parameter in regression analysis when there is uncertainty about the parametric form of the regression function. A new optimality criterion is proposed that chooses the experimental design to minimize the asymptotic mean squared error of the frequentist model averaging estimate. Necessary conditions for the optimal solution of a locally and Bayesian optimal design problem are established. The results are illustrated in several examples, and it is demonstrated that Bayesian optimal designs can yield a reduction of the mean squared error of the model averaging estimator by up to 45%.
Successful Invasions and Failed Biocontrol: The Role of Antagonistic Species Interactions
Authors: Schulz Ashley N , Lucardi Rima D , Marsico Travis D
Published: June 2019

Understanding the successes and failures of nonnative species remains challenging. In recent decades, researchers have developed the enemy release hypothesis and other antagonist hypotheses, which posit that nonnative species either fail or succeed in a novel range because of the presence or absence of antagonists. The premise of classical biological control of invasive species is that top-down control works. We identify twelve existing hypotheses that address the roles that antagonists from many trophic levels play during plant and insect invasions in natural environments. We outline a unifying framework of antagonist hypotheses to simplify the relatedness among the hypotheses, incorporate the role of top-down and bottom-up influences on nonnative species, and encourage expansion of experimental assessments of antagonist hypotheses to include belowground and fourth trophic level antagonists. A mechanistic understanding of antagonists and their impacts on nonnative species is critical in a changing world.
On restricted optimal treatment regime estimation for competing risks data
Authors: Zhou Jie , Zhang Jiajia , Lu Wenbin , Li Xiaoming
Published: June 2019

It is well accepted that individualized treatment regimes may improve the clinical outcomes of interest. However, positive treatment effects are often accompanied by certain side effects. Therefore, when choosing the optimal treatment regime for a patient, we need to consider both efficacy and safety issues. In this article, we propose to model time to a primary event of interest and time to severe side effects of treatment by a competing risks model and define a restricted optimal treatment regime based on cumulative incidence functions. The estimation approach is derived using a penalized value search method and investigated through extensive simulations. The proposed method is applied to an HIV dataset obtained from Health Sciences South Carolina, where we minimize the risk of treatment or virologic failures while controlling the risk of serious drug-induced side effects.
Establishment of permutation for cancer risk estimation in the urothelium based on genome-wide DNA methylation analysis
Authors: Tsumura Koji , Arai Eri , Tian Ying , Shibuya Ayako , Nishihara Hiroshi , Yotani Takuya , Yamada Yuriko , Takahashi Yoriko , Maeshima Akiko Miyagi , Fujimoto Hiroyuki , Nakagawa Tohru , Kume Haruki , Homma Yukio , Yoshida Teruhiko , Kanai Yae
Published: June 2019

The aim of this study was to establish permutation for cancer risk estimation in the urothelium. Twenty-six samples of normal control urothelium obtained from patients without urothelial carcinomas (C), 47 samples of non-cancerous urothelium without noticeable morphological changes obtained from patients with urothelial carcinomas (N), and 46 samples of the corresponding cancerous tissue (T) in the learning cohort and 64 N samples in the validation cohort, i.e. 183 tissue samples in total, were analyzed. Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis was performed using the Infinium HumanMethylation 450K BeadChip, and DNA methylation levels were verified using pyrosequencing and MassARRAY. Amplicon sequencing was performed using the GeneRead DNAseq Targeted Panels V2. Although N samples rarely showed genetic mutations or copy number alterations, they showed DNA methylation alterations at 2502 CpG sites compared to C samples, and such alterations were inherited by or strengthened in T samples, indicating that DNA methylation alterations may participate in field cancerization in the urothelium. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis confirmed the feasibility of cancer risk estimation to identify urothelium at the precancerous stage by DNA methylation quantification. Cancer risk estimation permutation was established using a combination of two marker CpG loci on the HOXC4, TENM3 and TLR1 genes (sensitivity and specificity 96–100%). Among them, the diagnostic impact of 10 patterns of permutation was successfully validated in the validation cohort (sensitivity and specificity 94–98%). These data suggest that cancer risk estimation using procedures such as urine tests during health checkups might become applicable for clinical use.
Typhoid—From Past to Future
Authors: Kirchhelle Claas , Pollard Andrew J , Vanderslott Samantha
Published: June 2019

Making a Difference? brings together medical humanities and sciences experts to analyze how historical and new data on typhoid control can be brought to bear on the current context of typhoid conjugate vaccine rollouts and extensively drug-resistant typhoid.
The youth of antiquity: reception, homosexuality, alterity
Authors: Butler Shane
Published: June 2019

Classical reception studies and the Foucault-inflected study of ancient homosexuality came of age together, sharing several key dates in their core bibliographies. This article argues that this synchronicity is no coincidence. In particular, both endeavours have been driven by remarkably similar views of the ‘otherness’ of the past itself. Arguing that this view has partly been motivated by unspoken anxieties about scholarly agency, this article sheds some critical light on the presuppositions and methods of both subfields. It also aims to signpost some better, queerer ways forward, borrowed from the past itself.
Hemispheric Asymmetries in Deaf and Hearing During Sustained Peripheral Selective Attention
Authors: Gwinn O Scott , Jiang Fang
Published: June 2019

Previous studies have shown that compared to hearing individuals, early deaf individuals allocate relatively more attention to the periphery than central visual field. However, it is not clear whether these two groups also differ in their ability to selectively attend to specific peripheral locations. We examined deaf and hearing participants’ selective attention using electroencephalography (EEG) and a frequency tagging paradigm, in which participants attended to one of two peripheral displays of moving dots that changed directions at different rates. Both participant groups showed similar amplifications and reductions in the EEG signal at the attended and unattended frequencies, indicating similar control over their peripheral attention for motion stimuli. However, for deaf participants these effects were larger in a right hemispheric region of interest (ROI), while for hearing participants these effects were larger in a left ROI. These results contribute to a growing body of evidence for a right hemispheric processing advantage in deaf populations when attending to motion.
Host Plant Salinity Stress Affects the Development and Population Parameters of Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)
Authors: Quais Md Khairul , Ansari Naved Ahmad , Wang Gui-Yao , Zhou Wen-Wu , Zhu Zeng-Rong
Published: June 2019

Salinization is one of the most critical abiotic stress factors for crops and a rising setback in agro-ecosystems. Changes in weather, land usage, and the salinization of irrigation water are increasing soil salinity of many farmlands. Increased soil salinity alters the plant quality, which subsequently may trigger bottom-up effects on herbivorous insect. We examined the bottom-up effect of salinity stress on population parameters of the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens through rice (Oryza sativa L.) plant. The results revealed that salinity interfered with egg hatching of BPH. The nymphal development period, adult longevity, and oviposition were also influenced by salinity. Notable differences appeared in the intrinsic growth rate (r), the finite increase rate (λ) and the net reproduction rate (R0) of BPH, and a concentration-dependent effect was detected. Although salinity adversely affected BPH development, population projection predicted a successful growth of the BPH population in a relatively short time under the treatment of low and medium levels of salinity (6, 8, and 10 dS/m of NaCl), whereas higher salt concentrations (12 and 14 dS/m) lead to significant fitness costs in BPH populations. Our study predicts that BPH could become a problem in areas with lower and medium salinity and that those planthoppers may exacerbate the negative effects of salinity for rice production. This study will provide valuable information for understanding the field abundance and distribution of BPH on saline rice field, thus contributing to the development of eco-friendly strategies to manage this pest in saline ecosystems.
Zero-hours contracts and labour market policy
Authors: Datta Nikhil , Giupponi Giulia , Machin Stephen
Published: June 2019

The evolving nature of atypical work arrangements is studied. A particular focus is placed on one such form of work relation: zero-hours contracts (ZHCs). The paper uses existing secondary data and new survey data collected for the specific purpose of studying alternative work arrangements to describe the nature of ZHC work in the UK labour market. The interaction with labour market policy is explored, in the context of the 2016 introduction of the UK’s National Living Wage. ZHC work is shown to be an important feature of today’s work arrangements, and the wage cost shock induced by the new, higher minimum wage resulted in an increased use of ZHCs in the UK social care sector, and in low wage sectors more generally.
Estimating individual lifetime benefit and bleeding risk of adding rivaroxaban to aspirin for patients with stable cardiovascular disease: results from the COMPASS trial
Authors: de Vries Tamar I , Eikelboom John W , Bosch Jackie , Westerink Jan , Dorresteijn Jannick A N , Alings Marco , Dyal Leanne , Berkowitz Scott D , van der Graaf Yolanda , Fox Keith A A , Visseren Frank L J
Published: June 2019

Aims 

Adding rivaroxaban to aspirin in patients with stable atherosclerotic disease reduces the recurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) but increases the risk of major bleeding. The aim of this study was to estimate the individual lifetime treatment benefit and harm of adding low-dose rivaroxaban to aspirin in patients with stable cardiovascular disease.

Methods and results 

Patients with established CVD from the COMPASS trial (n = 27 390) and SMART prospective cohort study (n = 8139) were used. Using the pre-existing lifetime SMART-REACH model for recurrent CVD, and a newly developed Fine and Gray competing risk-adjusted lifetime model for major bleeding, individual treatment effects from adding low-dose rivaroxaban to aspirin in patients with stable CVD were estimated, expressed in terms of (i) life-years free of stroke or myocardial infarction (MI) gained; and (ii) life-years free from major bleeding lost. Calibration of the SMART-REACH model for prediction of recurrent CVD events in the COMPASS study was good. The major bleeding risk model as derived in the COMPASS trial showed good external calibration in the SMART cohort. Predicted individual gain in life expectancy free of stroke or MI from added low-dose rivaroxaban had a median of 16 months (range 1–48 months), while predicted individualized lifetime lost in terms of major bleeding had a median of 2 months (range 0–20 months).

Conclusion 

There is a wide distribution in lifetime gain and harm from adding low-dose rivaroxaban to aspirin in individual patients with stable CVD. Using these lifetime models, benefits and bleeding risk can be weighed for each individual patient, which could facilitate treatment decisions in clinical practice.
Single systemic transfer of a human gene associated with exceptional longevity halts the progression of atherosclerosis and inflammation in ApoE knockout mice through a CXCR4-mediated mechanism
Authors: Puca Annibale Alessandro , Carrizzo Albino , Spinelli Chiara , Damato Antonio , Ambrosio Mariateresa , Villa Francesco , Ferrario Anna , Maciag Anna , Fornai Francesco , Lenzi Paola , Valenti Valentina , di Nonno Flavio , Accarino Giulio , Madonna Michele , Forte Maurizio , Calì Gaetano , Baragetti Andrea , Norata Giuseppe Danilo , Catapano Alberico Luigi , Cattaneo Monica , Izzo Raffaele , Trimarco Valentina , Montella Francesco , Versaci Francesco , Auricchio Alberto , Frati Giacomo , Sciarretta Sebastiano , Madeddu Paolo , Ciaglia Elena , Vecchione Carmine
Published: June 2019

Aims

Here, we aimed to determine the therapeutic effect of longevity-associated variant (LAV)-BPIFB4 gene therapy on atherosclerosis.

Methods and results

ApoE knockout mice (ApoE−/−) fed a high-fat diet were randomly allocated to receive LAV-BPIFB4, wild-type (WT)-BPIFB4, or empty vector via adeno-associated viral vector injection. The primary endpoints of the study were to assess (i) vascular reactivity and (ii) atherosclerotic disease severity, by Echo-Doppler imaging, histology and ultrastructural analysis. Moreover, we assessed the capacity of the LAV-BPIFB4 protein to shift monocyte-derived macrophages of atherosclerotic mice and patients towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype. LAV-BPIFB4 gene therapy rescued endothelial function of mesenteric and femoral arteries from ApoE−/− mice; this effect was blunted by AMD3100, a CXC chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) inhibitor. LAV-BPIFB4-treated mice showed a CXCR4-mediated shift in the balance between Ly6Chigh/Ly6Clow monocytes and M2/M1 macrophages, along with decreased T cell proliferation and elevated circulating levels of interleukins IL-23 and IL-27. In vitro conditioning with LAV-BPIFB4 protein of macrophages from atherosclerotic patients resulted in a CXCR4-dependent M2 polarization phenotype. Furthermore, LAV-BPIFB4 treatment of arteries explanted from atherosclerotic patients increased the release of atheroprotective IL-33, while inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory IL-1β, inducing endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation and restoring endothelial function. Finally, significantly lower plasma BPIFB4 was detected in patients with pathological carotid stenosis (>25%) and intima media thickness >2 mm.

Conclusion

Transfer of the LAV of BPIFB4 reduces the atherogenic process and skews macrophages towards an M2-resolving phenotype through modulation of CXCR4, thus opening up novel therapeutic possibilities in cardiovascular disease.
Comparative Genomics of Wild Bee and Flower Isolated Lactobacillus Reveals Potential Adaptation to the Bee Host
Authors: Vuong Hoang Q , McFrederick Quinn S
Published: June 2019

Symbiosis with bacteria is common across insects, resulting in adaptive host phenotypes. The recently described bacterial symbionts Lactobacillus micheneri, Lactobacillus timberlakei, and Lactobacillus quenuiae are found in wild bee pollen provisions, bee guts, and flowers but have small genomes in comparison to other lactobacilli. We sequenced, assembled, and analyzed 27 new L. micheneri clade genomes to identify their possible ecological functions in flower and bee hosts. We determined possible key functions for the L. micheneri clade by identifying genes under positive selection, balancing selection, genes gained or lost, and population structure. A host adherence factor shows signatures of positive selection, whereas other orthologous copies are variable within the L. micheneri clade. The host adherence factors serve as strong evidence that these lactobacilli are adapted to animal hosts as their targets are found in the digestive tract of insects. Next, the L. micheneri clade is adapted toward a nutrient-rich environment, corroborating observations of where L. micheneri is most abundant. Additionally, genes involved in osmotolerance, pH tolerance, temperature resistance, detoxification, and oxidative stress response show signatures of selection that allow these bacteria to thrive in pollen and nectar masses in bee nests and in the bee gut. Altogether, these findings not only suggest that the L. micheneri clade is primarily adapted to the wild bee gut but also exhibit genomic features that would be beneficial to survival in flowers.
Determination of ellipsoidal surface mass change from GRACE time-variable gravity data
Authors: Ghobadi-Far Khosro , Šprlák Michal , Han Shin-Chan
Published: June 2019

The problem of determining mass redistribution within the Earth system from time-variable gravity (TVG) data is non-unique. Over seasonal and decadal time-scales, mass redistribution likely takes place on the Earth’s surface. By approximating the Earth’s surface by a sphere, surface mass variation can be uniquely determined from TVG data. Recently, using the improved GRACE TVG data, Li et al. and Ditmar found that such spherical approximation is no longer tenable and suggested practical approaches to accommodate the elliptical shape of the Earth. In this study, we develop a rigorous method of determining surface mass change on the Earth’s reference ellipsoid. We derive a unique one-to-one relationship between ellipsoidal spectra of surface mass and gravitational potential for the ellipsoidal geometry. In conjunction with our ellipsoidal formulation, the linear transformation between spherical and ellipsoidal harmonic coefficients of the geopotential field enables us to determine mass redistribution on the ellipsoid from GRACE TVG data. Using the Release 6 of GRACE TVG data to degree 60, we show that the ellipsoidal approach reconciles surface mass change rate significantly better than the spherical computation by 3–4 cm yr−1, equivalent to 10–15  per cent increase of total signal, in Greenland and West Antarctica. We quantify the spherical approximation error over the polar regions using GRACE Level-2 TVG data as well as mascon solutions, and demonstrate that the systematic error increases linearly with the maximum degree used for the synthesis. The terrestrial water storage computation is less affected by the spherical approximation because of geographic location of major river basins (lower latitude) and signal characteristics. The improvement of TVG data from GRACE and its Follow-On necessitates the ellipsoidal computation, particularly for quantifying mass change in polar regions.
Adaptive moment-tensor joint inversion of clustered microseismic events for monitoring geological carbon storage
Authors: Chen Yu , Huang Lianjie
Published: June 2019

Moment-tensor inversion of induced microseismic events can provide valuable information for tracking CO2 plumes at geological carbon storage sites, and study the physical mechanism of induced microseismicity. Accurate moment-tensor inversion requires a wide-azimuthal coverage of geophones. Cost-effective microseismic monitoring for geological carbon storage often uses only one geophone array within a borehole, leading to a large uncertainty in moment-tensor inversion. We develop a new adaptive moment-tensor joint inversion method to reduce the inversion uncertainty, when using limited but typical geophone receiver geometries. We first jointly invert a number of clustered microseismic events using a uniform focal mechanism to minimize the waveform misfit between observed and predicted P and S waveforms. We then invert the moment tensor for each event within a limited searching range around the joint inversion result. We apply our adaptive joint inversion method to microseismic data acquired using a single borehole geophone array at the CO2-Enhanced Oil Recovery field at Aneth, Utah. We demonstrate that our inversion method is capable of reducing the inversion uncertainty caused by the limited azimuthal coverage of geophones. Our inverted strikes of focal mechanisms of microseismic events are consistent with the event spatial distribution in subparallel pre-existing fractures or geological imperfections. The large values up to 40 per cent of the CLVD components might indicate crack opening induced by CO2/wastewater injection or rupture complexity.
The influence of inherited continental margin structures on the stress and strain fields of the south-central Taiwan fold-and-thrust belt
Authors: Biete Cristina , Brown Dennis , Lund Björn , Alvarez-Marron Joaquina , Wu Yih-Min , Kuo-Chen Hao , Ho Chun-Wei
Published: June 2019

In this paper we test whether or not structural and morphological features inherited from the Eurasian continental margin are affecting the contemporary stress and strain fields in south-central Taiwan. Principal stress directions (σ1, σ2 and σ3) are estimated from the inversion of clustered earthquake focal mechanisms and the direction of the maximum compressive horizontal stress (SH) is calculated throughout the study area. From these data the most likely fault plane orientations and their kinematics are inferred. The results of the stress inversion are then discussed together with the directions of displacement, compressional strain rate and maximum shear strain rate derived from GPS data. These data show that there is a marked contrast in the direction of SH from north to south across the study area, with the direction of SH remaining roughly subparallel to the relative plate motion vector in the north, whereas in the south it rotates nearly 45° counter-clockwise. The direction of the horizontal maximum compression strain rate (εH) and associated maximum shear planes, together with the displacement field display an overall similar pattern between them, although undergoing a less marked rotation. We interpret the southward change in the SH, εH and the dextral maximum shear plane directions, together with that of the horizontal displacement field to be related to the reactivation of east–northeast striking faults inherited from the rifted Eurasian margin and to the shelf/slope break. Inherited faults in the basement are typically reactivated as strike-slip faults, whereas newly formed faults in the fold-and-thrust belt are commonly thrusts or oblique thrusts. Eastwards, the stress inversions and strain data show that the western flank of the Central Range is undergoing extension in the upper crust. SH in the Central Range is roughly parallel to the relative plate convergence vector, but in southwestern Taiwan it undergoes a marked counter-clockwise rotation westwards across the Chaochou fault. Farther north, however, there is no significant change across the Lishan fault. This north to south difference is likely due to different margin structures, although local topographic effects may also play a role.
Community gardens and wellbeing amongst vulnerable populations: a thematic review
Authors: Malberg Dyg Pernille , Christensen Søren , Peterson Corissa Jade
Published: June 2019

The aim of the thematic review is to document the effects of community gardens on wellbeing amongst vulnerable populations. We searched for articles published between 1980 and 2017 in major databases resulting in the inclusion of 51 articles. Vulnerable populations included, amongst others, ethnic minorities and refugees, socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods or low-income or food insecure families. Our findings suggest that community garden participation may have a positive impact on physical health, such as reducing body weight and hypertension, and increasing physical activity and food knowledge. However, findings relating to community gardens and their potential to enhance food security were inconsistent. Furthermore we found that community gardens can have a positive influence both at the individual level (i.e. self-esteem, independence, personal control, etc.), particularly for refugees; the relational and social level (i.e. relationships, social connections, community and neighbourhood). Community garden participation have the potential to enhance wellbeing amongst vulnerable populations. However, two articles in our review presented potential food safety concerns related to community gardens, indicating that, particularly in urban settings, attention must be given to minimizing potential food safety concerns, e.g. by using raised garden beds. Based on this review, we recommend that further research and evaluation on non-US-based community gardens is carried out, as community gardens are practiced globally but there is little research to document the effects of community gardens on wellbeing amongst vulnerable populations outside of the USA.